Farm to Table: Pioneer Valley Paradise

Spinning and tasting along the Gentle Landscapes, Farms and Historic Towns of the Pioneer Valley

Picture perfect rides that crisscross the Connecticut River and wind through college towns and the wooded hills of the Pioneer Valley

Destination

Massachusetts

Activity

Biking

Level

Intermediate

Duration

4 days / 3 nights

Active foodies who love the arts and culture will enjoy this exclusive tour based out of Northampton, known as "Paradise City." Amidst impressive 19th-century architecture, the charming streets are brimming with galleries, music stores, artisans shops, antique stores, and diverse restaurants.

From $1,595 PP 4 days / 3 nights

Schedule A Call

Download Itinerary

The Connecticut River Valley is what’s left of North America’s sixth great lake, the 200 mile long glacial Lake Hitchcock. With Northampton at the valley center, this terrain is flat to rolling farmland, with forested hills as you climb out of the valley. Northampton is a destination city, with many options for food, museums, shops, and breweries located within easy reach of the rail trail. Active farms and thousands of acres of conservation land within the city limits give the area balance as a natural landscape with cultural amenities. With paved riding surfaces that are ideal for road bikes, the Pioneer Valley boasts a long history of cycling and bicycle culture combined with a passionate pursuit of equality for all peoples. This area was home to equality pioneers, such as Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass as well as several experimental utopian communities.

Tour Essence

Ride on 700’ and 1600’ rail trail bridges across the Connecticut River
Enjoy tastings of locally produced cheeses, pasture-raised meats, artisanal bread, handmade pastries, local wines, heirloom ciders, or craft beers
Safely exit and enter the city for the daily rides on the Northampton Rail Trail System, connecting nine towns with 27 miles of car-free paved rail trail
After your daily Ciclismo ride, guests can rent an e-bike for a three mile round-trip to see the river at sunset from the Norwottuck Bridge
Northampton is the hometown of Calvin Coolidge: Governor, Vice President, and 30th US President
Discover a thriving local food, culture and arts community in downtown Northampton.
Savory Foodie Treasures included on this Exclusive Tour:
- Northampton Foodie Walking Tour and tastings to local specialty shops with passionate Foodie and owner of Pioneer Valley Food Tours Deborah Cristakos
- Visit with Jonathan Stevens at Hungry Ghost Bread in Northampton who sources much of his grain locally and also has its ground at a local mill.
- A beautiful stop and wine tasting at Glendale Ridge Vineyard, where guests taste a selection of locally made wines along with a picnic while gazing at the Mount Tom Range.
- A visit to the Thomas Farm and Dairy where Laurie and Jim have a herd of 80+ much-loved goats (each called by name) to make their delicious goat cheese, as well as several cows to make their cheddar cheese and gouda.
- A stop at Carr’s Ciderhouse to sample a selection of hard cider, fruit syrups, shrubs, elixirs and specialty products from their Preservation Orchard.
- Read more about Why the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts is the Perfect Foodie Destination

What to Expect

Terrain

Rolling

Start Location

Northampton, MA

End Location

Northampton, MA

Mileage

Average Daily: 32.5 / 39.9 Total: 130 / 147.8

Elevation

Average Daily: 1,293 / 1,455

Dates

2023

May 30-Jun 2

Available

Aug 15-18

Available

Sep 26-29

Available

From $1,595 PP 4 days / 3 nights

$ 400 Optional Single Supplement

Schedule A Call

Download Itinerary

Any of our tours can be made private. Contact us to learn more.

Go Private

Once you have a trip confirmed, we will feed you a steady diet of additional pre-departure information that includes: How to train, prepare, pack and all the wonderful, inspirational and practical things you want and need to know before you go! Our Travel Advisors will be available to help plan your pre- and post-tour travel.

Three Ciclismo Feast days filled with local food and drink options
Walking foodie tour with tastings
Visits to 1 vineyard, 1 cider house, and 1 brewery
Ciclismo Guides
Van Support
Snacks
Ciclismo Classico Jersey

Bring your own! Bikes are not included for this specific trip.

Call us if you need a rental bike!

1 Lunch, 2 dinners
All Accommodations (3 nights) at Hotel Northampton

Ride on 700’ and 1600’ rail-trail bridges across the Connecticut River
Ride by land farmed continuously since 1660.
Northampton Foodie Walking Tour with tastings at local specialty shops, all proud to source their ingredients regionally
Curated tastings of local specialties and visits to local farms
Enjoy the college town vibe of Northampton

Itinerary

Download Itinerary

Start Location

Northampton, MA

Fly Into

Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks / Hartford CT (BDL)

End Location

Northampton, MA

Fly Out Of

Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks / Hartford CT (BDL)

Download Itinerary

STYLED MAP

Day1

Vineyard Loop by the Mt Tom Range

Meet the Ciclismo Classico guides at 1 pm, ready to ride at the hotel! Our warmup ride starts by heading to the Northwest on the beautiful local rail trail system, towards the village of Florence, Look Park, and the historic Mill River. We’ll stop for a brief visit at Craig Della Penna’s historic house on the trail, and hear about the utopian community project of the Florence village. Having a thriving silk industry in the 19th century, the village was named in 1852 after Florence, Italy, for its own thriving silk trade in Europe. Craig has been a driving force for rail trails across the US. We’ll cruise past the Northampton Reservoir and through the forestland of the watershed district. At Glendale Ridge Vineyard, we’ll stop for a tasting with a view of the Mt. Tom Range. Our return course will take us through Easthampton via rail trail, where we will pass four trailside breweries and renovated mill buildings that are home to many local artists. We’ll stop at the fourth, Progression Brewery. Progression’s outdoor service area is a patio abutting our rail trail course, and two blocks from the hotel.

