Scott Tower

September 10, 2025 – Holyoke, Massachusetts

Problem: Straightforward

Size: Roughly 2 miles

Max elevation: 679 ft.– whole elevation achieve roughly 211 ft.

Route sort: Lollipop-Loop

Map: No Map Out there

Trailhead parking: Neighborhood Area Rd, Holyoke, MA 01040

Ample parking and restrooms can be found at Neighborhood Area.

Overview:

Scott Tower, formally often called the Walter Scott Memorial Tower, is a 56-foot stone construction positioned in Anniversary Hill Park in Holyoke, Massachusetts. In-built 1940 as a public works challenge, the tower was constructed utilizing stone quarried immediately from the hill on which it stands. It was named in honor of Colonel Walter Scott (1861-1935), the unique proprietor and donor of the land.

Designed as each a scenic overlook and an emblem of group delight, the tower gives panoramic views from its remark platform, accessible by way of a spiral staircase.

Scott Tower

Guests attain the tower by following a paved, one-mile path by means of a wooded space, making it a preferred vacation spot for hikers, historical past buffs, and locals in search of a quiet escape.

Scott Tower Street – Anniversary Hill Park

Through the 1940’s, the location was additional developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which added trails and footbridges to enhance public entry. Nonetheless, for the reason that 2000’s, the tower has suffered from neglect, together with graffiti and vandalism, elevating issues about its preservation.

Historical past:

Initially often called “Crafts Hill,” Anniversary Hill Park in Holyoke was established between 1923 and 1939 to commemorate the Metropolis’s fiftieth anniversary. It turned a preferred vacation spot for recreation, that includes stonework and Scott Tower, constructed within the 1940’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Scott Tower – circa 1940’s

Nonetheless, the park declined after the 1960’s when I-91 break up the panorama, isolating Scott Tower and limiting entry. Whereas close by Neighborhood Area was revitalized in 2010, the bigger park remained underused.

In 2020, Kestrel Land Belief partnered with the Metropolis to guard 14 forested acres close to Scott Tower, reconnecting and increasing parklands. In 2024, invasive brush was cleared, views have been restored, and a brand new, accessible entrance with parking and a gravel path was created west of I-91.

Future plans embody including group facilities, restoring historic stonework, and managing graffiti—revitalizing the park as a welcoming area for all.

Trails Overview:

The principle path to Scott Tower is an outdated paved highway open solely to foot site visitors. A number of filth footpaths department off from it, however we didn’t discover them. At the moment, no path map is offered for the realm.

The picture beneath is a map layer from Gaia GPS, displaying some or the entire out there trails and paths.

Anniversary Hill Park

Hike Overview:

Scott Tower had been on my checklist of locations to go to for years. Throughout a latest highway journey to Vermont, I made a decision to take a brief detour to stretch my legs and eventually see this historic landmark.

The stroll to the tower is a comparatively straightforward uphill climb alongside a paved highway. Whereas there aren’t any indicators or markers alongside the best way, merely following the highway towards the very best level will get you there.

The spiral staircase contained in the tower is partially broken—some steps are lacking or unstable—and it’s fairly darkish as you ascend. I like to recommend bringing a small flashlight for security.

Prior to now, the realm round Scott Tower had a popularity for criminality, together with graffiti, litter, and drug use. Nonetheless, the park has seen important cleanup efforts in recent times. Nonetheless, because it’s a secluded spot, it’s sensible to stay cautious throughout your go to.

This straightforward lollipop loop begins at Neighborhood Area and follows a paved highway, passing underneath each the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 91 earlier than reaching the tower and returning.

Scott Tower – Anniversary Hill Park

I noticed an indication close to the restrooms warning that bears have been noticed all through the park, so be “Bear Conscious.”

As proven within the graph beneath, the elevation achieve is minimal.

elevation profile – Scott Tower

There’s ample parking out there at Neighborhood Area the place there are restrooms out there.

