What do you do on a cloudy, dreary Saturday morning? Hope the forecast for a sunny afternoon is right and head out the door for a quick day trip to Deerfield! Yes, it’s a seemingly random spot and not at the top of everyone’s New England bucket list, but I had never been to that part of Massachusetts, so I figured I would check it out. Plus, there was a short hike on Mt. Sugarloaf that was easily doable in the little time I had. I was happy to discover a gem of a town and a few unexpected surprises along the way.
Scenic Byways
Heading west from the Boston area, I hopped on Route 2 and was happy to find that at one point Route 2 turned into the Mohawk Trail, one of the country’s scenic byways and a National Historic Landmark. The Mohawk Trail was once used by Native Americans for travel and trade, and it spans from the Connecticut River Valley in Massachusetts to the Hudson River Valley on the MA/NY border. For those traveling west/east across Massachusetts it’s a great alternative to driving the super boring Interstate 90. There are so many opportunities to explore small towns and enjoy scenic vistas.
The Mohawk Trail isn’t the only scenic byway I discovered on my ride to Deerfield. The directions to Mt. Sugarloaf took me on the Connecticut River Scenic Byway, a nearly 500 mile long route running from the Canadian border with NH south to South Hadley, MA. It was two for the price of one!
Hiking South Sugarloaf
I knew that after a couple hours in the car, I would want to get out and get some exercise. It was late morning when I decided to get myself out of the house, so I wouldn’t be able to do a very long hike unless I wanted to tempt fate and have a race with the sunset. No thanks. Yankee Magazine suggested a quick hike offering beautiful views of the Connecticut River Valley- perfect.
Mt. Sugarloaf State Reservation sits beside the Connecticut River that divides New Hampshire and Vermont before flowing into Massachusetts and Connecticut. There are a few trails in the reservation and two mountains to conquer- North and South Sugarloaf. I opted for South Sugarloaf since I was short on time, but probably could have fit in North as well. The loop trail that hits both North and South is only 3 miles. I thought it would be longer, so I skipped it- oh well, I should have done the research. Boo. I’ll just have to go back. The quick out and back to South Sugarloaf was just over 1.5 miles total.
South Sugarloaf might be short but it’s definitely not an easy walk in the woods. It’s a quintessential New England hike condensed into a tiny package. The trail is pretty much straight up the whole way. There’s no easing into this one. You’ll get your heart pumping pretty quickly. It was just what I needed after the drive out there. And in true New England fashion, there are a healthy amount of rocks and roots. But don’t worry, the trail is well maintained.
I recommend using the All Trails apps if you’re unfamiliar with the area, since there are a few different trails on the reservation. There are over 20 miles of trails accessible from the reservation. From the parking lot on Sugarloaf Street, walk onto the trail and bear right to cross the road that goes to the top of the mountain. Continue on the Pocumtuck Ridge Trail and follow it to the lookout tower on South Sugarloaf. Take the same trail back down or continue past the tower to reach the North peak.
Beer
Hmmm, what tastes really good after a hike? Beer! Yes, make sure you’re hydrating with water too, but a cold beer always hits the spot. Much to my surprise and delight, I discovered Deerfield is home to two very good breweries. Tree House Brewing is steadily growing a reputation as one of the best and most innovative craft brewers in the country. You can only buy their beer at their breweries, which only adds to the legend. The Deerfield location was only offering beer to-go when I visited, but they have plans to open a taproom. It’s tough deciding which beers to try, but I recommend September Sun. It’s a juicy IPA at its finest. I also love the Head West American Pale Ale. Pick out a few to try, load up the trunk and head home to enjoy.
Tree House Brewing might be the most popular, but Berkshire Brewing has long been based in Deerfield, and they have some solid beers. They have a small taproom that opens to an outdoor beer garden. The vibe is friendly and relaxed, so it’s a great spot to enjoy a pint after a hike. The Steel Rail is a classic, refreshing pale ale that’s perfect on a warm day.
Not to be outdone by their brewery neighbors, Yankee Candle, perhaps the most well known spot in Deerfield, invited Powder Hollow Brewery to set up shop in their village. Upping the ante, alongside the brewery you’ll find Hillside Pizza. And the best part- the pizza is organic! Stop by for beer and a slice of pizza before attempting to smell more candles than your nose can handle. If you want to skip the fragrance headache, I love Balsam and Cedar, Autumn Wreath and MidSummer’s Night.
It’s often the unexpected small towns that have the most charm and offer so much more than meets the eye. Deerfield is one of those towns. Spend a day or two exploring the area and see if you can find even more hidden gems.