Springfield, MA Outdoor Activities
Springfield Outdoor Activity Guide
Springfield might seem like a big city, but residents know that it also offers a variety of outdoor activities. Adventure lovers can find a way to spend an active weekend, while those who prefer activities with a little less intensity can easily find other activities. Springfield concerts, hiking, and biking are a few of the top outdoor activities.
Lake Springfield is a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts because it offers something for everyone. The Lake Springfield Marina provides rental slips for those who want to keep their boat on the lake, and rental shops allow locals to rent a boat for a few hours. New Salem Canoe, which rents canoes, is nearby. Those who have little experience with a canoe can opt for one of the tours, which takes people out on boats for several hours with a guide. The lake also offers fishing, swimming, and picnicking spots.
The city has a number of parks that offer hiking trails, picnicking areas, and playgrounds. One of the best Springfield parks is the Washington Park Botanical Garden. This park has hundreds of plants and flowers on display. The top attractions at the park change every season, depending on what is in bloom at the time. A butterfly garden lets guests watch these delicate creatures dancing across the flowers, while the formal garden is reminiscent of an old-fashioned English garden.
Those who have a bike can spend hours on the Sangamon Valley Bike Trail. This trail takes cyclists on a tour of Springfield; it will be lengthened in the future, which will allow riders follow the trail to neighboring cities and towns. Riders can rest at various spots along the trail, including Stuart Park.
With biking trails, a large lake, and a botanical garden, this city offers locals many things to do in the great outdoors beyond the typical Springfield concerts.
Outdoor Activity Deals
AG Paintball
- Weare
Seven fields littered with barrels and wooden spools are regularly updated to host players who lock and load rented equipment
Capital Region Parade of Homes
- Capital Region
Home shows display current fashions and architectural trends
Northampton Country Club
- Northampton
Course built in 1898 comprises nine holes with wide fairways, small greens, and four sets of tees for various skill levels
Recommended Outdoor Activities by Groupon Customers
Along with providing classy urbanites with a pastoral setting of forested hills, treacherous water traps, and the scenic Moosup River, the Foster Country Club offers a full 18-hole, par 72 course for your golf-cart-rampaging pleasure. Players of all skill levels can get in on the action, but every golfer should beware of the approach to the elevated green on hole 6, the double dogleg on hole 12, and the resident troll beneath the covered bridge.
An outdoorsman since birth and G. Loomis–endorsed guide, GSOutfitting's owner, Eric Gass, grew up hunting and fishing the Pioneer Valley and Berkshires. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Eric returned to guiding and now fishes and hunts with his faithful gordon setter, Duncan, by his side.
Eric's business partner, fly-fishing guide Michael Kocot, studied fisheries science and aquaculture in college and uses this knowledge to lead groups as a G. Loomis–endorsed guide and suspected Aquaman alter ego. With their combined powers, Eric and Michael lead fly-fishing trips aboard their 13.5-foot Aire drift raft, as well as local hunting trips for turkey and grouse. GSOutfitting also trains gun dogs and companion dogs, ensuring every hunter will have a loyal sidekick during the season.
Gardner Municipal’s par 71 course takes golfers on an 18-hole odyssey through immaculate fairways hugging the north end of Crystal Lake’s waters. Astride a whirring golf cart or advancing on foot, golfers bob and weave through the course’s tight tree lines, rein in wayward balls, and bribe woodland creatures to improve their lie. Rounds reach their crescendo at the 538-yard, par 5 seventh hole, where drives must trace the fairway as it doglegs to the left while avoiding a vanguard of towering trees along the left side of the fairway.
A multifaceted training area fosters straighter swings and confident putts with a three-tiered practice green and a two-level driving range with space dedicated for long drives, shorter iron shots, and blindfolded sprints through the barrage of practice shots.
Gardner Municipal Golf Course showcases the latest golf styles and equipment in Ben Egan's Golf Shop, which is run by a savvy staff that will help golfers find the clubs and clothes that best suit their style. William's Restaurant and Tavern awaits greenside, where golfers can peruse a menu of prime meat cuts and savory grill fare while deciding whether or not spinach leaves would make a good putting surface.
Course at a Glance:
- 18-hole, par 71 course
- Length of 6,131 yards from the farthest tees
- Course rating of 73.4 from the farthest tees
- Slope of 126 from the farthest tees
- Four tee options
History books chronicle the happenings of politicians and leaders of a country, state, or city, but a folklorist shares the stories and lives of the people who made a community what it is. In the Ghosts & Legends tours—a series of tales about the local and infamous—Randy Felts weaves a blend of south Texas history and tall tales that date back up to 500 years. Randy loves a good ghost story, but what he loves even more is sharing a good ghost story. As a USA Today writer puts it, “Felts likes to emphasize history, culture and drama rather than ghost hunting,” which is further exemplified by his lack of paranormal investigative equipment on each nightly tour.
