20 | Summer Previews 2022
Weekend Edition | Saturday & Sunday, May 28-29, 2022
DIRECTORY: OUTDOORS Appalachian Trail: Appalachian Trail runs north and south throughout the Berkshire region in western Massachusetts, through Department of Conservation and Recreation properties: Clarksburg State Forest, October Mountain State Forest, Mount Greylock State Reservation, Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Beartown State Forest, Jug End State Reservation, Mount Washington State Forest and Mount Everett State Reservation. mass.gov/dcr
Becket Land Trust: Becket historic quarry and trails. Quarry Museum and self-guided tour of nature preserve and 100 years of history. Becket Historic Quarry permanent exhibit now open at Mullen House Education Center. Trails open in daylight hours year-round. Quarry off Route 20, 456 Quarry Road, Becket. Mullen House off-site exhibits and office at 12 Brooker Hill Road (corner Route 8), North Becket Village. becketlandtrust.org. 413-623-2100.
Arrowhead: Trails on the grounds, woods
Berkshire Botanical Garden: 26 display
and fields around Herman Melville’s historic house. 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, 413-442-1793
areas including perennials, thousands of annuals, rock, rose, pond, children’s and native plant gardens. Three greenhouses, an arboretum and a woodland preserve. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 1 through Oct. 11, 5 West Stockbridge Road. Stockbridge.413-298-3926, berkshirebotanical.org.
Ashintully Gardens: Grounds of Berkshire Cottage estate, trails and gardens open 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, June 5 to Oct. 12. Hike to the ruins of the former mansion or explore the landscaped paths and waterways created over the course of decades by John McLennan, a composer of modern music. Free. Sodom Road, Tyringham, Trustees of Reservations.
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail: Converted railroad corridor, now a paved path, running 13.7 miles from Adams to Pittsfield, along Cheshire Lake and Route 8. Access at Visitors Center in downtown Adams, Cheshire Lake on Route 8, near the Berkshire Mall in Lanesborough, at the Allendale shopping center or along the route. 413-442-8928
Bartholomew’s Cobble: River and unique wood and meadow habitat with bald eagles, turtles and abundant wildlife: 800 species of plants and one of North America’s greatest diversities of ferns. Hikes and nature programs. Open yearround, daily, sunrise to sunset; museum and visitors’ center open year-round, hours vary by season. Trustees of Reservations, 105 Weatogue Road, Sheffield. 413-298-3239 ext. 3013. Beartown State Forest: 1.5 mile Benedict Pond Loop Trail open year-round. From Route 23 in Monterey, turn left on Blue Hill Road, then follow signs. mass.gov/dcr or 413-528-0904.
Bear Swamp: Three miles of trails with moderate hiking, strenuous in places. Open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. From the intersection of Route 112, Route 116, and Hawley Road in Ashfield, follow Hawley Road to the entrance on the left. 413-213-4751.
Berkshire Natural Resources Council: Trails and properties maintained by non-profit land conservation organization to protect farms, forests, streams and ridgelines. Guided hikes. bnrc.org, 413499-0596.
Chesterfield Gorge: A dramatic rock canyon first carved by centuries of glacial meltwater and the Westfield River, the gorge is the gateway to the East Branch Trail. Open during the warm season, daily, 8 a.m. to sunset, for hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, and anglers. River Road, Chesterfield.
Field Farm: A 1967 post-modern guest house designed by Ulrich Franzen for art collector Lawrence Bloedel. Trails and grounds open daily, free. 554 Sloan Road, Williamstown, 413-458-3135, 413-2983239, thetrustees.org.
Garden Conservancy: Garden tours through the summer in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont. No reservations; rain or shine. For times and places: 888-842-2442 or 845-4246500 or gardenconservancy.org.
Glendale Falls: A quarter-mile trail to the falls and a wood road to land owned by the Massachusetts Division of Fish & Wildlife. Open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. From intersection of Routes 143 and 112 in Worthington, take Route 143 West to River Road. Turn right onto Clark Wright Road to entrance. thetrustees.org or 413-532-1631
Great Barrington River Walk: Native landscaped path along the Housatonic River in downtown Great Barrington; entrances at 195 Main St., River Street, Bridge Street and Dresser Avenue, W.E.B. Du Bois River Garden Park. William Stanley Overlook. Laboratory for natural resource protection and stewardship. Open in daylight hours, free. 413-528-4061, gbriverwalk.org. Hoffmann Bird Club: Birding expeditions across Berkshire County and the region, weekly. 271 US-7, Lanesborough. hoffmannbirdclub.org.
Hoosic River Watershed Assoc.: Self-guided brochures for this river walk are available at tourist information outlets in Adams, North Adams and Williamstown. Information: hoorwa.org/ or 413-458-2742.
Hopkins Forest: Trails maintained by Williams College in Williamstown and along the Taconic crest. Trailheads on Northwest Hill Road in Williamstown and on Route 2 in Petersburgh, N.Y.. Spring and fall festivals with canopy walks, demonstrations, games, local food and live music. hmf.williams.edu. Housatonic Heritage Area: Trails and historic sites along the river from Connecticut to Berkshire County.24 Main St, Salisbury, CT. housatonicheritage.org. Housatonic Valley Assoc: Paddle trips on the Housatonic River. Hvatoday.org or 413-298-7024. Jug End State Reservation: Two-mile Jug End Loop Trail through open fields, northern hardwood and Eastern Hemlock woodlands. From Route 41 in South Egremont, take a right onto Mount Washington Road and to Jug End Road, to entrance. mass.gov/dcr or 413-528-0330.
McLennan Reservation: 1.5 moderate miles. Open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. From Tyringham center, take Tyringham Main Road south. Turn left onto Fenn Road (dirt road). Park at the roadside and walk to entrance. thetrustees.org, 413-298-3239. Monument Mountain: Moderate loop trails and beautiful views at the top. Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Admission is free, parking $5. Route 7, Great Barrington. Trustees of Reservations. 413-298-3239
Mount Greylock State Reservation: Trails and entrances in Williamstown, North
