Activities at Noble View

Noble View provides recreational opportunities for the entire family. In addition to hiking on 34 miles of trails and on surrounding land, it offers:

• Orienteering
• Snowshoeing
• Cross-country skiing
• Snow sledding
• Canoeing and kayaking
• Backpacking
• Country road bicycling
• Bird watching
• Nature study
• Swimming (at nearby Russell Pond)

The Appalachian Trail, Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, and Connecticut’s Tunxis Trail area all a short drive away, as are the Berkshire’s many cultural attractions.

Day use trail fees help to provide funds to maintain the facility.

Fees of $1 for AMC members and $2 for nonmembers are collected in the “iron ranger” at the entrance to Noble View. (Group activity fees are collected by the leader or facilitator.)

Scheduled Activities

A variety of scheduled events, organized by both the AMC and others, take place at Noble View. For example:

• Social events: the Laurel Day tradition, Independence Day celebration, winter cross-country skiing and snowshoe day.
• Volunteer work weekends for opening and closing cottages, woodcutting, and trail maintenance.
• Creative writing and artists workshops.
• Education workshops in partnership with environmental, nature, preservation, outdoor, and educational organizations such as the New England Naturalist Training Institute, MA Audubon Society, Greenfield Community College and Springfield College outdoor leadership programs, MA teachers’ continuing education credit programs, and youth school groups.
• SOLO Wilderness First Aid, Advanced Wilderness First Aid, and Wilderness First Responder courses.

For dates, refer to our schedule of chapter events.

Noble View Trail Map

Below is a somewhat-legible map of hiking trails at Noble View.

We also have a larger, more readable version, as well as a relief map of the USGS quad that Noble View is in, with Noble View property and trails marked. (The relief map is a big PDF file: 10.8 MB. Modem users beware!)

Directions to Noble View

Address: 635 South Quarter Road, Russell, MA

• From the North or South: Take Route 91 to Exit 14 (Route 90 - Mass Pike), and travel west on Route 90 - Mass Pike to Exit 3.
• From the East or West: Take Route 90 - Mass Pike to Exit 3 (Westfield)
• Go through the toll booths.
• Turn right to go south on Routes 10 & 202 on North Elm Street (which becomes Elm Street) into downtown Westfield.
• Go under a railroad overpass, cross the Westfield River, and go under a second railroad overpass.
• Turn right to go west on Route 20 (Franklin Street). Franklin Street is the first traffic light after you go under the second railroad overpass.
• After about 1.5 miles, turn left at the flashing yellow light onto Lloyd’s Hill Road. There’s a small white sign for Westfield State College on the left at the intersection.
• Turn right at the stop sign to go west on Western Avenue. You’ll then pass Stanley Park on your left and Westfield State College on your right.
• Just past Westfield State College, bear left at the fork, staying on Western Avenue. You’ll really be going straight in order to stay on Western Avenue, but people have told us we should tell you to bear left here. Do not bear right at this fork, following what appears to be the main road (Bates Road).
• Western Avenue becomes General Knox Road at the Westfield-Russell town line. Continue straight on General Knox Road.
• Turn left onto South Quarter Road. South Quarter Road is the first road on the left after Woodland Way. It is 3.38 miles from the fork at Western Avenue and Bates Road. Put on your left turn signal when you see the white picket fence on the left side of the road, and turn left onto South Quarter Road at the very small triangular common with the very small historic General Knox marker.
• Turn left into Noble View (1.18 miles from General Knox Road).
• Go up the entry road until you reach the facility.

Lodging and Camping at Noble View

Noble View has farmhouse and cottage accomodations available. For a family or group, consider reserving either wing of the Double Cottage.

Accommodations are by reservation only and are self-service. (Noble View is managed entirely by volunteers, and has no staff on site.)

