Hiking Committee

Upcoming Activities

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A.T. Hike Series 2025 Section 12

Cheshire Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to Greylock summit 8.5 miles, elevation change 2500 feet, rain date: July 20. The ascent winds through dense hardwood forests, offering occasional overlooks as it gains elevation. At the top, the Mt Greylock summit rewards hikers with breathtaking panoramic views stretching across multiple states. The summit features the Veterans War Memorial Tower, a historic landmark, and a lodge offering seasonal amenities. This challenging yet rewarding hike is a highlight of the Massachusetts section of the Appalachian Trail.

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!

A.T. Hike Series 2025 Section 13

Summit of Mt Greylock to Rte 2/State Rd, North Adams 6.3 miles, elevation change 2800 ft. Rain date is Sunday July 27. This section of trail features a long, steady descent from the summit of Mt Greylock (3,491 ft) to the valley below. The trail first descends toward Mt Williams, offering occasional viewpoints, continuing past the Wilbur Clearing Shelter, then on to Mt. Prospect, another scenic ridge along the route. The trail descends steeply past the Mt Williams Reservoir. As the trail nears North Adams, it transitions from the forested ridges to more developed terrain, following Phelps Avenue to Rte 2 (State Rd), where an A.T. trail parking area is available.

Mohawk Trail State Forest

This lollipop loop hike is about 7 miles with 1600' elevation gain. Mohawk Trail State Forest was originally established to preserve the scenic landscape. The central feature is its old growth forest with many trees that are between 200 and 400 years old. In addition, it has one of the tallest forests in the Northeast with many white pines over 150 feet tall. The Mohican-Mohawk Trail runs through parts of the old growth forest and several of the tall pine groves. Initially, we climb the steep Thumper Mt trail to the summit and then drop down onto Cold River Road and start our second climb of 1,000 ft on the Mahican-Mohawk Native American/Indian trails to the summit of Indian Head Mt (Todd Mt) which afford incredible views. We will reverse our hike and head back down the Indian/Mahican-Mohawk trails and pick up the Elder Grove trail/Cold River Road/Mahican-Mohawk trails that follow the Deerfield/Cold Rivers and eventually back to our cars.

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.