Massachusetts · Mountain biking

South Side Trail

1.3 mi
round trip
393 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

South Side Trail is a 2.5-mile out-and-back mountain biking route in western Massachusetts, about 1.5 miles from the town of Aldrich Mills. The trail rises from a low point of 420 feet to a high of 567 feet, with a total climb of 393 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes early on, at about 0.24 miles in, where the grade reaches 14 percent. The most comfortable months for a ride are late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Belchertown run from highs around 68°F in May to about 73°F in September, with July the warmest at 82°F. Several other routes sit right alongside this one. Notch Link and Jacob's Ladder are both about 0.1 mile away, and the Raptor hike is just as close. For time on the water, the Fort River offers canoeing about 5 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit South Side Trail

    Best months: April and June–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      33° / 15°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 15°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      44° / 24°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      57° / 34°

      11 wet

    5. May

      68° / 45°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      77° / 54°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 60°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 58°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 51°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 40°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 31°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      38° / 22°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Belchertown, MA, 8.9 mi away at 550 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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