7This brand-new title from the Appalachian Mountain Club is your indispensable guide to 50 of the best day hikes in the geologically rich but undersung region of central Massachusetts. Whether you are an avid hiker or are looking for adventures in your own backyard, this is a must-have resource for both day-long treks and shorter, close-to-home outings. Covering the areas west of Boston and east of the Berkshires, this guide includes Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties, with hikes exploring the wild beauty of Royalston Falls and Mt. Grace State Forest; following the historic Mohawk and Keystone Arches trails; summiting beloved peaks such as Tully, Holyoke, and Tom; and reveling in the vistas of Wachusett and Watatic mountains. While this title devoted to central Massachusetts is new, readers across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic trust and rely on AMC's Best Day Hikes series for hikes of all experience levels and interests. An at-a-glance trip planner highlights the best hikes near public transportation, as well as those for kids, dogs, and winter snowshoeing and skiing. With GPS coordinates for all trailheads, turn-by-turn directions and information on time, distance, and difficulty for each hike, as well as enriching essays about the area's natural and social history, this is your quintessential guide to exploring the trails of this verdant, scenic, and rugged region. Inside You'll Find: - 50 hikes ideal for hikers of all ability levels- GPS coordinates for all trailheads- Locator map and at-a-glance trip planner for easy planning- Detailed maps showing parking areas, trails, and natural highlights- Summaries of time, distance, and difficulty level for each trail- Hiking and safety tips, including advice on what to carry in your pack- Essays on the flora, fauna, and historic landmarks of the region ALSO AVAILABLE AMC's Best Day Hikes near Boston: Four-Season Guide to 60 of the Best Trails in Eastern Massachusetts, 3rd Edition, by Michael Tougias, John S. Burk, and Alison O'Leary ISBN: 978-1-62842-042-5 AMC's Best Day Hikes in the Berkshires: Four-Season Guide to 50 of the Best Trails in Western Massachusetts, by René Laubach ISBN-13: 978-1-62842-012-8 Massachusetts Trail Guide, 10th Edition, edited by John S. Burk ISBN-13: 978-1-62842-020-3