Appalachian Trail Conservancy - Hikes - Massachusetts

Hikes: Massachusetts

Hike Name	Mount Williams*
Closest Town	Williamstown, MA
Difficulty Level**	Moderate
Distance	1.8 miles round trip
Features	Views of Williamstown, and the Taconic Range
Description	Follow the A.T. south from the parking area. Walk through a forest of red spruce, where, if you keep a sharp eye out, you may be able to discern the bed of the original road to the top of Mount Greylock. You reach the summit of Mount Willliams at 0.9 mile. To the west and below you is Williamstown, surrounded by open fields, while the Taconic Range in New York forms the far horizon. Retrace your steps to return.
Directions	From MA Route 2 (Mohawk Trail) east or west, turn onto Notch Road . A day use parking area is located about 200 feet south of the trail-crossing on Notch Road, en route to the top of Mount Greylock. Click here for a map of Mount Greylock: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails/mgry1.pdf.

Hike Name	The Cobbles (option 1) and Gore Pond (option 2)
Closest Town	Cheshire, MA
Difficulty Level**	Moderate (The Cobbles option 1) OR Moderate to Strenuous (Gore Pond option 2)
Distance	2.8 miles round trip or 6.6 miles round trip
Features	View (from the Cobbles) and scenic pond
Description	This out and back hike includes two options - the Cobbles (option 1) and Gore Pond (Option 2). Start at the Post Office on Church Street. On your right, you will see a replica of the press used to make Cheshire Cheese in the 1800s. Heading south on the A.T., you will cross railroad tracks in 0.1 mile and then a bridge over the Hoosic River. After crossing the bridge, turn right at a fork in the road. In another 0.1 mile, you will turn right on Furnace Hill Road, a residentail street. After another 0.25 mile, you will turn left off Furnace Hill Road near the entrance of a private driveway. For the next 0.75 mile, you will ascend through a hardwood forest, crossing motorcycle and logging trails. You will then arrive at the side trail to the north Cobble immediately after passing under a cliff. The A.T. reaches the top of the southernmost Cobble 0.25 mile later. Here, there is a USGS bronze marker set into the rock. If you are hiking option 1, turn around at this point and retrace your steps. Continue along the A.T. In 0.5 mile, turn east near the stone boundary marker for Dalton-Cheshire. The Trail crosses an old, grassy logging road and continues for 1.3 miles, heading gradually uphill, crossing more old llogging roads, and eventuallly reaching the summit at an overgrown pasture. From here, the Trail begins its descent to Gore Pond, reaching the outlet in about 0.5 mile. There is a logging road here that provides access to the west side of the pond, the destination of hike option 2. Retrace your steps back to Cheshire.
Directions	From Massachusetts 8 in Cheshire, turn onto Church Street. The Post Office and St Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church are along the Appalachian Trail. Park where you want - and can - in the town of Cheshire.

Hike Name	Warner Hilll*
Closest Town	Pittsfield, MA
Difficulty Level**	Easy
Distance	1.4 miles round trip
Features	Views, particularly after leaves have fallen
Description	From the paved Blotz Road, head south on the A.T. and climb 0.7 mile through a dense stand of evergreens to the top of Warner Hilll. A cairn that sits a few feet to the left of the Trail marks the summit. Retrace your steps to complete the hike.
Directions	The A.T. crossing can be reached by following Blotz Road 6 miles east out of Pittsfield or for 1.3 miles west from Massachusetts 8.

Hike Name	Finerty Pond*
Closest Town	Becket, MA
Difficulty Level**	Moderate
Distance	4.8 miles round trip
Features	Views, pond, October Mountain State Forest - largest state forest in Massachusetts
Description	Beginning at the trail crossing on paved Tyne Road, head north on the A.T., climbing toward the summit of Becket Mountain, which you will reach in just over 0.5 mile. On the summit there are concrete footings that mark the site of a former fire tower. Continue along the ridge for another 0.75 mile toward Walling Mountain. You will have a nice view to the south of the hills around the large Goose Pond. At mile 1.6, reach the overgrown summit of Wallling Mountain. From the summit, descend over a rocky trail for 0.5 mile to Finerty Pond, the destination of the hike. You can skirt the pond on stepping stones for 0.25 mile or so until the A.T. turns north, away from the pond. Retrace your steps to return .
Directions	Reach the A.T. crossing by following Tyne Road 3.5 miles east of Becket, or 0.9 miles west of US 20.

