The Manhan Rail Trail

08/02/2026

Two Narcan boxes were installed today on the Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton. The Naloxone Overdose Emergency Kits were provided by the Police Department's Drug Addiction Recovery Team (DART), in collaboration with Hampshire Hope. One box is on the trail just north of Union Street. The second box is at the Route 5 trail head by the Oxbow. Thanks to our MRT committee volunteers and the DART team for their efforts to keep all trail users safe.

07/30/2026

Exciting news from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) - they are piloting a bikeshare education program for adults 50+, called Golden Gears, that aims to build confidence in the bikeshare system available throughout our region (including several ValleyBike Share stations on the Manhan Rail Trail!).

They will host an educational event on Sunday, September 27 from 9:30am - 12:30pm at UMass Amherst. You can also learn more about the program on the Golden Gears program website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/golden-gears

07/07/2026

In case you missed the first Manhan Rail Trail Mayor's Ride with Mayor Salem Derby back in May, check out the recap video! Thanks again to Mayor Derby for joining us, and to Thomas Draudt for your videography skills. We can't wait for the next mayor's ride!

06/25/2026

Great news for the Manhan Rail Trail today! We've just learned that the City of Easthampton has been awarded a $408,000 grant for maintenance repairs to the trail including, "pavement improvements to repair cracks, divots and bumps along the entirety of the shared use path." The funding comes from the state's MassTrails Grant program. The City says the grant will be used to fund "critical improvements to the Manhan Rail Trail, enhancing safety and accessibility for residents and visitors alike."

06/11/2026

Are you a fan of the Manhan Rail Trail? Imagine it connecting to the 3.1 mile section of the Southampton Greenway, planned for construction in 2029.
You can help by volunteering with The Friends of Southampton Greenway on fundraising, trail events, social media, etc. Check out their website - southamptongreenway.org - for the latest news or subscribe to their newsletter.

06/06/2026

06/06/2026

We're thrilled to announce that the Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton has been named one of the MassTrails10, a select group of multi-use trails in Massachusetts. Our trail will be highlighted by the Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation during the week of June 8th. The trails were chosen based on their opportunities for recreation, transportation, accessibility and community connection. We are so fortunate to have this very popular trail in our community!

Send a message to learn more

05/30/2026

The Friends of the Manhan Rail Trail have just posted etiquette signs at strategic locations along the trail. We hope everyone takes a minute to read them and take them to heart when using the trail. Our objective is to keep the trail safe and enjoyable for all!
A special thanks to David Jaffe for installing them all and everyone who helped with this project.

05/18/2026

We had a great turnout for the first ever Manhan Rail Trail Mayor's Ride today. We are grateful for everyone who came out to join us for this Bike Week event. Special thanks to Mayor Salem Derby for his time, and also to Tandem Bagel for providing some bagels. It was a beautiful day on our beautiful trail!

05/11/2026

Come celebrate Bike Week in Easthampton, Massachusetts by joining us for the Manhan Rail Trail Mayor’s Ride, Sunday, May 17. This easy, short ride will begin at 10:00 AM at Millside Park (behind the mills on Pleasant Street.) Snacks provided! Here's a short video, courtesy Thomas Draudt: