A small stretch of land between Route 9 and I-91 might not sound like prime walking territory. But out here, you can disconnect. This is farmland — a quick and easy escape to Kansas from downtown Northampton’s Oz.
At Sheldon Field, Old Ferry Road branches off from Bridge Street and runs around the fairgrounds, where it connects to Cross Path Road and then Ventures Field Road, before reconnecting with Hockanum Road south of downtown.
The quiet paved route hugs the side of I-91, but the wooded hill between the road and the highway above creates a nice buffer from the traffic. On this peaceful 30-minute walk, a car passes only occasionally. In warm weather, birds sing, and fields of grass bend in the warm breeze.
I took this walk for the first time as an angsty high-schooler, when I needed to clear my head following a painful break-up. I walked north from Hockanum, past a few stray houses and the garage owned by JJ Stanisewski & Sons, and I continued on past the cornfields on my left. Then, as now, it is rare to pass other walkers on this road.
I came to the edge of the fairgrounds. Seasonal buildings sat far-off and dormant behind a chain-link fence. Despite events like the Three County Fair and the Paradise City Arts Festival drawing thousands of people here each year, this area feels relaxed and residential. Houses are far apart. Out here, the bright sky feels bold and wide-open.
Stand still, turn in a slow circle, and see if you don’t feel a grand sense of calm. People don’t come out to this overlooked stretch of Northampton unless they really want to be here — outside, alone.
I’ve taken this walk a few times every year since then. I make my contemplative circle through these fields when I’m upset, overworked, or simply when I’m looking to shore up a feeling of inner peace. It’s a beautiful loop year-round — even if you only have a lunch break to spare.•
