A1 Trails
Hiking in Massachusetts

Hiking at Mount Greylock State Reservation

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Trails: 60 miles of trails including a 7-mile climb up Mt Greylock, the tallest peak in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet. The Appalachian Trail passes through the park on its way from Georgia to Maine. There is a road over the mountain for those who only want to hike around the summit.
Access fee: Parking fee
Nearest town: Lanesboro, MA
Trail map: Available at the park and on the website
Web site: MassParks
Points of interest: View from the top takes in five states. War Veterans Memorial Tower is at the summit. Authors such as Hawthorne, Melville and Thoreau either lived in or visited the area.
Other activities: Mountain biking, backcountry skiing
Lodging: Bascom Lodge at the summit has 2 rooms and 4 dorms
Camping: A campground has 34 sites and there are 5 lean-tos for backpackers at various points along the trails
Weather forecast: Pittsfield
Tourism info: Berkshire Visitors Bureau
Getting to the trail: The park's visitor center is about 1.5 miles north of Lanesboro on Route 7. The auto road traverses the summit from north to south. Several parking lots near the foot of the mountain are accessed by alternate routes.
Map of local region: Lanesboro

Number of ratings: 5
Average rating: 4.20

Trail Name: Mount Greylock State Reservation
I have hiked there: Several times
I last hiked there in: August, 2005
Trails that I hiked: Hopper Trail, Appalachain Trail, Money Brook Trail, Mount Prospect Trail, Bellows Pipe Trail, Thunderbolt Trail, and Gould Trail
Favorite trails: Thunderbolt Trail, Hopper Trail, and Gould Trail
Best time to go: summer and fall
Trail marking: Fair
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: I like the layout of the trails and the agressive challanges of a few of them. Greylock trails seem to always be dark,(because of the tree canopee above),winding through some thick heavely wooded terrain. It's kinda spookey at times. The Thunderbolt Trail going up from Thiel Rd is an agessive hike but also beautiful and full of history.
What I disliked: Some marks need to be repainted and a few more signs so as not to go on snowmobile trail or unknown blazed trail by mistake. Could spell diasterous for an inexperienced hiker.
Additional comments: Greylock Trails take longer to dry after rains because the sun doesn't get through the tree canopies so well. So be carefull of wet slippery rocks, slippery leaves over rocks, etc. I reccomend hiking up the Hopper Trail to the AT Trail then catch the Gould Trail down to Gould Rd to Greylock Glen area wher the abandoned ski area is with the old lift equipment still standing. Then follow trail sign to the start of the Thunderbolt Trail and take the Thunderbolt all the way up to the AT Trail, and the AT Trail to the Summit. Then take AT to Hopper Trail all the way back down to where you first started. Wonderful hike. I do it 2 or 3 times a week when possible. Total time of hike ABOUT 8 hours.
Submitted by: Doug Eaton
from: Northampton,Ma.
Date submitted: Aug 20, 2005

Trail Name: Mount Greylock State Reservation
I have hiked there: A few times
I last hiked there in: July, 104
Trails that I hiked: the AT trail from vermont to cheshire over the top of mt greylock
Favorite trails: from the summit to cheshire
Best time to go: spring falll summer
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: just the solitude
What I disliked: nothing
Additional comments: all the people were friendly and helpful just a
really good time and experience
Submitted by: uncle buck
from: sturbridge ma
Date submitted: April 28, 2005

Trail Name: Mount Greylock State Reservation
I have hiked there: A few times
I last hiked there in: July, 104
Trails that I hiked: the AT trail from vermont to cheshire over the top of mt greylock
Favorite trails: from the summit to cheshire
Best time to go: spring falll summer
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: just the solitude
What I disliked: nothing
Additional comments: all the people were friendly and helpful just a
really good time and experiance
Submitted by: uncle buck
from: sturbridge ma
Date submitted: April 28, 2005

Trail Name: Mount Greylock State Reservation
I have hiked there: Several
I last hiked there in: Nov, 2003
Trails that I hiked: I have hiked every trail on this reservation and in the surrounding areas
Favorite trails: the AT is especially nice, to the summit, also like Thunderbolt and Mt. Prospect Trails.
Best time to go: Fall time for the foliage, but winter is also nice
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 3.5 stars
What I liked: Scenery is always nice, these trails can be challenging also
What I disliked: sometimes I wish there were other trails connecting to them so I could go on different hikes.
Comments:
Submitted by: Camp
from: Pittsfield, MA
Date submitted: Nov 28, 2003

Area name: Mount Greylock State Reservation
Times hiked: Once
Date last hiked: July, 1997
Trails hiked: The AT.
Favourite trails: I've only done the AT over the top of the mountain.
Best time to go: We were there in July. It was cool and rainy then.
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: The trail system is impressive. The park has trail information readily available.
What I disliked: The bummer is the road/complex on the top of Mt. Greylock. It really takes away from the effort required to get up there on foot.
Comments:
Submitted by: pj
from:
Date submitted: June 2, 2002

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