Twister
- 0.9 mi
- round trip
- 289 ft
- climb
- Singletrack
- surface
- Out and back
- route
- Apr, Jun–Oct
- best months
Twister is a mountain biking climb in western Massachusetts, about a mile from the small community of Aldrich Mills. The route is an out-and-back that gains about 260 feet in elevation over roughly 2 miles, with the high point at 561 feet. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.4 miles in, and the total round-trip gain and loss are each about 290 feet. The route is rated hard, and the climb is steep enough to make it a challenge for riders looking for a short, easy ride. The start sits at 364 feet, and the low point on the way back is 291 feet, so the route is roughly symmetrical. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Belchertown put July highs around 82°F with lows near 60°F, while September cools to highs in the low 70s. Several other trails sit right next to Twister. Entrance Exam and IMBA Access are both about 0.1 miles away, and the Better hike is about 0.3 miles off. For time on the water, the Fort River offers canoeing about 6 miles away.
Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct
Best time to visit Twister
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.
Jan
33° / 15°
11 wet
Feb
35° / 15°
10 wet
Mar
44° / 24°
11 wet
Apr
57° / 34°
11 wet
May
68° / 45°
13 wet
Jun
77° / 54°
12 wet
Jul
82° / 60°
11 wet
Aug
80° / 58°
11 wet
Sep
73° / 51°
10 wet
Oct
60° / 40°
11 wet
Nov
49° / 31°
10 wet
Dec
38° / 22°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Belchertown, MA, 8.7 mi away at 550 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more rides worth the drive
RIDE
IMBA Access
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0.73-mile out-and-back singletrack with 221 ft gain in New York.
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Better Access
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0.42-mile easy singletrack out-and-back in New York with 67 ft gain.
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Missing Persons
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1.14-mile out-and-back trail in Massachusetts with 222 ft elevation gain.
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Serpent God
~1 min drive
0.66-mile hard singletrack in Massachusetts with 38 ft of elevation gain.
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Yellow Brick Road
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0.32-mile out-and-back singletrack in New York with 29 ft of elevation gain.
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Main Access
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0.32-mile easy singletrack out-and-back in New York with 89 ft elevation gain.
RIDE
Far East
Next door
0.79-mile out-and-back trail in Massachusetts with 33 ft of elevation gain.
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Low Place Trail
~4 min drive
0.34-mile hard out and back trail in New York with 194 ft gain.
RIDE
Em’s Gem
~1 min drive
0.47-mile out-and-back singletrack with 34 ft gain in New York.
RIDE
T-Rex
~1 min drive
0.39-mile easy singletrack out-and-back in New York with 141 ft gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
