Upcoming Events
Ride of Silence
The Ride of Silence will traverse and unite the globe as nothing before it. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.
The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. The ride, which is held during Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police, and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.
The ride will begin at the Westfield Middle School and travel on West Silver St and Western Ave, turning around near Westfield State University.
May Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
Mayor's Bike Ride
Join Mayor McCabe and the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail on a bike ride through Westfield and on the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail to celebrate Bay State Bike Month!
The round-trip ride will leave from Westfield City Hall shortly after 5:30pm.
More details to follow!
This is a family-friendly, all ages and abilities event. Rules of the Columbia Greenway are posted on the trail and will be followed. Helmets are recommended.
Bike-friendly events across the state can be found at https://www.massbike.org/massachusetts-bike-friendly-events-calendar.
June Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
Great River Ride 2024
The Great River Ride is back for 2024!
We are again partnering with New Horizons Bikes to bring you this amazing set of rides, including the popular Vineyard Route along the rail trail!
See details for each type of ride below. All routes start and end at Sons of Erin, where a buffet and live entertainment will be waiting for you at the finish!
Vineyard route
The 28-mile Vineyard Route utilizes the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, the Southwick Rail Trail, and the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, part of the larger New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway. You’ll ride to the Brignole Vineyard in East Granby, CT for a snack stop (wine will be available for purchase) before returning to Westfield. Great for all riders, especially families who wish to take advantage of our great rail trail network. Plus, children 15 years old and younger ride free with a registered adult!
There is also a 40-mile route that is partially on the rail trails and partially on the open road. A great option for those who enjoy the Vineyard Route but want a bigger challenge. This route also includes a rest stop at Brignole Vineyard!
Road routes
You will encounter knee-popping hills, breathtaking views, awesome descents, and gorgeous fall foliage as you tour the hilltowns of the Eastern Berkshires. Add in miles of stone walls, waterfalls, plenty of New England white churches, loads of colonial homes, historic keystone arches, and a wild and scenic river. But that's not all, we've got rest stops staffed with friendly cyclists and good food, including our famous "Baked Potato" stop. Choose between 103-mile, 85-mile, and 65-mile options.
Gravel route
The Gravel route is a mix of pavement, gravel, dirt and seasonal roads that we’ve enjoyed fall riding on for over 50 years. The 72-mile route has several gravel/dirt sections making up 40% of the route’s miles. The route will take you through the remote Knightville Basin and Chesterfield Gorge with stunning vistas along the East Branch of the Westfield River. You’ll pass through the Knightville Meadows, the Rainbow Pool, the Little Gorge and the Chesterfield Gorge on your ride. Most climbs are paved but Thayer Rd. is a moderately difficult climb of 1.4 miles on dirt ranging from 10% to 7%. A long descent to River Rd. follows a seasonal road with some steep downgrades. At River Rd. you will have a choice of the final gravel climb up Maynard Rd. or the bailout paved climb up East River Hill to the baked potato stop at the Chester Hill Church. Gravel/Dirt sections will not be monitored by SAG vehicles and cell phone coverage is limited. Be prepared to handle mechanical problems and flats. Several miles of the route follows a gated road closed to motor vehicles; we recommend teaming up with other riders on these sections. Tire widths of 38mm or wider are recommended. Fallen leaves will hide loose and bony surfaces, so caution on descents is advised.
Register today! Visit this page to sign up!
April Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
March Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
February Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
POSTPONED: January Board Meeting
This meeting has been postponed due to inclement weather and will be rescheduled.
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Committee Room at the Westfield Athenaeum.
November Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
Stargazing on the Columbia Greenway
Do you want to learn more about what you can see in the night sky?
Bring your flashlight and join the Westfield High School Space and Astronomy Club for a solar system walk. Planets will be marked to a scaled distance and the club will explain each planet.
We will gather at the Main Street Ramp at 5:15pm, and the walk will start at 5:30pm.
At the end of the walk, telescopes will be set up on the Dry Bridge overlooking tobacco field for viewing.
Please note that the program will be canceled in case of forecasted clouds, rain, snow, or poor visibility.
(Image by Freepik)
Glow Walk 2023
Grab a flashlight and walk along the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail while stories and poems are read. Glow sticks will be provided. The walk will feature the Hunter’s Moon appearing over the tobacco field near the Dry Bridge. This event involves a one-mile walk and is open to everyone!
We also ask that you bring a canned good for donation.
October Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
September Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
Central Section Ribbon Cutting
Please join us, alongside MassDOT and the City of Westfield, to cut the ribbon on the Central Section of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail! This event will feature several speakers important to the success of this project, and will formally open the new section for public use.