Hike Name	Cobble Hilll*
Closest Town	Tyringham or Lee, MA
Difficulty Level**	Easy to Moderate
Distance	3.4 miles round trip
Features	Views, bog bridges/stile over a fence
Description	From the trailhead on Main Road, follow the A.T. south. In 0.1 mile, cross Hop Brook on a footbridge. At mile 0.8, pass through a hemlock grove and cross a small stream. In another 0.3 mile, cross Jerusalem Road, which puts you in the Tyringham Cobble Reservation. Hike 0.3 mile from the road crossing to reach the 0.3 mile side trail to the top of Cobble Hilll. Retrace your steps to complete the hike.
Directions	The A.T. crosses Main Road 5 miles southeast of US 20 (0.9 mile past Tyringham) at Lee. Limited parking is available allong the road.

Hike Name	Benedict Pond and the Ledges *
Closest Town	Monterey, MA
Difficulty Level**	Moderate to Strenuous
Distance	3.0 miles round trip
Features	Glacial pond, views
Description	From the swimming area on Benedict Pond, follow the Pond Loop Trail around the south side of the pond. At mile 0.5, reach the junction with the A.T. Turn left and follow the A.T. north. In 0.4 mile, cross the Benedict Pond outlet. The Trail begins to ascend steeply for 0.6 mile as it climbs to The Ledges - a rocky ridge that affords fine views of local mountains. To return, hike on the A.T. to the Pond Loop Trail, which you folllow back to the trailhead.
Directions	From US 23 in Monterey, go north on Blue Hilll Road for 2 miles to the entrance for the Beartown State Forest. Follow the signs to the swimming area at Benedict Pond.

Hike Name	Ice Gulch
Closest Town	Great Barrington, MA
Difficulty Level**	Moderate
Distance	2.2 miles round trip
Features	Ice Gulch - steep, narrow ravine where snow may last until July and August, shelter
Description	Follow the A.T. south through a landscape that shows the lingering effects of a tornado that roared through the area in the mid-1990s. Look to the side of the Trail and you will see tree trunk after tree trunk that trail volunteers had to cut through in order to keep the Trail open. The gradual ascent gives way to a steeper incline at 0.8 mile, but that only lasts for les than 0.2 mile as you descend slightly to Ice Gulch at 1 mile. Within the ravine lie jumbles of huge boulders, but much of the time there is not enough light to see all of the way to the botom. However, you don't need to go any further than the edge of the Gulch to enjoy the cool breeze rising into the hot air surrounding you in warmer seasons. Continue to a short side trail at 1.1 miles to take abreak and enjoy the silence of the woods around the Tom Leonard Shelter. To return, hike the A.T. back to Lake Buel Road.
Directions	From Great Barrington, drive eastward on Masachusetts 23 for a little over 2 miles, turn right onto Lake Buel Road and go a bit more than a mile to the parking area (which is about 300 feet before the trail crossing).

Hike Name	East Mountain
Closest Town	Great Barrington, MA
Difficulty Level**	Moderate
Distance	2.8 miles round trip
Features	Views from East Mountain Ridge
Description	From Homes Road, follow the A.T. north and begin climbing, gradually at first, and then more steeply. One mile from Homes Road, you will reach the high point on the ridge. The next 0.4 mile offers severall fine views. A large boulder at mile 1.4 marks the end of the hike. There is an outstanding view to the south. Tetrace you steps to return to your starting point.
Directions	From US 7, about 1.5 miles south of Great Barrington, go east on Brush Hill Road, which becomes Homes Road. The A.T. crosses the road just over 2 miles from US 7. There is limited parking along the road.