Hiking Committee

Upcoming Activities

A.T. Hike Series 2025 Section 8

This 5.8-mile trail offers a rewarding mix of scenic beauty and physical challenge with an 800-foot elevation change. The journey begins on County Rd and quickly brings hikers to the summit of Wailing Mountain. From there, the trail descends gradually, passing the serene and beautiful Finerty Pond and crossing the gently flowing Mountain Brook. The descent continues toward Becket Mountain, reaching its 2175-foot peak before steadily making its way down. The trail then crosses Yokum Pond/Becket Rd and concludes at Rte 20.

VT Hikes: Mount Ascutney

Hike 6-7 miles including scenic waterfalls and cascades to the summit of Mount Ascutney. Option to climb the fire tower for 360 views during lunch!

Robert Frost Series #7, Sections 13 & 14

This final stretch of the Robert Frost Trail, Sections 13 & 14, climbs twice, first up Stoddard Hill's open, rocky woodlands - complete with vernal pools and birch groves-then, after a steep ridge scramble and stream crossing, descends to Rt 63. A brief road link brings you to Spaulding Brook Rd, where Section 14 ascends Spaulding Brook's gorge to the dramatic Pigpen Ledges rock amphitheater. North of the ledges, the trail follows a rolling ridge through hemlock and mountain-laurel forests before dropping out to East Chestnut Hill Rd and ending at Wendell State Forest HQ on Wendell Rd. Along the way, enjoy panoramic summit views, rich bird habitat, and a real taste of central New England's rugged backcountry.

MA NET Section 8

Point to point hike of Section 8 of the New England Scenic Trail, from Harris Mountain Rd to the Visitors Center at Rte 116. Section 8 is a ridge top trail along the overhanging ledges of Mt Norwottuck and Long Mountain. Also home to Daniel Shays' "horse-caves" of Revolutionary War days. The orange-blazed Robert Frost Trail is co-aligned with the M-M Trail for much of this section. The state-run Notch Visitors Center on MA-116 offers parking, water, restrooms, and natural history exhibits inside. A DCR map of Mt Norwottuck and Long Mountain is available online.

[Women's+] Mount Norwottuck and Atkins Farms

Join us on a 5-6 mile hike to Mt Norwottuck, Horse Caves and maybe Rattlesnake Knob. Mostly moderate terrain with some steeper sections including moderate scrambles. The trail passes through dense, rocky woods to several open vistas.

A.T. Hike Series 2025 Section 9

The trail begins with a short but steady climb to the summit of Bald Top Mountain, offering rewarding views before leveling out along a ridgeline. Hikers traverse the expansive and picturesque October Mountain State Forest, winding through a mix of hardwoods and evergreens that provide shade and a peaceful atmosphere. The route passes the October Mountain Shelter, a popular rest stop for thru-hikers, before crossing Pittsfield Road in Becket. The final stretch continues through rolling terrain, ending at Blotz Road. While long, this section is relatively gentle, making it an enjoyable hike for those looking for a less strenuous but scenic Appalachian Trail experience.

Hike to Upper Goose Pond Cabin

Join us for a 4.3 mile round-trip relaxed-pace hike to the cabin (725' elevation gain). The route follows the Appalachian Trail for about 0.5 mile where it crosses the Mass Pike and starts a steep uphill for about a 0.5 mile, and then levels off and descends until it reaches the blue-blazed trail that continues to the cabin. A caretaker will be at the cabin starting in May, and hopefully we can get a guided tour. Will definitely have our lunch outside on the porch or even down at the pond for some gorgeous views and possibly have a dip.

Sunset Hike to South and North Sugarloaf

Hike 3-3.5 miles to South and North Sugarloaf in South Deerfield. Terrain is overall moderate with hills. Enjoy a packed dinner or snack along with summit views.

