Tekoa Mountain and Westfield Reservoir

Tekoa Mountain in Russell, Massachusetts is an invigorating jaunt up steep trails and over crags and boulders to the summit. The southwest and northeast sides of Tekoa Mountain are steep and rugged with frequent cliff faces and rocky overlooks; to the north, the topography gradually flattens out as Tekoa Mountain merges with the upland plateau of Montgomery. The view is well-worth the effort.  Tekoa Mountain is about 1,130 feet at its summit. In comparison, Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts, is 3,491 feet tall at its summit, in the northwestern town of Adams. Tekoa Mountain is home to many kinds of wildlife, including deer, bear and coyote. It is also populated by timber rattlers, a fact that is important for visitors to be aware they are here. Tekoa Mountain was named after the biblical fortress and settlement of Tekoa, translated alternately as a place "fastening down" or "a trumpet blast." Trails are not blaze and are considered strenuous and challenging in places.  Once on the ridge the trails flatten out to gradual incline.