Neighborhood Area car parking zone

The Hike:

From the northwestern finish of the Neighborhood Area car parking zone, proceed alongside the paved highway previous the gate. That is Scott Tower Street (as labeled on Google Maps), which passes beneath each the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 91.

Scott Tower Street – Anniversary Hill Park

Scott Tower Street – Anniversary Hill Park

Observe the paved highway uphill. Shortly, it curves to the correct, passing an outdated stone wall and a stone staircase on the left.

Scott Tower Street – Anniversary Hill Park

Scott Tower Street – Anniversary Hill Park

Outdated stone staircase – Scott Tower Street

Scott Tower Street – Anniversary Hill Park

If you attain a fork within the highway with the communication towers seen forward on the correct, both path will lead you to the tower. The left fork is the faster route. We took the correct fork as a result of we weren’t certain which method to go. This marks the start of the loop portion of the hike.

Scott Tower Street – Anniversary Hill Park

In the event you’re taking the longer route (bearing proper on the fork), when the paved part ends, proceed straight onto the gravel highway. Shortly after, flip left at a junction marked by a rock.

Scott Tower Loop Street – Anniversary Hill Park

Flip left for Scott Tower

Observe the highway uphill for a brief distance till you attain the bottom of Scott Tower.

Scott Tower Loop Street – Anniversary Hill Park

Although undeniably tall, the tower doesn’t dominate its environment. It stands on a walled platform, with an entrance framed by pillars fabricated from native stone. These pillars assist a large balcony, ten toes above the bottom. Inside, 68 steps spiral upward to a small lookout submit providing a sweeping, 360-degree view of the decrease Valley—from Mt. Tom all the best way to Hartford.

Scott Tower

In 1960, the development of Interstate 91 minimize by means of Anniversary Hill Park, separating a part of the park, together with the tower, and lowering accessibility. As entry declined over the next a long time, public use of the tower and its environment additionally diminished.

Scott Tower

Watch your step whereas climbing the spiral staircase, some steps are cracked or lacking. The stairwell can be fairly darkish.

Scott Tower

The decrease degree of the tower.

Scott Tower

The second degree of Scott Tower.

Scott Tower

Scott Tower gives scenic views of town and the Connecticut River Valley. It stands on land that was as soon as a part of Holyoke’s largest and most spectacular metropolis park, initially opened in 1923 to commemorate town’s fiftieth anniversary.

Scott Tower

Over time, the timber have grown, obscuring the 360° views that have been as soon as seen from the highest of the tower. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless glimpses. Throughout leaf-off season, the views are in all probability significantly better.

Scott Tower

Graffiti, vandalism, and neglect have broken the historic tower, which as soon as supplied previous generations a mountain climbing space and a novel view of the Connecticut River Valley.

Scott Tower

Within the 1970’s, at the very least one cleanup effort, a part of the ‘Legacy of Parks’ conservation program, was undertaken to take away graffiti.

Scott Tower

On December 11, 1941, shortly after the park was accomplished, Holyoke’s volunteer air raid remark submit was relocated to the highest of Scott Tower. Standing over 550 toes above sea degree, the tower supplied a commanding view of the encompassing countryside, making it a great lookout for potential air assaults. Metropolis officers labored with the Military and the American Legion to determine a camp on the web site.

Scott Tower

If you’re able to proceed, take the paved highway that begins parallel to the one you got here up, to start your descent.

Scott Tower Loop Street – Anniversary Hill Park

On the intersection with Scott Tower Street, flip proper and observe the paved highway downhill, retracing your steps again to the parking space the place the hike started.

Flip proper on Scott Tower Street

Scott Tower Street – Anniversary Hill Park

Scott Tower Street – Anniversary Hill Park

Evaluation:

A brief and straightforward stroll alongside a largely paved highway, however the tower and its historical past make it a worthwhile vacation spot. I want I’d had extra time to discover the encompassing trails, however it was undoubtedly definitely worth the go to.

Execs:

Scott Tower, some views, historic options, seclusion.

Cons:

No path map or informational signage.

Take a hike!

Scott Tower

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