Mt. Greylock is full of wonderful experiences. Atop Massachusetts highest peak, Mt. Greylock, sits one of the most beautiful memorials I have ever seen. Originally designed for the Charles River estuary in Boston, it found its way here in 1932. Their loss has definitely been our gain! It was built as a memorial for the fallen of World War I but now pays tribute to all the men and women who have lost their lives in war. It also serves another purpose, as a beacon for night time aviators. When it was built, the magnificent circular dome contained the most powerful lights in all the state. It still shines most nights but is turned off in the spring and fall so as not to interfere with migrating birds.

On Mt. Greylock, you can camp at the Sperry Campground halfway up the mountain or just spend the day hiking. Some of my fondest memories as a boy are of picking blueberries with my parents at Jones Nose, and the day I scared my mother half to death by pretending to jump off of Stony Ledge, a popular overlook with panoramic views of old growth red spruce forest on the western slope of the mountain. 

Greylock is the first place I ever saw a porcupine, a gentle beast that is commonly seen close to the summit. One trip, when my folks were older, we took a Sunday drive up the mountain and we glimpsed the largest male bobcat I have ever seen.

This year will be a perfect time to see the monument, the mountain, and all that the 12,000 acre reservation has to offer. For the past two years, Rockwell Road, the way to the summit, has been closed for reconstruction. There is a tentative plan to have a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the “new” road on May, 22^nd at 2:00p.m. at the parks’ visitor center. 

With the new road comes the re-opening of Bascom Lodge at the top of the mountain. It is currently under renovation with a hopeful opening date in late June. The lodge has private and group rooms available for overnight stays and a full service cafe and restaurant.  It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the CCC boys, in 1936 and was made from native stone and logs that were gathered by other CCC boys constructing trails on the mountain. It is a thrilling spot to spend the night while the wind is howling outside or when the summit is locked in an eerie blanket of cloud cover. The sunrise and sunset from the mountain are to-die-for. I remember some years back the wonderful “open-mic nights” that attracted some of the Berkshires finest musical talent. Let’s hope that tradition continues.

The Appalachian Trail (AT) wends through Mt. Greylock State Park. Of the 2,100 mile footpath that runs from Maine to Georgia, 11.5 miles are found here. At the summit it is common to see the sturdy “through-hikers” mingling with the multitudes of other visitors. (You too can hike the AT and many other trails, just pick up a trail map at the visitor center at the base of the mountain.) The visitor center also has restrooms, a 3-D model of the mountain, natural history displays and an art gallery. 

Our tallest mountain at 3,491 feet, it was once part of a chain of mountains that may have been over 20,000 feet, higher than the Rocky Mountains are today! The Appalachians are said to be over 600 million years old and in that time Mt. Greylock has seen ancient oceans, dinosaurs, glaciers, mastodons, Mahican Indians, fur trappers and settlers. More recently it is visited by hikers, poets, painters, photographers, campers, naturalists and all who long to connect with the majesty of the mountain.

Mt. Greylock is a terrific place for a naturalist like me; the summit being so high, experiencing extreme weather conditions, and generally being much cooler than the valley below is classified as being in the Canadian zone. As you can imagine this is a great place to see animals not common to Massachusetts. In fact, the reservation has over 20 rare plants species – five of which haven’t been identified elsewhere in the state. 

Mt. Greylock State Reservation has something for everyone. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, Sunday driver, entomologist, bird watcher, or just want to see a pretty view- this place is your mountain. Literally, it is “your” mountain. Mt. Greylock was Massachusetts first wilderness state park, it was established in 1898, and it is here for all to enjoy forever. So, throw on a backpack, pack a picnic, grab your binoculars, bring your appetite for nature, food, history and all that makes the Berkshires special and bring them all to Greylock – it never disappoints.

About Rene Wendell - Introduced to nature by his father, Pittsfield, MA native Rene Wendell knew the names of wild creatures as a toddler. After living in Florida and Arizona Wendell returned to the Berkshires to obtain degrees from Berkshire Community College and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and now works a conservation ranger for the Trustees of Reservations. As such, Wendell spends his days knocking back invasive plants, tracking rattle snakes, and teaching others about the great outdoors. He likes to hike, hunt, fish, bird watch, collect antiques, and go metal detecting with his 91-year-old father.