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Tom Ball Mountain

Explore 583 acres of diverse ecosystems including serene woodlands, wetlands, and a ridgeline above the shore of Long Pond.

Highlights

  • Great Barrington and Alford, MA
  • 3.2 miles of trails
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Size: 583 acres
  • Especially good in: Summer
  • Special features: Stone walls once part of a 1900s carriage road; boardwalks; seasonal vernal pools

Activities

Difficulty

This land, and all of the present-day Berkshires, are the ancestral homeland of the Mohican people, who were forcibly displaced to Wisconsin by European colonization. These lands continue to be of great significance to the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation today. To learn more, visit mohican.com.

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      GPS

      • Trailhead Parking:  Google Maps | 42.22183911261147, -73.40439213459426

      From Great Barrington

      From the center of Great Barrington: Take Taconic Avenue west. Taconic Avenue turns into Alford Road. Follow Alford Road 2 miles. After passing Division Street, the trailhead will be 0.6 miles ahead on the right.

      • Longview Loop: 3.2 miles roundtrip, moderate

      Take a 3.2- mile round trip journey through the inviting landscape of Tom Ball Mountain. The Longview Loop Trail leads you through dynamic forested terrain with elevation changes and some uneven footing. The trail begins in mixed pine and hardwood forest. As you climb, the canopy transitions into predominantly hardwood featuring sugar maple, northern red oak, and beech. Keep an eye out for a vernal pool, offering a glimpse into the seasonal wetland habitat.  

      As the trail climbs into Hemlock groves, you’ll crest the ridge and enjoy views of Long Pond, Monument Mountain, and Beartown State Forest to the east. Descend along a historic carriage road featuring switchbacks supported by weathered stone retaining walls. As you make your way down the trail, you’ll pass through fern-filled undergrowth and bog bridging built over seasonally wet areas. This heart-pumping trail blends natural beauty and historical intrigue for a rewarding adventure.

      Please note prohibited uses: Mountain biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding are not permitted at Tom Ball Mountain. 

      Tom Ball Mountain spans 583 acres, preserving a diverse and ecologically significant landscape in the Berkshires. The expansive reserve includes a mix of hardwood forested uplands, vegetated wetlands, and striking ridgeline views. Boardwalks span seasonally wet areas and an old wood road cuts through a sea of dense ferns. Rustic stone walls, once part of a historic carriage road originally built in the early 1900s, alter the terrain from gradual rolling hills to steeper rocky inclines, creating a varied hiking experience.  

      The reserve’s eastern slope offers views of Long Pond and beyond. Long Pond is the public drinking water source for Great Barrington and access is not permitted. BNRC plans to extend the western trail and eventually connect with a future segment of The High Road.

      Generous support for the creation and stewardship of these trails and conservation of the land has been provided by:

      • AIER
      • Bafflin Foundation
      • BNRC donors
      • The Citizens of Great Barrington through the Community Preservation Act
      • Nion Robert Thieriot Foundation
      • Fields Pond Foundation
      • Farmor Foundation
      • BNRC High Road fund
      • Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Landscape Partnership Grant Program

      A biodiversity hot spot, Tom Ball Mountain Reserve provides essential habitat for species like white-tailed deer, eastern chipmunk, barred owl, and wild turkey. Vernal pools and dense hemlock groves provide essential habitat for amphibians and other species. Tree species including beech, sugar maple, and hemlock thrive here, along with native shrubs that support an array of birds and mammals. The northern ridgeline contains pockets of unique ridgetop chestnut oak forest. The southern end of the parcel contains a cluster of certified vernal pools. The forest’s health is critical for local water quality, particularly for Long Pond, which supplies water to nearby communities.