Lovely fields and wetlands along Route 7 give way to the slopes of Threemile Hill.
This tract is best accessed via the foot trail running from the Berkshire South Community Center to Fountain Pond.
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Property Name: Threemile Hill
(aka: Route 7 backland)
Town: Great Barrington
Activities: Hiking, hunting
Special features: Mature forest and pretty, open fields along Route 7
Hiking difficulty: Intermediate — maintained trail on moderate terrain
GPS: 42.2250, -73.3412 (Fountain Pond trailhead)
Lying parallel to and east of Route 7 where it enters Great Barrington’s commercial district, Threemile Hill’s fields and mature forest provide a quick nature-fix to visitors and locals. Under the umbrella of Great Barrington Trails and Greenways, the Threemile Hill Trail runs for 1.4 miles through a mature forest.
The educated eye will notice when the trail crosses from one property owner to the next: subtle changes in forest type or plant community suggest the land-use history of each parcel. Every bit of this hillside was grazed at some point, but owners gave up on farming at different times.
A collaboration of Berkshire Natural Resources Council, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, Berkshire South Community Center, and Great Barrington Trails and Greenways, the Threemile Hill Trail crosses 3 landowners and connects to brand new trails at the Community Health Program.
Directions:
From Great Barrington and points south:
Take Route 7 north through the commercial district of Great Barrington. From the traffic light at the McDonalds/Price Chopper shopping center, the trailhead is 1.0 mile north, on the right.