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| Motorcycle
Roads Home > Massachusetts
Motorcycle Roads |
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| Title:
The Shelburne Falls Loop |
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State:
Massachusetts
Submitted
By: KerriOber
Date Submitted: Feb 07
Motorcycle Type: 99 Kaw Vulcan 500
Motorcycle Road Length: 132 Miles
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Motorcycle
Road Scenery: 
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If
you take Route 2W from the Boston area, and follow it
past the Connecticut River, you will see signs for Route
2A Shelburne Falls. Once you get past Athol, MA, Route
2 is pretty. Shelburne Falls features the Bridge of Flowers
(fantastic), and lots of shops. For a longer ramble back,
allow for a few hours, and take a route that brings you
along the Quabbin Reservoir. There's stops for vistas,
forests, little hidden villages, and it's a great route
for a hot day, as the Quabbin acts as a natural air conditioner.
Overall,
you'll see lots of motorcycles on RT 202, as its a
favorite ride. Not so many cars, though. There's lots
of great stops to make, and some great ice cream stands
in Petersham which is great. Central MA has some stunning
old towns, and gorgeous farmland. Not much traffic
makes for a relaxing ride. Bring your camera along!
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Motorcycle
Road Quality: 
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Last
summer they were doing road work near Erving, so there was
some slightly nasty bits. Route 2 is mostly a one lane road
out there, and cars want to exceed the speed limit, despite
the ruts. Around Athol, and to the west, there are some
long steep hills, if that sort of thing makes you nervous.
Most of the roads around the Quabbin were just resurfaced,
so you'll love them. The vista pull-offs are gravel, so
watch yourself. Once around the Quabbin, my Route specifies
taking Route 62 East from Barre. I'll warn you that there's
some mighty steep hills, and the road quality isn't great,
especially through Hubbardston. However, the scenery makes
up for the bumps.
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Motorcycle
Roadside Amenities:
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Shelburne
Falls: the Bridge of Flowers, Shops, dining, and glacial
potholes.
Deerfield:
historic site, antiques, butterfly center.
Amherst:
Shops, and dining
Quabbin
Reservoir: Scenic wonderment
Petersham:
antiques, ice cream, photo ops
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Written directions:
Start
your loop in East Templeton, MA, and take
Rt 2 west to Shelburne Falls, MA. From Shelburne
Falls, take SR-112 south to SR-116 east
and to Ashfield, MA. Continue on 116 past
Ashfield and take it into Amherst. In Amherest
Look for direction signs East for Pelham,
right along the Town Common. From Pelham,
head east up into the hills again until
you get to Rt 202 at which point you will
take a left (go north) and drive along the
western edge of the Quabbin Reservoir. Take
202 north to and through New Salem and look
for Rt 122 and take it east (take a right)
and this will take you to Petersham and
on down to Barre. At Barre you want to get
on Rt 62 east for a short while till it
intersects Rt 68 which you want to take
north (take a left) and head on up to the
end point of East Templeton, MA.
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Additional
Information:
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