The New England National Scenic Trail (NET) is a 215-mile hiking trail route that has been in existence for over half a century. The NET travels through 41 communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, including South Hadley, and is comprised primarily of the historic Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Monadnock (M-M-M) Trail systems.

The NET travels through classic New England landscape, features: long-distance vistas with rural towns as a backdrop, agrarian lands, unfragmented forests, and large river valleys. The trail also travels through colonial historical landmarks and highlights a range of diverse ecosystems and natural resources: mountain ridges and summits, forested glades, wetlands and vernal pools, lakes, streams and waterfalls.

Liam Cregan works for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), an environmental nonprofit that has been dedicated to the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors since 1876. In collaboration with the National Park Service, both AMC and Connecticut Forest & Park Association, steward the trail in Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively, with the dedicated service of many volunteers. Liam will give a presentation about all things NET, including conservation efforts along the trail, popular hikes and overnight sites and how to get involved in volunteering to care for the trail.

If you are interested in the outdoors and learning more about how trails that are close to your home are built, maintained, and managed, then this event is for you!