Top Berkshire Trails

Click here for more information on BNRC trails and COVID-19

Berkshire Natural Resources Council’s trails are open. We recognize the importance of being outside for mental and physical well-being and our goal is to maintain this status for our community. At trailheads you will find signage to encourage social distancing on trails. Our use policies during this time follow the guidelines of the CDC and State of Massachusetts. Masks are now required at all times, including outdoors. We also ask that you avoid parking on the road if a parking lot is full and to come back at another time. Please leash your dog on BNRC trails at this time, since our four-legged friends don’t seem to understand social distancing.

Take a hike! Go for a walk, a swim, catch a fish, have a picnic, climb a mountain. We keep land so you can enjoy it. Our top trails offer a range of activities. Find the one that is right for you…then try another one next time.

For more hikes and adventures, pick up BNRC’s Go Wild at any local brochure rack, or request one at frontdesk@bnrc.org or 413-499-0596. Take a moment and let us know about your walk!

CLICK HERE FOR TRAIL AND PROPERTY MAPS

1. HOUSATONIC FLATS, Great Barrington
2. STEEPLETOP, New Marlborough
3. STEADMAN POND AT HUDSON-HOWARD, Monterey
4. THOMAS & PALMER BROOK, Great Barrington
5. CLAM RIVER, Sandisfield
6. HOOSAC RANGE, North Adams
7. PARSONS MARSH, Lenox
8. MAHANNA COBBLE, Pittsfield
9. BOB’S WAY, Monterey/Sandisfield

10. THE BOULDERS, Pittsfield/Dalton/Lanesborough
11. OLD MILL TRAIL, Hinsdale/Dalton
12. ALFORD SPRINGS, Alford
13. BASIN POND, Lee
14. STEVENS GLEN, West Stockbridge/Richmond
15. OLIVIA’S OVERLOOK AT YOKUN RIDGE SOUTH, Lenox/Richmond/Stockbridge/West Stockbridge
16. HOLLOW FIELDS, Richmond

 

1. Housatonic Flats, Great Barrington

hiking bird watching picnicking snowshoeing

1 mile, round-trip; 30 minutes
Difficulty: 1
Features: Views of pastoral Housatonic River, birdwatching, dog walking. Super easy place to “air out” in a short time.
Especially good in: Spring
Directions/more information

top

2. Steepletop, New Marlborough

hikingpicnickingphotographycross country skiingsnowshoeingbird watching

 


Louise Lane (North Loop): 2.2 miles, round-trip; 1.5 hours
Edie’s Way (South Loop): 2.2 miles, round-trip; 1.5 hours
Difficulty: 2
Features: Expansive wetlands, miles of wood road
Especially good in: Winter/Summer
Directions/more information

top

3. Steadman Pond at Hudson-Howard, Monterey

3-across_steadman-copy

hikingcanoeing fishing swimming bird watching picnicking snowshoeing

.25 miles, one-way; 10 minutes
Difficulty: 1
Features: Pond in beautiful setting, excellent bass fishing. Swimming raft and rowboat await! Terrific bird watching. Great picnic and hangout spot.
Especially good in: Summer
Directions/more information

top

4. Thomas & Palmer Brook, Great Barrington

hikingbird watchingsnowshoeing

Trail: 0.5 miles, round-trip
Difficulty: Accessible
Features: Gorgeous views across wetlands
Especially good in: Spring/Summer/Fall
Directions/more information

Trail difficulty rating:
All time estimates are for walking in dry weather.

Difficulty ranges from 1 to 5
1- Accessible
2- Easy- Gentle grades, smooth footing
3- Moderate- uneven footing, elevation changes
4- Difficult- Strenuous due to length and/or terrain
5- Expert – No marked trails

top

5. Clam River, Sandisfield

3-across_clam-river-copy

hikingfishing bird watching snowshoeing cross country skiing picnicking

Clam River Loop Trail: 1.5 miles, round-trip; 1 hour
Difficulty: 2

Clam River Trail: 3 miles, round-trip; 2 hours
Difficulty: 2

Hammertown Loop Trail: 1.6 miles, round-trip; 1.5 hours
Difficulty: 2

Features: Beautiful, romantic stream valley, canyon-like in spots with access to Clam River. Old stone foundations and millworks along this cold water stream. Abundant wildlife.
Especially good in: Summer
Directions/more information

top

6. Hoosac Range, North Adams

3-across_hoosac-range-copy

hiking snowshoeing bird watching photography picnicking

Sunset Rock: 1.6 miles, round-trip; 1.25 hours
Difficulty: 2
Spruce Hill: 6 miles, round-trip; 4 hours
Difficulty: 3
Features: High elevation long views: prepare for the sublime! Cool rock cliffs formed by “glacial plucking” with trees twisted into fantastical forms by wind and ice. Blueberries at Sunset Rock and open ledges near Spruce Hill in summer. Awesome spring snowshoeing. Migratory raptors in fall, great viewing at Spruce Hill. Views over North Adams, Mount Greylock, and Florida State Forest.
Especially good in: Fall
Directions/more information

top

7. Parsons Marsh, Lenox


hikingpicnickingsnowshoeing

 