MA Appalachian Trail Blotz Road to Dalton (Gulf Road)

This section of the Appalachian Trail blends forested ridgelines with an urban passage through Dalton, MA. The trail begins with a brief climb to the summit of Warner Hill, where hikers are rewarded with sweeping views of the surrounding valleys. From there, it follows a gentle ridgeline, passing through a mix of woodlands before reaching the Kay Wood Shelter. The journey continues over the rolling terrain of Day Mountain before descending toward Dalton. We depart our wilderness setting and walk onto Depot Street and the required stop at Sweet Pea's Ice Cream before continuing through town to our cars on Gulf Road.

Tour de Ponds - Backpacking Southern VT

Join us for a pond-hopping adventure in the Green Mountain National Forest! While the cyclists of the Tour de France begin their race along the roads of Europe, we'll embark on our own "Tour de Ponds". Our two-day backpacking trip will wind through the forest and past three beautiful ponds: Stratton, Bourne, and Branch.

Mt Tom Hike to the Eyrie Ruins

We will meet at the Visitors Center at Mt Tom and hike on Section 6 of the NET to Goat Peak with views of Easthampton, then go up the fire tower for a 360-degree view of the Connecticut River Valley and the Holyoke Range. This section is short but fairly steep. From there, we will continue on the NET to Nonotuck Peak with views of the Oxbow on the Connecticut River, then on to view the Eyrie Ruins, the remains of a hotel that was built in 1861 and burned down in 1901. We will then head back to the parking lot on the McCool Trail.

A.T. Hike Series 2025 Section 11

Section 11 of the A.T. series offers a mix of forested climbs, scenic ridgelines, excellent wildflower viewing at Gore Pond, and a small amount of walking back into town. Starting from Gulf Road in Dalton, the trail passes by Crystal Mountain Campground before ascending North Mountain, a moderate, steady climb that rewards hikers with forested views. The trail then winds through The Cobbles, a geologic formation offering stunning panoramas of the Hoosiers River Valley. Descending into the town of Cheshire, the trail follows a mix of roads, including Furnace Hill Road, East Main Street, and Main Street, before reaching Railroad Street, the location of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

Examine the Local Effects of Climate Change

Climate change has a global impact, as well as affecting many local areas. We will explore with a guest presenter from Williamstown Rural Lands. We'll hike three miles along the Taconic Crest & Shepherd's Well Trails while we learn how the local climate has shifted through the history of Williamstown, MA. From views across Mt Greylock and along the Taconics, we see evidence of wildly different past climates. At the weather station, we will observe how scientists monitor climate change today.

Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Set amidst more than 1,000 lush acres in the Berkshires, the Pleasant Valley's varied trails wind through forests, meadows, and wetlands. Our hike will ascend the Trail of the Ledges which is a steep 800' climb of 1.4 miles to the summit of Lenox Mt. We will continue on the Yokun Ridge to Yokun Seat with views of Mt Greylock, where we will have lunch enjoying the scenery. We return to Lenox Mt and pick up the less steep Overbrook Trail down the mountain, connecting to Laurel Trail and eventually to the Hermit Thrush Loop. We join up with the Yokun Trail where you will see evidence of the sanctuary's wildlife resident, the beaver, via dams, dens, or lodges and then take the Bluebird Trail back to the beginning.

Bennington Trailfest

Join me at this free event for hikers and the community! Free food and entertainment, info tables, used gear swap, "trail of fortune" prize giveaway, and more. Learn about the amazing hiking resources in southern VT and northern MA, learn tips and tricks from thru-hikers and community members, and more. Stop by the Appalachian Mountain Club - Western Massachusetts table to learn more about our activities!

NH Hikes: North Pack and Pack Monadnock

Summit North Pack and Pack Monadnock out and back from the north. On a clear day enjoy views from both summits with the opportunity to climb the fire tower on Pack Monadnock during lunch. Distance is approx. 7.5 miles with 2,150 elevation gain. We will take breaks for viewpoints, interesting flowers, wildlife and photos.

NH Hikes: 52WAV Mount Cube

Hike to Mount Cube on the Appalachian Trail. 7.5 miles on mixed terrain, with some steep sections, including rock scrambles and approx. 2,800 elevation gain. Moderate pace with breaks to enjoy viewpoints. On the NH 52 with a view list, the summit offers far views of the surrounding mountains.