After the conclusion of the ribbon cutting, we will celebrate with light refreshments and a group walk along the new section to the Westfield River Esplanade.
August Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
POSTPONED: Central Section Grand Opening Celebration
POSTPONED: The Central Section Grand Opening Celebration originally scheduled for June 17th at 10 a.m. has been postponed as construction will not be complete by June 17th. The entire Central Section, including the Elm Street Bridge, is not open for public use and will not be open until all the necessary work is complete later this summer. Join us instead for the rescheduled Mayor’s Bike Ride on June 17th at 9:30 a.m., starting at Westfield City Hall.
The moment is finally here! Join us to celebrate the grand opening of the Central Section of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail!
This event will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the beginning of the Main Street Bridge, followed by a group walk and roll down the Central Section to the Westfield River Esplanade, where the celebration will continue. The entire community is invited to join us in celebrating this momentous occasion and major accomplishment for Westfield!
POSTPONED: Mayor's Bike Ride (rescheduled!)
POSTPONED: With rain (including thunderstorms) in the forecast for Saturday morning, the Mayor's Ride is postponed.
Stay tuned for a new date!
The Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail (FOCGRT) is kicking off the summer with a rescheduled Mayor’s Ride on June 17th at 9:30 a.m. Join Mayor Mike McCabe and bring your family and friends on this community bike ride.
The ride will start and finish at City Hall and traverse 8 miles on the road and Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Enjoy a food truck and celebrate the beginning of summer with fellow bikers at the finish! This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY Ride for ALL to enjoy. Let summer begin!
June Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting at the Westfield River Esplanade, but in case of rain, we will meet in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
CANCELLED: Mayor's Bike Ride
This event has been cancelled due to rain.
Join Mayor McCabe and the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail on a bike ride through Westfield and on the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail to celebrate Bay State Bike Month!
The round-trip ride will leave from Westfield City Hall shortly after 5:30pm.
More details to follow!
This is a family-friendly, all ages and abilities event. Rules of the Columbia Greenway are posted on the trail and will be followed. Helmets are recommended.
Bike-friendly events across the state can be found at www.baystatebikemonth.org.
Ride of Silence
The Ride of Silence will traverse and unite the globe as nothing before it. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.
The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. The ride, which is held during Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police, and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.
The ride will begin at the Westfield Middle School and travel on West Silver St and Western Ave, turning around near Westfield State University.
May Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
Earth Day Cleanup
Join us to help clean up the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail on Earth Day!
You can sign up for one of six sections of the trail:
Women’s Temperance Park to Black Rail Bridge
Esplanade along the Westfield Great River Bridge North and South
Stop and Shop to East Silver Street Bridge
East Silver Street Bridge to Tin Bridge
Tin Bridge to Shaker Road
Shaker Road to Southwick Line
Volunteer check-in will begin at 8:00 AM at Mount Moriah Lodge at 72 Broad Street. Breakfast will be provided by Stop and Shop and Mount Moriah Lodge on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Gloves, trash bags, and buckets will be provided. Bring your own grabbers.
After clean up, enjoy lunch at Mount Moriah Lodge beginning at noon!
April Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
March Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
February Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
December Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Committee Room at the Westfield Athenaeum.
November Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
October Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
September Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
Yoga in the Park
Grab your yoga mat and a friend and join us for some Saturday morning mindfulness.
The Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail is hosting free yoga in Kane/Wojtkiewicz Park. Easily accessible from the Columbia Greenway, the little park between the green bridges offers lovely views of the Westfield River.
Please bring your own yoga mats.
June Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
May Board Meeting
Join us for our monthly board meeting!
We will be meeting in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum.
Mayor's Bike Ride
Join Mayor McCabe and the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail on a bike ride through Westfield and on the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail to celebrate Bay State Bike Month!
The round-trip ride will leave from Westfield City Hall shortly after 5:30pm.
WPD will escort riders to and from the Stop & Shop parking lot where the ride will continue on the Columbia Greenway to the Shaker Farms parking area and then loop back (approx. 6 miles round-trip, riding at an average 8-10 mph).
This is a family friendly event. Rules of the Columbia Greenway are posted on the trail and will be followed. Helmets are recommended.
Bike-friendly events across the state can be found at www.baystatebikemonth.org.
ValleyBike Demonstration Day
ValleyBike and the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail invite you to come learn more about the Valley's pedal-electric assist bikeshare system and try the bikes out yourself! Bikes will be available to try for free at the Main Street ramp of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Come get a taste of what may come to Westfield in the near future!
Learn more about ValleyBike by going to https://www.valleybike.org.