Running along a brief open road portion of the Taconic Crest Trail at Pittsfield State ForestTaconic Crest Trail in Pittsfield State ForestTilden Swamp (currently beaver-flooded) near the crest of the Taconic Ridge at Pittsfield State ForestThe Bearclaw Trail at Pittsfield State ForestBridge along the Deer Hill Trail at Pittsfield State ForestAscending the Lulu Brook Trail at Pittsfield State ForestAscending the Lulu Brook Trail at Pittsfield State ForestBerry Pond along the Taconic Ridge in Pittsfield State ForestLeaf-off vista along a switchback on the Honolulu Trail in Pittsfield State Forest
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
Typical stretch of trail at The BouldersBeneath conifers along the Red Trail near Gulf Road at The BouldersPond and trail at The BouldersTrail at The BouldersTypical trail at The Boulders in Dalton / Pittsfield
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
Minor Trail at NotchviewSummer along the Mixed Woods Trail at NotchviewStarting up the Bumpus Trail through Bates Field at NotchviewRunning through Bates Field at NotchviewMossy portion of the Bridge Trail at NotchviewStone wall at NotchviewReturning at sunsetcrossing the open field near the Notchview parking lot during a trail run event
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
Autumn along the Mahican-Mohawk Trail at Mohawk Trail State Forest
Running along a mown field portion of the Mahican-Mohawk Trail below the slopes of Todd Mountain at Mohawk Trail State Forest
Campground Road at Mohawk Trail State Forest
The easternmost vista ledge on Todd Mountain
Pink lady’s-slippers at Mohawk Trail State Forest
The Mahican-Mohawk Trail along the northeastern slope of Todd Mountain at Mohawk Trail State Forest
Pine plantation along the Elder Grove Trail at Mohawk Trail State Forest
Along the Cold River in spring at Mohawk Trail State Forest
Start of the Mahican-Mohawk Trail at Mohawk Trail State Forest
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
SE View ledge on Adams Mountain at Pelham Lake Park
Todd Mountain from Pelham Lake
Williams Trail at Pelham Lake Park in Rowe
Excellent trail signage at Pelham Lake Park in Rowe
Bog bridge along the Lake View Trail at Pelham Lake Park
Trail signs at Pelham Lake Park
Adams Mountain Trail
Southeast View Trail
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to a printing error, the quick reference data at the start of the Monroe profile on page 30 is incorrect (it is actually the data for Site 2: Pine Cobble). It should say:
DISTANCE: 10+ Miles
TOWN: Monroe / Florida
DIFFICULT: Challenging
TRAIL STYLE: Lollipop Loop
TRAIL TYPE: Singletrack
Running up the Spruce Hill Trail at Monroe State Forest
Dunbar Brook and the Dunbar Brook Trail at Monroe State Forest
Stream crossing during the annual Monroe Dunbar Brook Trail Race
Autumn view from the top of Spruce Mountain in Monroe State Forest
Summer view from the top of Spruce Mountain in Monroe State Forest
Dense hobblebush along the Spruce Mtn. Trail north of the summit
Raycroft Lookout over the Deerfield River valley
Running alongside Dunbar Brook
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
Trail racer descending the north side of Spruce Hill
Spring wildflower explosion along the Hoosac Ridge Trail in May
View of Mt. Greylock from the summit of Spruce Hill
The Mahican-Mohawk Trail along Hoosac Ridge
Mahican-Mohawk Trail marker along Hoosac Ridge
Trail racer along Hoosac Ridge just north of Spruce Hill
Most of the Hoosac Ridge Trail was built and is maintained by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council. This hardworking land trust is responsible for some of the finest sections of trail in western Massachusetts. Check them out at: http://www.bnrc.net/
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
Blackburnian Loop Trail at Savoy Mountain State Forest
Blackburnian Loop Trail at Savoy Mountain State Forest
Lost Pond Trail at Savoy Mtn. State Forest
North Pond Loop Trail at Savoy Mountain State Forest
North Pond at Savoy Mtn. State Forest
Stream crossing along the Blackburnian Loop Trail at Savoy Mountain State Forest
Exposed bedrock along the heavily eroded (but fun to run down) Old Florida Road at Savoy Mountain State Forest
Approaching South Pond along the South Pond Loop Trail at Savoy Mountain State Forest
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
Small stream crossing along the Blackburnian Loop trail at Savoy
Westward view from a ledge near the top of Mt. Prospect
Rich forest cove along the Haley Farm Trail
Upper portion of the Thunderbolt Trail (also part of the AT) just below the summit of Mt. Greylock
The AT along the west slope of Mt. Williams
Prospect Mountain Trail along the ridge
East-facing view from the summit of Mt. Greylock
Small pond along the Hopper Trail near the summit of Mt. Greylock
Money Brook Trail along the brook though the lower end of The Hopper
Trailhead for The Hopper
Bottom end of the Haley Farm Trail where it crosses a field
Alternate route options:
Mt. Greylock is a large mountain, and it certainly deserves more than one trail profile. The route described in the book takes runners on a big loop that offers a diverse sampling of the western side of the mountain. The ones suggested below describe other ways to explore the vast network of trails here.
1. Hopper Trail / Haley Farm Trail loop option
This reverse lollipop route is similar in some ways to the circuit described in the book, but is significantly shorter (and easier) and substitutes the Hopper Trail for the Mt. Prospect Trail, affording less diversity in terms of views but allowing for an easier ascent of the mountain. The Hopper Trail climbs at a relatively gradual grade with good footing as it slabs diagonally up the hillside. At the Sperry Campground, continue up to the summit on the Hopper Trail. Then return to the campground the same way, and descend via the Haley Farm Trail as described in the book. One way to add some diversity to this option that would slightly increase the length and make it more of a figure-8 loop would be to return from the summit via the Overlook Trail, which has some nice westward views.
2. Greylock Half-Marathon route
Each year, the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club hosts a half-marathon trail race on the eastern and southern sides of the mountain. The follow description approximates the race course, but shortens and simplifies it slightly. Starting at and of the small roadside trailheads off of Gould Rd or Thiel Rd in Greylock Glen, ascend the Thunderbolt Trail (excellent approaches to the lower portions include the Bucket, Whitetail, and Bellows Pipe Trails, as well as the Thunderbolt Trail itself) to the summit. Then descend to the south on the AT (you could shorten the loop considerably by taking a left and returning via either the Gould Trail or a combination of both the Gould and Cheshire Harbor Trails). Continue south on the Saddle Ball Mtn. Trail to the summit of Saddle Ball Mtn. You could choose to slightly shorten the run here by descending the AT for 1.3 miles to Old Adams Rd. Take a right and descend on the Jones Nose Trail, bearing left in 0.5 miles at a junction with the CCC Dynamite Trail. After dropping through the open fields below Jones Nose, turn left/east at the parking lot and return to Greylock Glen via the Old Adams Rd and Gould Trails.
Lower section of the Thunderbolt Trail on the east side of Mt. Greylock
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook, please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
View of Williamstown and the Taconic Ridge from Pine Cobble
Along the Pine Cobble Trail
Pine Cobble Trail trailhead sign
Switchback steps along a steep part of the Pine Cobble Trail
Upper part of the Class of ’98 Trail
Rough, rocky section of the Pine Cobble Trail just south of the junction with the AT near the summit
Along the Appalachian Trail on East Mountain
negotiating the rocky summit clearing on Pine Cobble
Descending the Pine Cobble Trail
To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).
All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.