• 1831 Farmhouse: one two-bed room, one three-bed room, and a library with two beds and space for several people on the floor.
• North Cottage: closed for now.
• Double Cottage: nine beds in each of two wings. This building is recently updated and features most of the comforts of home. (Still no inside potty.)
• Camping: allowed only in the open area west of the access road to the double cottage.

Lodging is rustic! Details:

• The access road is open and plowed. Check with the registrar for winter availability.
• Pots and pans are provided, but bringing your own disposable silverware and plates will cut down on dish-washing.
• Bring water for cooking and drinking.
• Beds have new five-inch thick mattresses, but linen and pillows are not provided. Bring your own pillows, sheets, and blankets (or sleeping bags if you prefer).
• The Farmhouse has a two-burner a propane-fired hot plate. There are limited outdoor fireplaces areas for cooking.
• All of the buildings are heated by wood stoves — firewood is provided at no cost.
• There is no electricity in the farmhouse and lights are old-fashioned propane gas. (You’ll definitely want a flashlight.) The double cottage now has electricity.
• There is no running water. That means… outhouses!
• Restaurants are available within five miles.

For prices and information about making reservations, see our reservations policy. For other questions, call us at 413.572.4501 or email us at nvreservations@amcberkshire.org. (Email usually gets a faster reply: the phone is only answered every two days.)

Noble View Reservations Policy And Rates

All rooms, bunks, cottages, and other accommodations must be reserved in advance. Lodgers can make a preference in lodging requirements on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are processed and confirmed in the order received.

All fees are payable in advance; special arrangements are made at the discretion of the Noble View registrar. Holidays require a three-day miniumum reservation. Two-day minimum reservations are required at all other times. A waiting list is available for single-night reservations and space may become available two days prior to the requested reservation date.

Full payment in advance is required for a reservation. Lodging fees are refundable for 75% of the total if the registrar is notified at least seven days before the scheduled date. Lodging fees are not refundable when canceled within the last seven days of the scheduled date. Refund requests must be followed up in writing. Deposits and refunds will be sent out a minimum of once per month.

• Lodgers overstaying their reservation dates MUST clear with the registrar, so no conflicts arise and lodging fees can be tracked.
• The double cottage will be counted as two separate wings in the fee schedule.
• Individual guests under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Camping is only allowed in the open area west of the access road to the double cottage.

Please remember that Noble View is managed entirely by AMC volunteers, and that we have no staff on site. All stays there are self-service.

Rates (per night)

	AMC Members	Non-Members
farmhouse: exclusive use (10 beds)	$100	$110
farmhouse: 2-bed room	$35	$45
farmhouse: 3-bed room	$45	$55
farmhouse: library	$13/bed	$15/bed
North Cottage: exclusive use (7 beds)	closed for repairs	closed for repairs
Double Cottage:	$18 per night for a single bed	$20 per night for a single bed
Camping:	$8/person	$9/person
Day use:	$1/person	$2/person
Workshops & programs:	Facilitator collects fees.

A $75 damage and key deposit is required, refunded upon return of key. On holidays, a minimum stay of three days is required. The gate key option is available to AMC members only.

For more information or to make reservations, call us at 413.572.4501 or email us at forgary@comcast.net. (Email usually gets a faster reply: the phone is only answered every two days.)

The latest schedule and fees are listed on the AMC Main Office’s Noble View page.

Full payment is required to finalize all reservations. Please make checks payable to “AMC Noble View Camp” and send to:

    Gary Forish
    Noble View Camp
    PO Box 918
    Westfield, MA 01086

Gate Key Policy

Members of any AMC chapter may request a copy of the key to the Noble View main gate, so that they may visit the grounds at any time. Key holders are entitled to unlimited trail use, and to day use of the property and buildings (as long as lodgers are not affected).

Note that key holders are not entitled to lodging at the camp facility without first making reservations, and the usual lodging fees apply (payable in advance). Keys may not be duplicated, transferred, or loaned out, but must be kept in your possession.

