One of my favorite ways to enjoy a sunny day at Amherst is hopping on a bike and hitting the Norwottuck Rail Trail with friends. It’s such an easy escape from campus life, and it honestly feels like a mini adventure every time we go.
We usually start by renting bikes from the Alumni Gym — it’s super convenient (and way cheaper than getting a rental somewhere off-campus). After a quick check to make sure the tires are pumped and the helmets are adjusted, we’re off! The Rail Trail itself is beautiful — long stretches of peaceful trees, wide-open fields, and little glimpses of the Connecticut River if you keep your eyes peeled. Whether you’re speeding ahead or just cruising and chatting, the ride feels refreshing and laid-back all at once.
One of our favorite destinations? Flayvors of Cook Farm. It’s this adorable farm and barn that also happens to serve some of the best ice cream around. You know it’s going to be good when you can literally see the cows right next to where you’re ordering your cone! The trail takes us almost all the way there, and once we roll up, it’s like the perfect reward: farm-fresh ice cream, friendly faces, and plenty of places to sit and just hang out.
My go-to order? A giant scoop of their Coffee Oreo ice cream — it’s absolutely unmatched. Some of my friends swear by the seasonal flavors — seriously, if you go in the fall, get the pumpkin. It’s life-changing.
After relaxing for a bit (and maybe visiting the cows because why not?), we hop back on our bikes and cruise back toward campus, full of ice cream and good vibes.
The best part about the Rail Trail is that it’s easy to make it whatever you want it to be: a long workout ride, a slow afternoon with friends, or a spontaneous trip for the best ice cream in town. It’s one of those little things that makes Amherst feel like home.
Running the Rail Trail
While biking the Norwottuck Rail Trail is one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon, there’s something just as special about running it. Some days, when the weather is perfect and the trees are swaying just right, lacing up my running shoes and hitting the trail feels like the best decision I could make.
The Rail Trail is made for runs — it’s mostly flat, shaded in a lot of spots, and stretches on for miles without the stress of busy roads or cars zooming past. It’s peaceful, but not empty; you’ll pass other runners, bikers, people walking their dogs, sometimes even families out for a stroll. It’s the kind of place that feels alive in a slow, steady way, which somehow makes pushing through those long miles a little easier.
One of my favorite running memories is when my friend Xyoa and I decided to tackle a long run together — and somehow ended up running six miles! It started off casual: just a normal, “let’s get some exercise in” type of afternoon. But one mile turned into two, then three, and before we knew it, we were laughing, chatting, and pushing ourselves all the way to six.
We didn’t plan it. We didn’t even really think we could do it at the start. But somewhere between the open fields, the quiet hum of the trees, and the rhythm of our footsteps, it felt natural to just keep going.
There’s something about running on the Rail Trail that makes miles slip by more easily than you’d expect. Maybe it’s the scenery, maybe it’s the feeling of being just a little removed from the world for a while — but either way, every time I finish a run there, I feel a little lighter, a little stronger, and a lot more alive.
Running six miles that day with Xyoa showed me that sometimes the best moments are the ones you don’t plan — you just show up, keep moving, and let the trail carry you farther than you thought you could go.