A group of students sitting by the Joseph Allen Skinner State Park sign on Mountain Day

Mountain Day Details

Mountain Day provides a break from the hustle and bustle of the academic pace of the College. In keeping with the tradition of our founder, many faculty, staff and students enjoy a robust hike up the mountain to enjoy the day at the summit of J.A. Skinner State Park.

Important notes:

Shuttles are available to and from the mountain, including accessible transportation. Scroll down for the full details.
The hike is in a heavily wooded area.
Be mindful of your shoe choice, particularly if there are some raindrops.
Remember the importance of using sunscreen and bug spray.
Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated during and after your hike.
Do not litter or leave trash on the mountain. It is your responsibility to locate an appropriate trash/recycling container or to carry items in and out, should you choose to dine along any of the trails.
Remember that Mt. Holyoke is a public space! As such, there may be hikers or others outside enjoying the mountain. Please be mindful.
Dining Commons hours are unaffected by Mountain Day.
Ice cream and frozen treats (non-diary and other options provided!) are served on the mountain from 10 am–1 pm.
Staff Council serves treats in front of Blanchard from 11:30 am–1:30 pm for staff and faculty members who can't get away to climb.
If you have questions about accessibility, contact the Division of Student Life at dean-students@mtholyoke.edu.

Scheduling and notifications

When is Mountain Day? The exact date of Mountain Day is kept secret. Mountain Day is determined by the President of the College and announced to the community at 7 am on the actual day with approximately 100 chimes of the bells, signaling that classes are canceled. If you're looking for a quieter time to join this tradition, we recommend arriving in the morning before 10:30 am or after 1:30 pm (make sure you get on the last shuttle which leaves campus at 1:30 pm).

How is the community notified?

Students and employees are notified of Mountain Day several different ways:

Bells ring from Mary Lyon clock tower at 7 am to announce the day.
The President will send an all-campus email announcement.
There will be an announcement on the Mount Holyoke College website.
There is a recorded voice announcement on the MHC weather line (413-538-2330).

We encourage students to check multiple sources to confirm it is Mountain Day before missing any classes.

Is Mountain Day a 5-College event?

When does Mountain Day end?

Transportation to the mountain

Fleet Services provides shuttle vans and bus transportation to the mountain base. From there, Mountain Day participants can take a trail through the woods or make use of the paved road-way to get to the summit. For those with accessibility needs please review the drop down below.

The shuttle vans and buses will pick students up at the Rockefeller bus stop. The first buses/shuttles leave Mount Holyoke’s campus at about 9 am. The last bus/shuttle to the mountain leaves at 1:30 pm, and the last return bus/shuttle is at 3 pm.

Note: The PVTA bus to Smith will NOT drop students off at the mountain. Please take the vans/buses provided by Fleet Services.

When do the shuttles run?

Shuttles start at 9 am. The last shuttle to the mountain leaves Mount Holyoke at 1:30 pm. The last shuttle returning to campus runs at 3 pm. Plan accordingly! There is an anticipated 30–45 minute wait between shuttle runs. (Note: The buses/van stop transporting people to the mountain at 1:30 pm. This is to allow enough time for you to make the last shuttle back at 3 pm. Shuttles at the on-campus bus stop after 1:30 pm are for drop off only.)

Can I drive my car to the top?

What if I have an accessibility need?

The shuttles to and from the mountain base that leave from campus, include a shuttle with wheelchair and scooter accessibility. At the mountain base there will be a wheelchair and scooter accessible van, operated by Lyons Lift, that will loop to/from the summit. There will also be a 12 passenger van at the mountain base available for those who have an accessibility need that will loop to/from the summit, note there are 1-2 steps into this van.

For those students using the Lyons Lift program on campus, on campus services will remain the same.

If you choose to carpool to the mountain, please note that you will still be required to park at the bottom and walk or take a shuttle to the top. There is no parking available at the top of the mountain.

Service animals are welcome to ride the shuttles and vans with their handlers. Non-service animals are not permitted in the vans or shuttles, but are welcome on the mountain.

For inquiries about the accessibility of this event or to request any accommodations, please contact dean-students@mtholyoke.edu. Please make accommodation requests the first few days of classes in the fall to give implementation time, however, in all situations, a good faith effort will be made to provide accommodations up until the time of the event.