Mountain Greylock State Reservation
Mountain Greylock State Reservation
Jennifer Mayne
You might think, like many other people, that the Berkshires are only a vacation spot for the elite.Unless you’re going to Canyon Ranch Resort to rub elbows with the likes of Paul Newman, or to see the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, why make the drive out to western Massachusetts?Well, I’ll tell you why; there are some hidden treasures in the Berkshires, and all you have to do to find the biggest one is drive to Lanesborough.
Lanesborough is a small town just north of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Mountains.Unlike its neighbors to the south—Stockbridge, Lee, Great Barrington—Lanesborough doesn’t boast much in the way of tourist attractions.Hidden away there, however, is one of the Berkshire’s greatest natural treasures, Mount Greylock State Reservation.The state reservation covers 11,000 acres and contains over 45 miles of trails, including parts of the Appalachian Trail, that are great for walking, jogging, or biking.The park also includes snowmobile trails for the winter sports enthusiasts among us.The most awe-inspiring part of the park is, without a doubt, the peak of Mount Greylock.
The top of the mountain is 3,491 feet high, and the view is incredible.Trees, wildlife, sky for miles; it’s truly breathtaking.Imagine being up there in the fall to catch peak weekend.It’s orange, and yellow, and red for miles.In the summer, you hear the birds all around you and see squirrels running from tree to tree, and as far as the eye can see the grass and tree tops are green.Even with the other nature lovers around you who drove, walked or, for the braver folks, biked up to the peak, it’s still peaceful.It’s as if there’s so much open space that whatever noise others make is just absorbed by that space and all you hear is the wind rustling through the trees and grass.
Once you get to the top, and after you’ve taken in some of the amazing scenery, stop to have a snack at one of the picnic areas.You can enjoy a bag lunch surrounded by the New England landscape that inspired Hawthorne and Melville.Being that high up puts you above the hustle and bustle of North Street or the Berkshire Mall.You can almost feel the energy that inspired those artists and authors who called the Berkshires home; the power of nature, and the power of the mountain are striking.
Before you think you’ve appreciated all that Mount Greylock has to offer, visit the War Veteran’s Memorial Tower.Standing atop the peak of the mountain, this intriguing structure contains not only a striking memorial to those who have fought for our country, but an even more impressive view of the surrounding area.Climbing to the top of this tower adds another 92 feet to your already amazing position on top of the world.A note to the readers who are not fans of small, twirly staircases: close your eyes, have someone hold your hand, do whatever you need to do because it’s worth it.Trust me.When you reach the top, you can see for a hundred miles.Literally.One hundred miles.You can look over to Albany, following the Hudson River until it reaches the capital of New York.You can look past the rest of the Berkshire Mountains and see all the way to the Catskills, home of Rip Van Winkle.The view is so magnificent it makes the climb up those stairs worthwhile, and it even makes you forget about the fact that eventually, you have go back down those stairs.
If, after your long day of hiking and climbing and appreciating the clean, unadulterated outdoors, you need a place to stay, check out the Bascom Lodge.It’s owned by the Appalachian Mountain Club, the group in charge of maintaining the state reservation.Bascom Lodge, as well as the mountain overlook, is wheel chair accessible. Don’t feel bad about spending the money to turn your day trip into a weekend, because going up to the peak is virtually free.And remember, you can drive part way up the mountain and walk the rest, or you can drive all the way to the peak, so this is a great destination for everyone, even if, like me, just watching someone else bike to the top makes you want to lie down and check your pulse.Open from sunrise until half an hour past sunset each day, this is one trip I wouldn’t pass up.Take a day, or maybe two, and get away from the stress and strain of everyday life.Appreciate the solitude and the beauty that the Berkshires have to offer, and start out at Mount Greylock State Reservation.
For more information, call the visitors center at: (413)499-4262 or (413)499-4263.The visitor’s center is open from 9:00 AM—5:00 PM, Mid-May until Mid-October.During the rest of the year the visitor’s center is open on weekends and holidays from 8:00 AM—4:00 PM.