Meals Provided

Dinner

Average Mileage

24.6 miles

Elevation Gain

933 feet

Riding Terrain

Gentle Rolling

Meals Provided

Dinner

Accommodations

The Hotel Northampton

The Hotel Northampton, built in 1927, is a proud member of Historic Hotels of America. With 106 newly renovated guest rooms and luxury suites, Hotel Northampton offers every guest a gracious hospitality, a quality service and an experience. We are conveniently located in the center city of Northampton, where all points of attraction are within walking distance. Experience the many great attractions like the Calvin Theater and Academy of Music for some their popular concerts and events.

Luxury Level3 stars

Day2

Connecticut River Loop

Travel up and down the valley, riding on flat terrain, staying close to the scenic Connecticut River for the entire course. We’ll depart Northampton on the 1600’ bridge across the Connecticut River where we will ride by old tobacco barns, and fields of potatoes, pumpkins, corn, and asparagus. At the turnaround point, cross the river on a 700’ rail trail bridge (extra loop). Riders will see Mt. Sugarloaf North and South, and the Pocumtuck Ridge. When Glacial Lake Hitchcock was still in place ~13,000 years ago, these features were an island archipelago. We'll visit the West Street Dike Sunset View, a great overlook at a wide river bend. Also Carr’s Ciderhouse, and Thomas Farm and Dairy.

Average Mileage

27 / 44.9 miles

Elevation Gain

444 / 1095 feet

Riding Terrain

Gentle Rolling

Accommodations

The Hotel Northampton

Luxury Level3 stars

Day3

Chapel Falls and the hilltowns Ashfield and Conway

We start with a gradual 1100' climb over 15 miles to reach Chapel Falls. This beautiful spot is a series of pools and falls joined by natural water slides. Most of the ride to Chapel Falls will be along the west edge of Conway State Forest. On the way, we will stop at the Mill River Dam Historical Site, where a poorly built dam failed in 1874, killing 139 people. The failure of this dam led to the first regulation of structures and engineering in the US. We enjoy lunch in the quaint village of Ashfield, established in 1747. Departing from the south end of Ashfield village, the terrain quickly drops into our long descent along the east edge of Conway State Forest. We'll stop at Burkeville Covered Bridge, built in 1870 and still in use today. Just after entering the Northampton city limits, we will visit a birding boardwalk at the 1000+ acre Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area.

Meals Provided

Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

45.1 miles

Elevation Gain

2,577 feet

Riding Terrain

Gentle Rolling

Meals Provided

Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

The Hotel Northampton

Luxury Level3 stars

Day4

Beaver Dams and the Holyoke Range Loop

We have an 8am "goodbye ride," with the hotel rooms held for a 12 noon check out. Guests can complete this ride and take a shower before checking out. We start along the Mass Central Rail Trail straight and flat, passing by fields that have been farmed since 1660. We’ll stop at the Rangeview bicycle rest area, with a great view of the Holyoke Range. We climb the gentle grade up and over the town of Amherst, and descend through conservation land owned by Amherst College. During the time of Glacial Lake Hitchcock, the hill on which Amherst is built was an island. We’ll ride through the large Lawrence Swamp wetlands and beaver dam complex. Our course passes trailside turtle nesting areas, which are active for nesting in late May through June. We depart from the Mass Central Rail Trail and ride on country roads through state park land, and circumnavigate the Holyoke Range. Approaching the river again from the back of the range, we’ll stop to see the high water mark sign post on Hockanum Road, with marks from the major floods in 1936 and 1938. Upon return to the hotel, guests will shower and check out. As a final taste treat, a hot snack will be prepared and served as guests come to their cars.

Average Mileage

33.3

Elevation Gain

1232 feet

Riding Terrain

Long gentle climb, then rolling descent

Accommodations

Farm to Table: Pioneer Valley Paradise

Luxury Level

North America

Italy

2023 Tours

By Collection

By Activity

By Ability Level

North America

Italy

2023 Tours

By Collection

By Activity

By Ability Level

Farm to Table: Pioneer Valley Paradise

Spinning and tasting along the Gentle Landscapes, Farms and Historic Towns of the Pioneer Valley

Download a Detailed Itinerary

Destination

Activity

Level

Duration

Tour Essence

What to Expect

Terrain

Start Location

End Location

Mileage

Elevation

Dates

2023

What's Included

Itinerary

Start Location

Fly Into

End Location

Fly Out Of

Vineyard Loop by the Mt Tom Range

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

The Hotel Northampton

Connecticut River Loop

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Accommodations

The Hotel Northampton

Chapel Falls and the hilltowns Ashfield and Conway

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

The Hotel Northampton

Beaver Dams and the Holyoke Range Loop

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Accommodations

Farm to Table: Pioneer Valley Paradise

Meet Our Guides

Michael Akrep

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