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Here are some great driving tours in the Mohawk Trail region. Print out this page or download our Official Visitors' Guide to the Mohawk Trail Region and take it with you! |
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Map for Tours 1 and 2 (Tour 1, follow the blue line - Tour 2, follow the yellow line) |
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TOUR 1- Mount Greylock - Approximately 26 miles On a clear day, allow half a day for this scenic tour up MT. GREYLOCK, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' highest peak at 3,491 feet. This scenic tour starts one mile north of Lanesborough on Route 7. Rockwell Road leads to the right (east) 10 miles to the summit. About 2 miles on Rockwell Road is the MT.GREYLOCKVISITOR CENTER. The Center is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, and offers environmental displays, trail maps, and information. Part way up the mountain on the right is a steep meadow, the southern slope of Saddleball Mountain. The Maine to Georgia Appalachian hiking trail follows the ridge of Saddleball to the summit. There are numerous foot trails besides the Appalachian which cross the summit and go on to cross Mount Williams and Mount Fitch to the north. One of the most popular foot trails, the Cheshire Harbor Trail starts off Route 8 on West Mountain Road in Adams. The Appalachian Mountain Club has numerous hikes, walks, and events on Mount Greylock, especially weekends during the summer. At New Ashford Road is the location of the first settlement of what was called NEW ASH FORT, standing as a defense against Native Americans in 1762. Further on, Sperry Road leads down and in for a mile to a magnificent lookout, STONEY LEDGE. It overlooks the HOPPER, a deep heavily wooded, brookcoursed canyon. In the background is Mount Prospect almost blocking the northern entrance to the HOPPER. Back on Rockwell Road, the pitch becomes steeper and, after rounding a hairpin turn, the Memorial tower on top of the mountain comes into view. Rockwell Road joins Notch Road at about this point. Notch Road is a second paved access to the summit from Route 2 in North Adams. At the summit is the WAR MEMORIAL TOWER, a 90 foot granite tower erected as a memorial to Massachusetts casualties of all wars. On a clear day it affords a view extending from Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, the Green Mountains in Vermont, the Adirondacks and Catskills in New York and Mt. Everett in the southern Berkshires. The same route may be retraced in the descent from the summit, or one may decide to take Notch Road to Route 2 in North Adams, proceeding west on Route 2 through Williamstown to Route 7 and then southerly to the starting point in Lanesborough. TOUR 2- Mohawk Trail, Savoy State Forest - Approximately 55 miles Williamstown, the home of Williams College, is the starting place for a tour which can cover most of the outstanding features of the northern section of Berkshire County. Located on the Williams College Campus is the Chapin Library of Rare Books in Stetson Hall. On permanent display at the Chapin Library are original copies of the Four Founding Documents of the United States. Across Main Street from the Chapin Library, is the Williams College Museum of Art, noted for its permanent collection and changing exhibitions that emphasize American art, modern and contemporary art, and non-western art. The college's Thompson Memorial Chapel, a Gothic structure built in 1904, is on the north side of Main Street in Williamstown. A series of stained glass windows merit particular attention, especially when viewed from within the chapel. Continuing west on Main Street is the picturesque First Congregational Church. Further along Main Street is the Adams Memorial Theatre, which is the summer home of the WilliamstownTheatre Festival, professional theatre under the direction of Michael Ritchie (late June through August on the Main Stage, Other Stage, staged readings, and a Free Theater). Going west on Main Street, the road leads into Field Park, where a faithful reproduction of a 1753 house was built in 1953 for the town's bicentennial. At 1095 Main Street in the Milne Memorial Library is the Williamstown House of Local History, which includes a collection of artifacts, photographs, and documents from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.On the west side of South Street is the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, well known for its impressionist collection, old masters, English silver, prints, and drawings. Proceeding east on Route 2, one comes to a vast historic mill complex in downtown North Adams. It is the site of MASS MoCA which present art exhibitions, music, dance, theater, and multimedia events. North Adams is also home to La Festa and the Fall Foliage Festival and Parade. Natural Bridge State Park is located east of North Adams off Route 2 and 8. This natural bridge of white marble was created by the waters of Hudson Brook. Next to the Natural Bridge State Park is The Contemporary Artists Center and Gallery, offering a unique environment for the creation of contemporary art and its exhibition. The Gallery is open only in the summer. Route 2 east from North Adams leads to the Mohawk Trail, one of the most famous scenic drives in the Berkshires. The road follows the old trail Native Americans of the Five Nations used to pass between the Connecticut and Hudson Valleys. First point of interest on the trail is the Hairpin Turn, where the trail rises sharply to the Western Summit (called Spirit Mountain by Native Americans). There is an observation point from which excellent views of mountainous portions of southern Vermont and northwestern Massachusetts can be seen including Mount Greylock, Mount Prospect and Mount Williams. Continuing up the trail, the next stop is Whitcomb Summit, the top of the trail. From this elevation, 2,173 feet, one can see far into southern Vermont and New Hampshire. Further along, the trail crosses a bridge and turns sharply to the left. Another road leads to the right. Here the visitor has a choice of three routes; 1. To continue along the trail to Charlemont, Shelburne Falls, and Greenfield; 2. To retrace the route back to North Adams; 3. To turn right away into Savoy Mountain State Forest for a visit to Tannery Falls. The road out of the Tannery Falls area on the return leg of this Circle Tour leads just northwest of Savoy Center and onto East Road in the town of Adams. East Road paralleling Route 8 to the North leads back to North Adams, and gives a commanding view of Greylock Mountain, towering over Adams, a charming Victorian town with an elegantly restored Main Street. A must-see is the Western Gateway Heritage State Park, located on Route 8 in the center of North Adams. The freight yard district of North Adams has been restored and now houses a variety of contemporary and historical attractions, including an excellent exhibit on the building of the Hoosac Tunnel. To complete the tour, turn left on Route 2 and return to Williamstown.
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