Easy Hikes in the Vicinity of Mt. Greylock

The northwest corner of Massachusetts offers beautiful mountain scenery where it is possible to find a few accessible and easy trail experiences.

Driving to the top of Mt. Greylock State Reservation, our tallest peak at 3491 feet, will bring you to a beautiful stone lodge and a 1/4 mile wheelchair accessible paved trail. Here you can circle the summit of Mt. Greylock around the War Memorial Tower and enjoy extensive views
across western Massachusetts. I always enjoy the cooler temperatures, fresher air and shorter trees in places like this! Plan to bring and wear a mask as the summit may be well-attended on beautiful days this summer, though there is plenty of room to spread out on the open summit field. Wheelchair users may need to be ready to ask people to move off trail if other users don't recognize they should do so to allow safe passage in the Covid-era.

The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in the valley east of Mt. Greylock offers a more extensive wheelchair accessible trail opportunity - more details on the rail trail at the end of this post.

For easygoing ambulatory hikers and more intrepid wheelchair hikers there is a noteworthy new trail at the base of Mt. Greylock well worth visiting. The Glen Meadow Loop Trail is 1.7 miles long on gentle terrain. The 12' wide trail is hard-packed stone dust and takes you in and around an extensive meadow, and through woods and shaded wetlands and around ponds. When I was there in early June there were extensive swaths of wildflowers and only a handful of people on the trail, which has yet to see substantial use.

Any time of year you will see a spectacular ancient willow tree if you do the whole loop. The tree is quite enormous, even with trunks split off and fallen to the ground on two sides! The whole trail offers a bonanza of birding and some wonderful, soul-nourishing scenery, including a glorious view of Mt. Greylock throughout the southeastern section of the loop.

If you plan to check out the Glen Meadow Loop Trail there are a few key things to know. The first is that it is not considered wheelchair accessible. There is a clivus style outhouse on site and it is not wheelchair accessible with a significant step up to it. There is no designated accessible parking. If you use a wheelchair you'll want to bypass the first parking area on Gould Road (due to a climb to reach the loop trail) and continue driving uphill around a curve, past a small parking lot for Peck's Falls on the left, to a second parking area for the loop trail on the right (where you can see the clivus toilet both in view from the road and on the map shown). It's roadside parking on a hill so not accessible, but for some it might be worth it because if you can handle the parking angle, it is possible to pass through the roadside boulders (45" width" passage) to enter the loop trail area.

This is a remarkable hiking opportunity for people who prefer or need to not have to deal with obstacles on the trail like roots and rocks. It's also great for navigation - easy to stay on the well-defined trail with minimal trail intersections. There are several sections with lengthy gradual grades uphill or down. If you travel in a clockwise direction, you will be well situated to travel downhill for the most extensive (400') and steepest grade (150' of that 400' is at 10%).

Another thing to keep in mind; this is bear county and hikers should plan to respect bears by not bothering or feeding them - a good reminder that social distancing extends well beyond six feet for some other species. There have been numerous sightings of bears in the Adams area this season, even along the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Adams. DCR's West Region Trails Coordinator reports that all sightings have been peaceful as far as she's heard this year. The bears typically move away from people. I was fortunate to see a bear while hiking the Glen Meadow Loop Trail and indeed this was the case.

Last, but not least, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is an 12 mile paved 10 foot wide bike path that runs between Adams and Dalton and offers spectacular views of the Mt. Greylock mountain complex, especially as it passes along two reservoirs in Cheshire. Best access points are at the visitor center in Adams, Farnum's Crossing in Cheshire, or the Berkshire Mall in Dalton. Currently only the northern (Adams) half is open with the southern portion is being re-paved. In July, the northern end will close for paving and the southern half will re-open. This is, in my opinion, the most scenic bike path in the state.

DCR advocates for people to stay close to home and visit parks within walking distance or a short drive. If you plan to venture further afield, as well as on any outing, please protect yourself and others. In addition to following safe practices outlined by the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health, please be sure to follow these additional DCR guidelines for safe park visiting:

• Minimize outdoor recreational time to limit potential exposure to COVID-19;
• Stay within solitary or small groups, and avoid gatherings of ten or more people;
• Practice social distancing of at least six feet between individuals;
• Administer healthy personal hygiene, such as handwashing for at least 20 seconds;
• Participate in only non-contact recreational activities;
• Leave a park or area should large gatherings begin to build; and,
• Stay home if ill, over 70, and/or part of a vulnerable population.