Hiking Committee

Upcoming Activities

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.

Holyoke Revitalization Tour

Discover how a city originally designed as an industrial mill town is being reimagined. Learn about some innovative businesses and visit with some developers that have - and are continuing to - put new life into old buildings. Easy 1-mile walking tour on fairly level street and sidewalk, ending at Choo Choo's take out comfort food for lunch. Registration requested by calling 413-534-1723.

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.

A.T. Hike Series 2025 Section 14

This section marks the transition from MA to VT with a challenging but rewarding ascent. Beginning at Rte 2, the trail climbs steeply through dense forest, passing the Sherman Brook Campsite. As it winds through Clarksburg State Forest, the path offers a mix of rugged terrain and shaded woodlands before reaching Eph's Lookout, a scenic viewpoint with expansive vistas. The journey then continues to the VT border. For the return trip, hikers retrace their steps to the Pine Cobble Trail, which provides a more gradual descent and additional scenic overlooks before reaching the Pine Cobble Trail parking area. This section offers a mix of steep climbs, beautiful forests, and panoramic views, making it a fitting finale to the MA portion of the A.T.

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.