Trails I hiked

Ice Glen
Mclennan Reservation
Alford Springs WCE
Sage's Ravine
The Drury Trail
Steven's Glen
Benedict Pond Loop
Pfeiffer Arboretum
Snow Hole
Fountain Pond
Flag Rock
Tyler Swamp Loop

References and Thank Yous

my book references:

A Guide to Natural Places in the Berkshire Hills, Rene Laubach, copyright 1992 by Berkshire House Publishers Stockbridge, MA

A Guide to New England's Landscape, Neil Jorgensen, copyright 1977 by Pequot Press Chester, CT

Fifty Hikes in Massachusetts, Paul and Ruth Sadlier, copyright 1975 by New Hampshire Publishing Company Somersworth, NH

Hikes and Walks in the Berkshire Hills, Lauren R. Stevens, copyright 1990 by Berkshire House Publishers Stockbridge, MA

My New England, Frank Woolner, copyright 1972 by Stonewall Press Lexington, MA

Nature Walks in Connecticut, Rene Laubach and Charles W.G. Smith, copyright 1999 by The Globe Pequot Press, Inc. Old Saybrook, CT


I would not have been able to do this project without the aid of these wonderful people:
 Dagan Diaz, Rene Wendell, Thomas Tyning, Candy O'Brien Eaton, Amanda Cogswell, Meaghan Weeden, Zachary Eaton, Sharon Koperek

What's the Big Idea anyway?

The Berkshires
"Nestled within the rolling Appalachian mountains and a neighbor to New York, Connecticut and Vermont — the Berkshires breathes a calm, yet vibrant energy amid an illuminated landscape steeped in culture. The Berkshires is rich in culture & is made up of picturesque towns filled with outdoor recreation, as well as farm-fresh dining and breathtaking four-season scenery. Whether you plan to meet or retreat, get out & about in the Berkshires!"
(From the Berkshires Official Travel Planner site)

"Beautiful, scenic, exciting, cultural,summer paradise, winter paradise, spring comes early, fall is gorgeous, people are friendly, drivers are the worst ever!" -Candy O'Brien Eaton, born and raised in Lee, MA.

"Surrounded by mountains in every direction... the beauty of each season is very much alive here in the Berkshires... refreshing nature walks, trails, natural water falls and Natural rock bridges ...Many Art galleries, museums and theaters to visit on rainy days. " -Amanda Cogswell born and raised in Pittsfield/Hinsdale, MA

There truly is no other place like the Berkshires, anywhere in the world.  This region is packed full of overlooked nature trails. They are irreplaceable gems that need to be cherished. Here I have only highlighted a fraction of them.

Every trail I selected offers many priceless panoramas of the beautiful scenery the Berkshires are renowned for.

Most of the trails are shorter in length approximately 1-2 miles and can be enjoyed in less than 2 hours. They are all trails that receive fewer visitors than the Monument Mountain trail.  If you prefer quieter trails then this is a list for you.

Each trail boasts of a unique, natural formation or spectacular views. Some can even be utilized in the winter- via cross country skiing and snowshoeing, since it is a legitimate form of walking.  Trails that can be hiked on, can be utilized by people in snowshoes.


There are dozens of wonderful trails I did not get a chance to hike or mention here. They were only left out due to a limited amount of time. I chose to compile my research into a blog so it could be continued even after my Sustainable Ecotourism course is completed. That means the trails I failed to mention in this project can now be hiked and added to this project, at a later date.

List of Trails I did not get to hike... yet:

Busby Trail, Savoy Mtn. State Forest

Dry Hill, New Marlborough

Diane's Trail at Gould Farm

Cheshire Cobbles

Tunxis Trail to Indian Council Caves

Hiking at Hancock Shaker Village

New Canaan, CT Nature Center


Mt. Riga State Park, CT

Washington Mountain Meadow Trail in October Mtn State Forest


Mountain Meadow Preserve

Tyringham Cobble

Ice Glen in Stockbridge, MA

Parking for Ice Glen

 

Directions
From Mass Pike (Lee exit): Take a left off the exit ramp (MA 20) and immediately take a right onto MA 102 west. Follow to Stockbridge and junction with US 7. Turn left onto US 7 and travel 0.2 mile to Park Road. Turn left onto Park Road and follow it to its end. There is a parking lot at the end of Park Rd. and it is okay to park there for Ice Glen as long as you do not block the artist's studio that is there.
The footbridge crossing the Housatonic River is the start of the trail for Ice Glen.

 

Huge hemlocks and great white pines make up the "old growth" that can be found in here.  These trees are 170 years old, which is not technically old growth (hence the "), but nonetheless a very impressive stand of large trees. A tradition for the last 100-plus years: the town of Stockbridge has assembled a scary parade going through the glen, every other Halloween. The Ice Glen is a unique place that stays very cool in the summer, sometimes even cold enough for snow and ice to remain during the summer months. The trail is a mile and a half in length and can be rough in places, due to the frequency of boulders.  It would be wise to give yourself about 90 minutes to hike and enjoy the scenery.
 

 

Interesting site about Ice Glen

Appalachian Mtn Club 2005 publication about Ice Glen

Stockbridge Walking Tour

McLennan Reservation in Tyringham, MA



Dogs must be kept on
leashes at all times!

  Directions:
From Rt 102 in Lee:
turn Right onto Tyringham Rd.
After 2.5 miles, continue onto Main Rd. After 3.7 miles turn Left onto Fenn Rd. (dirt road)                                                      


There's a dirt parking lot
you may park your vehicle at 
about half a mile up the road. 




Hunting Season:: 
don't forget your orange!
except for sundays

 Hunting Regulations

open all year, every day, sunrise-sunset




1.5 miles of moderate hiking,
strenuous in places.

 

allow yourself a minimum of 90 minutes
to hike and enjoy the beautiful scenery



old stone walls run parallel
with a good portion of the trail



trail markers

trail impediment

Map of Mclennan



old building foundation...
could have been a house or barn?



who goes hiking with a purse?
The Trail Diva does!

Camp Brook

Official Mclennan Reservation site

Alford Spring Wildlife Conservation Easement in Alford, MA

Directions: Take 41 South (a.k.a. Swamp Rd.) to Great Barrington.  Turn Right onto Division St and go just over 2 miles then continue onto Seekonk Rd. (1/2 mile) Continue onto Green River Rd. until you see Mountain Rd on the right (approximately 3.1 miles).  Go 0.2 miles on Mountain Rd. take the road on the Left when you arrive at a fork in the road (approximately 0.6 miles)

dirt road to the left of the fork, that you'll want to take




no formal parking area, but here's a space to the side where a few cars can park

 

An old logging road that leads to a large wood stand just before the state line [MA/NY]



Alford WCE encompasses 640 acres.




the reason why I parked my car where I did!



Easement owner:
MassWildlife


Official MassWildlife site

The trail is an old logging road that goes up and over a ridge...

there is a small stream that flows east across the preserve



nice wide trail, mostly flat with a slight incline to get you up on top of the ridge



breathtaking views

beware of holes on the trail




the trail runs along ridge,
offering many spectacular views
of Alford valley
and Tom Ball mountain

 

American chestnut trees can still be found growing up here, often developing fertile burrs

a view of the sky from the trail

Official Alford Spring Wildlife Conservation Easement page