Trail: 1/3 mile, one-way
Difficulty: 1
Features: Marsh, forested wetland, and quarry pond
Especially good in: Spring/Summer/Fall
Directions/more information

top

8. Mahanna Cobble, Pittsfield

Mahanna Cobble Trail: 3.2 miles, out-and-back, 2 hours
Difficulty: 4
Features: Gorgeous views south from George’s bench
Especially good in: Summer/Fall
Directions/more information

top

9. Bob’s Way, Monterey/Sandisfield

Bob's Way Berkshire Natural Resources Council

hiking bird watching cross country skiing picnicking

2.5 miles, round-trip; 1.5 hours
Difficulty: 2
Features: Multiple loops, so it’s easy to customize your walk with fabulous beaver pond views. Formerly a heron rookery, still teeming with wildlife. Dave’s Bench, a stone seat created from bedrock ledge and artisanal stonework sits atop with the best view of the house!
Especially good in: Spring
Directions/more information

top

10. The Boulders, Pittsfield/Dalton/Lanesborough

hikingcyclingsnowshoeingcross country skiing

 

 

Healthy Heart Loop: 0.5 mile, round-trip; 0.5 hour
Difficulty: 2
Green trail: 1.4 miles round-trip; 1 hour
Difficulty: 2
Red trail: 2.4 miles round-trip; 1.5 hours
Difficulty: 3
Blue trail: 2.8 miles round-trip; 1.75 hours
Difficulty: 3
Features: Miles of excellent trails, beautiful tall trees, and the natural slides at The Boulders
Especially good in: Winter/Spring/Fall
Directions/more information

top

11. Old Mill Trail, Hinsdale/Dalton

hikingfishingpicnickingsnowshoeing

 

 

Accessible section: 1.4 miles round-trip; 1 hour
Entire trail: 3 miles round-trip; 2 hours
Features: accessible trail, fishing access, and interpretive trail
Especially good in: Spring
Directions/more information

top

12. Alford Springs, Alford

3-across_alford-copy

hiking bird watching snowshoeing cross country skiing cycling berry picking geocaching picnicking photography

Mother Loop: 2.4 miles, round-trip; 1.5 hours
Father Loop: 4.3 miles, round-trip; 2.5 hours
Saddle Trail: 1 mile, one-way, 0.5 hours
Difficulty: Walking, 3; Skiing, 4
Features: Blackberries in summer, noteworthy backcountry Nordic skiing in winter, with challenging ascents and descents. Gorgeous views of Alford Valley and beyond. Good hunting reported.
Especially good in: Winter
Directions/more information

top

13. Basin Pond, Lee

3-across_basin-pond-copy

hiking bird watching snowshoeing geocaching picnicking photography

2.5 miles, round-trip; 2 hours
Difficulty: 3 (easy walking, but does include a couple of stream crossings on step-stones)
Features: Beautiful wetlands, with a wildlife viewing deck in the sun. Trail crosses a boulder field which provides a great place for kids to climb and hide on trailside rocks.
Especially good in: Summer
Directions/more information

top

14. Stevens Glen, West Stockbridge/Richmond

3-across_stevens-glen-copy

hiking snowshoeing photography

1.5 miles, round-way; 1.25 hours
Difficulty: 2
Features: 19th century tourist attraction, reborn for the 21st century including a waterfall through romantic rock cleft, stream to dabble feet on hot day, a viewing platform with bench for reflection. Deep hemlock forest also awaits.
Especially good in: Spring
Directions/more information

top

15. Olivia’s Overlook at Yokun Ridge South, Lenox/Richmond/Stockbridge/West Stockbridge

3-across_olivias-copy

hiking snowshoeing photography picnicking cycling cross country skiing

Note: Yokun Ridge South is the central hub of a multi-spoked trail network. There are multiple options extending north and south from there.

Charcoal Trail: 1.6 miles, round-trip; 1 hour
Difficulty: 3

Brothers Trail: 0.9 miles, one-way; 0.75 hours
Difficulty: 2

Burbank Trail: 3.2 miles, round-trip; 2 hours
Difficulty: 3

Old Baldhead Road: 1.5 miles, one-way; 1.5 hours
Difficulty: 2

Features: Charcoal pits (can you spot them?) and a run alongside Shadow Brook, named by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Remarkable stone work on trail itself. Also includes the tri-town monument: where Stockbridge, Lenox and Richmond meet…Berkshires’ answer to Four Corners.
Especially good in: Fall

Directions/more information for all Yokun Ridge South trails

16. Hollow Fields, Richmond

hiking bird watching snowshoeing cross country skiing picnicking photography

2 miles, round-trip; 1 hour
Difficulty: 2
Features: Walk mowed paths through open fields – truly a rarity! Long views that are both sun-splashed and windswept, stunning in all seasons. Great bird watching, particularly in spring. Mellow spot for picnicking.
Especially good in: Spring
Directions/more information

top

Donate to BNRC