THE BERKSHIRES, MA—We all need a thrill now and then to keep life fun and interesting. Berkshire County’s visitors quickly find that this rural resort area—long known as a cultural mecca of museums, historic sites and performing arts venues—is also a year round hotbed of adventurous outdoor attractions for travelers of all ages and inclinations.

Those who take to the water will find plenty of rivers and lakes gracing the Berkshire hills. Crab Apple Whitewater, Inc., Moxie Outdoor Adventures and Zoar Outdoor, all in Charlemont, provide professionally guided rafting trips—from “mild to wild”—on the Deerfield and other rivers. Zoar offers other activities too, such as canoeing, kayaking and rock climbing. Mountains Unlimited, based in Waterbury, CT, also offers Deerfield River rafting trips, ice and rock climbing and other adventures. Or try a rowing shell: the Berkshire Sculling Association, Pittsfield, provides rentals and lessons for this increasingly popular sport. Wild ’N Wet Water Sports and Bike Rentals launches customers onto Pittsfield’s scenic Pontoosuc Lake in paddleboats, pontoon boats, canoes and jet skis, while U-Drive Rent-A-Boat, Pittsfield, features pontoon boat rentals at hourly and daily rates. Onota Boat Livery rents canoes, kayaks, sail and motor boats and pontoons on nearby Onota Lake. Berkshire Scenic Treks & Canoe Tours, Pittsfield, offers guided canoe tours on the Housatonic River.

Bicycling through the county’s rolling landscape, a preferred pursuit since two wheelers were invented, has soared in popularity since the opening of the breathtakingly beautiful bike trail, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. The Ashuwillticook (ASH-oo-will-ti-cook) runs 11 miles from the Pittsfield/Lanesboro line north to downtown Adams, offering a paved, 10-foot wide off-road course along a former rail bed. Wending through verdant woodland and alongside pastoral Cheshire Lake, the trail is also open to walking,jogging, in-line skating, roller skiing and, in winter, cross-country skiing. Amenities include convenient parking, picnic tables, benches and restroom facilities.

While the Ashuwillticook appeals to all types of bikers, intermediate and experienced bicyclists will find plenty of more challenging rides available. These excursions include everything from tackling the rugged mountain biking trails scattered throughout the county to experiencing the country road jaunts that can accommodate all levels of bikers. Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock offers lift-serviced mountain biking for experienced riders. The annual Pedro’s Mountain Bike Festival (Aug. 4-6, 2006) provides three days of bicycle fun, including trail and road rides, games, a huge expo and clinics, music and children’s activities.

Visitors who wish to rent or buy bicycles, as well as other sporting gear, have excellent choices countywide. Berkshire Outfitters, Cheshire, is adjacent to the Ashuwillticook trail and features canoes, kayaks, skates, hiking and winter sports gear in addition to bikes. In Pittsfield, Plaine’s Bike, Ski, Snowboard is a full service shop offering sales, service and rentals. The Arcadian Shop in Lenox has gear and rentals for all seasons, including bikes, kayaks, skis and snowshoes, and can also provide guide services. The Arcadian Café, with a full espresso bar, serves chocolate croissants baked on premises.

A little further south, in Great Barrington, Expeditions—Butternut’s Outdoor Sports Store doesn’t carry bikes but does offer clothing and accessories for camping, climbing, backpacking, skateboarding, snowshoeing and more. Kenver Ltd., South Egremont, specializes in providing apparel, equipment and gifts for the winter enthusiast.

For those choosing horsepower over pedal power, Undermountain Farm in Lenox offers guided trail rides, licensed instruction in hunt seat and dressage as well as a riding day camp. Harmony Trails Horseback Riding offers guided trail rides for “first-timers.”

Others prefer a slower pace for their outdoor activities—perhaps a hike? The two dozen state parks within the county provide a remarkable variety of terrain (and scenery) for a gentle walk or an invigorating march. The Appalachian Trail runs the full length of Berkshire County, offering through-hiking as well as myriad opportunities for beautiful day hikes on different sections. One such hike is a trip over the top of Mount Greylock, which at 3,491 feet above sea level is the state’s highest peak.

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox, offers seven miles of trails amid 1,500 acres of natural beauty. In Ashley Falls, Bartholomew’s Cobble, a national natural landmark, encompasses 300 acres of rare wildflowers, ferns and other captivating plants.

Ski areas in the Berkshires, in addition to providing wintertime sports, are increasingly offering adventurous recreation the rest of the year too. At Jiminy Peak, spring, summer and fall visitors enjoy a hair-raising alpine slide, rock climbing wall and other attractions. A new Mountain Coaster carries riders 1,000 feet up the mountain and into the woods before releasing them to zoom through 2,600 feet of twisting, turning excitement. Of course, in winter Jiminy provides skiing and snowboarding, as do Catamount Ski Area in South Egremont, Bousquet Ski Resort & Summer Family Fun Center in Pittsfield and Ski Butternut in Great Barrington.

Some ski areas, and resorts such as Canterbury Farm Ski Touring Center, Becket; and Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club, Lenox, offer cross-country skiing. Notchview Reservation, Windsor, and Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area in nearby East Poestenkill, NY each boast 30 or more kilometers of trails; Pineridge has four kilometers of lighted trail for nighttime skiing. Snowshoeing, too, is attracting a big following, and Berkshire Scenic Treks & Canoe Tours offers both winter hiking and snowshoe adventures. Snowmobile Tours of the Berkshires hosts excursions through the Berkshires’ spectacular winterscape.

Ronnie’s Cycle Sales of Pittsfield, Inc., sells and services motorcycles, ATVs, dirt bikes and accessories, along with snowmobiles and watercraft. Lime Rock Park in nearby Lakeville, CT is revered for its place in motorsports history. See the range, from sports cars to historic and vintage machines to exhilarating NASCAR and stock car racers.

Finally, if land and water adventures don’t suffice, take to the air. Worthington Ballooning, Worthington, provides hot air balloon rides to individuals and corporate groups and also offers tethered rides. Summer, winter or in between—in the Berkshires, both soft and serious adventurers will find plenty to stir their souls and quicken their heartbeat. For complete Berkshire County information, including a free Adventure in the Country brochure and Official Visitors’ Guide, call 866-444-1815 or visit www.berkshires.org.