Mt. Greylock State Reservation

"Fun with the Family"

Mt. Greylock State Reservation is an enormous park (more than 12,000 acres), with45 miles of hiking trails of varying difficulties, as well as camping (contact Reserve America at 877-422-6762 or www.reserveamerica.com for one of the thirty-four sites), fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.
The visitor center in Lanesborough is an excellent first stop; be sure to get a map. A large tabletop relief map shows the park’s layout and topography. Even if your family hasn’t done a lot of hiking, don’t be discouraged. Many of the park’s trails leave from the parking area on top of the mountain (this is one of the reasons it’s such a terrific family place; you can drive right to the best part).
One of the best routes is a 4-mile round-trip hike from the summit down Overlook Trail to Hopper Trail, then on to March Cataract Falls.
NOTE: The weather can change quickly and unexpectedly on Mt. Greylock. Every year a few experienced hikers find themselves stranded. Get a map and talk to rangers in the visitor center before you begin your hike.
Whether or not you hike, don’t end your visit to Mt. Greylock without climbing the War Memorial Tower, reopening in 2009. On a clear day you’ll be able to see Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire, 115 miles away, as well as the full Berkshire range, the Taconics in New York, southern Vermont, Connecticut, Mount Wachusett in Central Massachusetts, and the southern part of the Appalachians for a five-state view. The tower is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, mid-May through mid-October, weather permitting.
Each Columbus Day, the town of Adams sponsors the Mt. Greylock Ramble, an annual trek to the mountain summit from the Cheshire Harbor Trailhead on West Mountain Road.