The annual key fee is $50, or $25 if you participate in one volunteer work day. Key rights for an entire family are an additional $10.

To apply, download and print a copy of the gate key application. Make sure to read the details of the policy on page 2. Complete the application and mail it with a check to the address indicated on the form. Then enjoy Noble View!

Gate Access Procedures

When you have access to the Noble View key at the gate, please follow the following procedure:

• Lock the lock back onto the gate chain.
• The key cannot be removed from any locks until it is locked.
• Please leave the gate unlocked (although it may be swung closed) during your stay as emergency vehicles must be able to enter.
• In the older building, the lock must be locked to the exterior hasp when entering.
• Your key is serial numbered and has been assigned to you.
• The key is a high security key that cannot be copied. It is only available directly from the lock manufacturer.
• Please drive slowly on the driveway to the buildings. Hikers and visitors may be walking on the road.
• Be courteous to our neighbors while driving on South Quarter Road; drive slowly.

Security Measures

• Leave all valuables in your vehicle when you are not in the building that you have rented.
• Lock all vehicles during the day and evening.

Noble View Mission Statement and Plan

This is an executive summary of the Noble View Committee’s long range plan for the camp, including mission statement.

Introduction and Purpose

As Richard Burt’s poem demonstrates, Noble View has been loved and supported by AMC members since 1930. Noble View occupies a ridge top and provides a spectacular view of the Pioneer Valley. The rustic camp, featuring a homestead built in 1831, two cottages, and a barn, is steeped in history and involvement by AMC volunteers. It serves as an overnight facility from June to September and can be used for recreation and some meetings year round. The hills, streams, woodlands, and 360-acre rural setting give users a sense of serenity and opportunities for healthy, outdoor activities. The 30,000-acre Cobble Mountain Reserve adjoins Noble View. According to the Trustees of Reservations, Noble View sits in a 35-mile long, 117,000-acre swath of open, protected space, private conservation lands, and state and town parcels. A very large potential user population in Springfield, Albany, Boston, and New York City can easily access the property from Interstates 90 and 91.

Noble View Mission Statement

The purpose of the AMC Noble View Camp is to support the broader AMC mission of protecting and enjoying the outdoors. The AMC volunteers who manage Noble View are committed to providing a natural retreat for all ages and abilities in a mountain top location featuring hiking, whitewater kayaking, cross country skiing, educational programs, and conservation programs. Our programs and facilities build an appreciation of AMC’s conservation, education, and recreation mission.

Vision of Success

Noble View has enormous possibilities as a modernized yet rustic self-service camp. It will become a target destination for families with children, other small groups, community members, and those who are unable or unwilling to take advantage of the opportunities in the White Mountains. Noble View offers peaceful, less challenging terrain, a connection to nature, low impact recreational access, and education programs.

We will have achieved one form of success by making AMC’s Noble View Camp accessible to greater numbers of visitors than in the past. Our vision requires the updating of Noble View facilities to bring them up to state codes, but it also includes maintaining the rustic character and quiet simplicity of Noble View while maintaining the dignity and feeling of historic Noble View

Historical Summary, Assumptions, and Risks

Traditionally Noble View has very strong ties to the AMC Berkshire Chapter. At one time, members viewed Noble View as a “private club” for the chapter. Over the past year, this has successfully been changed and public usage has dramatically increased. Day usage in 2002 increased by 460% and overnight usage increased by 340% over the previous year.

According to the Ecotourism Society, 48% of vacationers in this area participate in nature-based activities. The Nature Conservancy and the Trustees of Reservations have included the region around Noble View as part of their Highlands campaign to preserve and protect a large landscape. The Westfield River watershed, which includes Noble View, is part of the National Wild and Scenic River system. And recently a new National Forest has been proposed for the region.

The volunteers who manage Noble View strive to maintain its historic character with strong ties to the local community, while increasing its visibility to a wider population through marketing, education, and conservation program development. We fully expect that the plans described in this long range plan will lead to increased usage of Noble View.

