Elachee Nature Science Center

This review is for the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve, which is part of the Elachee Nature Science Center property.
Chicopee Woods is a large preserve with miles of excellent dirt trails to hike. I hiked the longest — the East-​West Lake loop trail (s) running from near the nature center to the lake and back. This loop can also be hiked starting from the lake.
The East-​West trailhead is off the overflow lot at the nature center entrance. Just bear right into the gravel lot at the main entrance sign instead of going left to the center. Alternatively, you can park at the center and take one of the shorter trails from there to connect with the E-​W. And, as mentioned above, you can also start from the other end at the lake, where there’s a large parking lot.
Unlike a lot of private hiking spots, and some public ones, the trails at Chicopee are well marked and easy to follow. There are periodic trail signposts, periodic colored markers on trees, trail maps with ‘you are here’ marked at every intersection and mile markers at quarter mile intervals. Even the mile markers are color coded according to which trail they apply to. I’m impressed.
Which is not to give the impression that the trails are manicured paths hardly removed from civilization. That’s not the case at all. The East-​West trail in particular will quickly take you into a wonderful forest where you’ll have little sign of human presence other than the occasional wooden stream bridges (and the trail markers). It’s a pretty fabulous hike and one that I think is best enjoyed in winter when the trees have shed their leaves, opening the views up considerably.
The path itself provides mostly decent footing — there is a stretch where schist rock outcrops require some care and there are lots of sections where tree roots are prevalent, but nothing that requires sturdy hiking boots. Expect moderate elevation change. If you hike as I did from the nature center and back, you’ll go mostly downhill to the lake and then back up. The E-​W is 4.5 miles long, with the West trail being somewhat longer than the East. You’ll actually have to hike a bit longer than 4.5 miles because the East trail ends near, but not at, the nature center. A quarter mile or so of additional trail will take you back to the parking lot.
I saw very few people — only one deep into the E-​W — on a Monday morning. The nature center overflow lot had but one car and the lake lot was completely empty. Perhaps there are more people on the weekend but this looks like a good place for solitude.
Parking is $ 1 (suggested donation).
Highly recommended.

Elachee Nature Science Center is AWESOME! The Naturalists were awesome also, they really helped us with our group and they were very knowledgeable about the area and about all of the creatures and plants. Really enjoyed taking our group out there today.
The kids REALLY enjoyed themselves! Great place to go for the young kids and experienced adults… great hiking trails.

Just attended a wedding here and I have to say the place was beautiful the wedding went great no interruptions from people visiting or camps just smooth sailing. Me and my wife decided to walk around the facilities and I found the hawks and the bee exhibit which was awesome so all in all had a great time

Ok, I didn’t go into the Nature Center, but i’ve heard great things about it, and the people there are really nice — but the hiking trails here are great. not so far from the city, Very close to the highway. Hardly any people. 6+ miles of trails, very scenic. This is a great place.