Mount Tom’s Presence in Holyoke

Rising 1,214 feet above Holyoke, Mount Tom has a significant presence in town. It is park of a ridge mountain system that extends for fifty miles! With its unique blend of soils, elevation, and mature forests, it supports a habitat perfect for rare plants and provides streams and pools that are home to many salamanders, frogs, crustaceans, snails, and insects.

At one time occupied by a recreational park and cable railway, Mount Tom is now thriving with a state park and many acres of conservation land. One slope of the mountain is a perfect home for a couple of rare and endangered snake species while other slopes are lush with vegetation and home to bear, deer, bobcat, and other mammals. Of the 80 species of trees found in the region, 47 of them exist on Mount Tom and is the premier hawk watching spot in New England. Three quarters of the state’s native species of reptiles and amphibians are found on the mountain. It is considered one of the most important areas of rare species in the state!