The primary risk seen by the committee is providing the funding needed to complete the Action Plan outlined in this document.

Goals

• Become a destination AMC facility between Fire Island and the White Mountains.
• Retain the rustic, relaxed and historic atmosphere and character of the Farmhouse, cottages, and barn.
• Repair buildings to comply with applicable code requirements and inspection reports.
• Provide minimal modern conveniences to lodgers (e.g. bathhouse facility).
• Maintain the ecological balance of the hills, woodlands, streams, and low impact recreational opportunities.
• Continue to encourage and support volunteer activities and the strong dedication of the community to Noble View.
• Establish a nature center in the barn.
• Attain maximum usage of facility and be financially self-sustaining.

Strategies (currently in progress)

• Retain and expand the newly organized Noble View volunteer committee, including a diverse membership committed to Noble View.
• Implement new policies for reservations and a new fee structure.
• Rely on a community of dedicated volunteers to host lodgers, repair buildings, and maintain trails.
• Apply for grant funding to offset capital improvement costs.

Operations and Management

• Self service Volunteer Managed Facility (VMF).
• Paid on site summer coordinator, as conditions require.
• Volunteer “friends” group to manage housekeeping, tend to maintenance, and arrange conservation and education programs.
• Reservations through a designated Noble View committee member, coordinated with AMC central reservations in the future.
• Part time paid or volunteer caretaker for grounds keeping and minor repairs.
• Supervision, coordination, and evaluation by Noble View committee in conjunction with paid non-resident AMC staff.

Programs

• Social: Laurel Day tradition, Independence Day celebration, winter cross-country skiing day.
• Volunteer work weekends for opening and closing cottages, woodcutting, and trail maintenance.
• Creative writing workshops.
• Education workshops in partnership with environmental, nature, preservation, and outdoor organizations such as the New England Naturalist Training Institute, Mass. Audubon Society, and The Nature Conservancy, and with educational institutions such as the Greenfield Community College and Springfield College outdoor leadership program, Mass. teachers’ continuing education credit programs, youth school groups, and others.

Finances

Our financial goal involves making the most efficient use and maximizing the potential of the Noble View assets. Our financial plan shows a positive cash flow from the first year and projected through 10 years. It uses modest growth assumptions and a modestly improving economic environment. The positive cash flow includes a full depreciation schedule and reserves to replace facilities.

The Vision for Noble View

The Vision for Noble View is one that complements and supports AMC’s Vision 2010. Centrally positioned among southern New England AMC chapters, Noble View has a convenient location near major highways and population centers. Featuring self-service, three-season accommodations and an educational and training center, it will be geared to providing young families, new members, and the elderly and physically handicapped with a local alternative to the White Mountains. The visit will be slower paced, self-service, less challenging, and closer to home. Programs will offer an introduction to outdoor recreation including hiking, climbing, and camping in addition to conservation, leave-no-trace, trail maintenance, composting and recycling, and outdoor safety.

As Noble View moves into the future, we will strive to maintain its rustic, historic ambiance and traditions. Our greatest risk is in finding the funding to complete the Action Plan. We will meet all code requirements and well will be a good neighbor.

In order to accomplish the Vision, we want to achieve these goals over the next five years:

• Meet our commitments in response to Shawn Bergeron’s inspection in order that we can offer full lodging capacity.
• Upgrade the barn to become the educational and training center.
• Improve and expand the infrastructure to include a potable water supply, a two-lane access road, electricity, a bathroom and shower house, and an approved septic system.
• Complete repairs to the North Cottage and the Double Cottage so they can be brought back into production. This will include fire escapes, proper ventilation, cooking facilities with gas stoves, and handicapped access.
• Upgrade the farmhouse to provide an open-plan first floor for meetings and gatherings, first floor living space for host/hostess or summer manager, second floor lodging, and a central wood furnace with forced air heating.