AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mount Holyoke Range State Park

Em’s Gem–Laurel Loop Loop, 12 sights

5.5 mi · ▲ 837 ft · 2 hr 15 min

Em’s Gem–Laurel Loop Loop, 12 sights is a 5.5-mile loop in Mount Holyoke Range State Park near South Amherst, MA. It climbs 837 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi217 – 712 ft · steepest grade: 19%5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Pond Loop Trail access 42.31841, -72.52428
Nearest town South Amherst, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Em’s Gem–Laurel Loop Loop, 12 sights

5.5 mi · ▲ 837 ft · 2 hr 15 min

Elevation 215–710 ft

Loop · Mount Holyoke Range State Park

Trailhead: Pond Loop Trail access · 42.31841, -72.52428

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 6:53 PM

Transit-accessible: Atkins Farm Storefront stop 371 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Pond Loop Trail access, heading SW.
  2. 50 ftBear right onto Pond Loop Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.2 miBear left onto Trolley Bed, heading S.
  4. 0.7 miTurn right, heading S.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Laurel Loop, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Trolley Bed, heading S.
  7. 500 ftBear left onto NET/M&M/RFT Trail (white/blue/orange), heading S.
  8. 0.2 miBear right onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading SE.
  9. 0.2 miTurn right onto South Side Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  11. 150 ftTurn left onto T-Rex, heading S.
  12. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Em’s Gem, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left onto Lower Access, heading W.
  14. 0.4 miBear right onto South Side Trail, heading NE.
  15. 0.2 miTurn left onto Swamp Trail (Red), heading E.
  16. 0.5 miBear right onto NET/M&M Trail (white), heading N.
  17. 50 ftTurn left onto Robert Frost, heading NE.
  18. 0.1 miTurn left onto Robert Frost Trail (orange), heading NE.
  19. 0.8 miTurn right, heading SW.
  20. 0.3 miTurn left onto North Side, heading NE.
  21. 0.5 miTurn right onto Sweet Alice Trail, heading N.
  22. 0.4 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/em-s-gem-loop

Trail surface

71% dirt10% grass19% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:36 AMSunset 6:53 PM

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Atkins Farm Storefront stop 371 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Pond Loop Trail access Trailhead

Hikes near South Amherst, Massachusetts