Check out our what to do section for a complete list of Berkshire outdoor recreation.

Enjoy the great outdoors in the Berkshires this fall!

By Ann Claffie

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year when nature paints itself brilliant colors of hot reds, dazzling oranges and sunny yellows. There’s no better way to immerse yourself in this backdrop— than hiking in the Berkshires! From tots to teens, beginners to avid hikers, the landscape of the Berkshires satisfies just about anyone.

Consider the Farm Trail at the Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, one mile of hard-pressed earth through former pastures. Evidence of how the Shakers used nature is noted along the way. It’s a comfortable walk with or without a baby in a back-pack or pushing a stroller. While there, don’t forget to have some fun in the Discovery Room or wander into the Brick dwelling, stepping back in time to this preserved culture.

“Nice and Easy Hikes” offered on Mount Greylock State Reservation are free and weekly, every Wednesday at 10 a.m. from now until the end of October. Each week features a different location and the hikes are geared to senior citizens, but are open to all. As the Berkshires temperatures continue to drop, be sure to dress appropriately and wear sturdy shoes. Bring hiking poles, bottled water and a snack. The hikes are easy-paced and led by Sam Kessel. Mentions of native plants and birds plus some history add to the experience. Other forests and state parks throughout the Berkshires offer hiking trails and usually include trail maps posted near parking areas. (See the Department of Conservation and Recreation for details www.massparks.org)

A bit further north, in Williamstown, hiking trails behind the Clark Art Institute are also open to all ages and are free. Explore on your own the Pasture Trail and Stone Bench Trail which loops around the Clark’s 140-acre campus. Shorter hikes, Howard Path and Nan Path lead to the Stone Hill Center. Trail maps are available at the admissions desk in both the Manton Research Center and Stone Hill Center.

Nearby, Hopkins Memorial Forest in the northwest corner of Williamstown, MA, and adjacent Pownal, VT (Route 7) and Petersburg, NY (Route 2) includes 2500 acres. Much of the forest extends from the Hoosic River to the crest of the Taconic Range. Miles of trails and abandoned roads are available for the casual stroller as well as the more avid hiker and trail runner. Some are long and arduous while others are wide, level and short. Views vary from tree trunk close-ups to vast mountain landscapes to the placid Hoosic River. A map of the area and hiking trails is found on www.williams.edu/CES/hopkins/public/trailmap.htm.

One of the most popular Berkshires hikes is up Monument Mountain, just off Route 7, Great Barrington. Perhaps the reason is because of local folklore and the impressive panoramic views of the southern Berkshires from the summit. Or perhaps it’s because it’s the location of one of the most famous hikes in history. On August 5, 1850, Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Oliver Wendell Holmes hiked to the summit for a picnic. A thunderous storm threatened to disband their outing, but as history tells us, their friendship solidified enabling Melville to finish writing his classic, Moby-Dick. Two trails lead to the top. Plan on 1–1 1/2 hours hike. Bring a picnic. Relive history.

One other outdoor program worth mentioning is the Housatonic Heritage Walks, in various locations around the Berkshires and northwestern Connecticut, set for September 20 and 21 and October 4 and 5. Led by naturalists and historians, the walks explore the Housatonic River valley, including archeological and industrial sites. The walks take place at specific times so be sure to pick up a map of the Heritage Walks at Berkshires Visitors Centers in Adams or Pittsfield.

The fall season couldn’t be nicer to us….. only in the Berkshires.

About Ann Claffie 

A Berkshires native, Ann grew up in Dalton as the oldest of five children who were encouraged to use their imaginations for fun and play. Today, married and living in Pittsfield, Ann and her husband enjoy family fun and adventure with their eleven year old son. She has been on staff at the Berkshire Visitors Bureau for more than ten years.