Along the Old Mill Trail in the Berkshires

I visited the Old Mill Trail in Hinsdale, Massachusetts this spring. Located in the southern Berkshires off Route 8, this trail is an inviting streamside experience.  Recent improvements to correct a few bridge access issues along the trail have inspired me now to let others know about this wonderful accessible trail opportunity. It is a refreshing place to be outdoors on a hot day. The further you go down the trail, the deeper and cooler the woods become.

The wheelchair accessible portion of the Old Mill Trail is 3/4 of a mile along the 1.5 mile linear trail that starts at the intersection of Old Dalton Road and Route 8. Continuing on beyond the 3/4 mile accessibility point will soon get you into more roots and rocks as the trail crosses under Route 8 to its final turnaround point. Either way, bear in mind to double the distance for your total hiking mileage. The trail is flat to moderate terrain and hard-packed dirt and stone dust. A kiosk at the trail head will help with onsite orientation. You can also click here for a map.

I really enjoyed the active bird life and variety of plant species along the accessible trail. There are sunny openings early on as you start out from the 9 car parking lot. You will encounter three bridges in the accessible portion, the first over the stream and the other two crossing adjacent wet areas. After this the trail brings you into the forest as you follow along the east branch of the Housatonic River. Some of the forest is mainly deciduous (leafy trees) and some is primarily eastern hemlock (pine-like).

A unique attraction along the Old Mill Trail is the surprisingly intact remains of a 1938 Oldsmobile car. It is a short walk uphill to get to it but it's also visible from the accessible trail. There is also an old mill site of course, further downstream. You'll see posts for a self-guided tour - when I went most numbers were missing and there were no brochures available due to Covid19, but there is an online video tour of the trail and its interpretive stops called an Augmented Reality Interpretive Trail. I found this quite informative to check out after my walk there. It could also be a good orientation prior to going.

I did see a few people on the trail, including a dog or two on leash. Overall I had the place to myself much of the time and people social distanced well. Other things you should know: there is no bathroom facility on site, dogs are allowed and motor vehicles are not. The trail also follows along Route 8, which can be noisy as traffic moves with a 45 mph speed limit. I found this did affect my experience, as I prefer my time in the woods to be further away from civilization. The flip side is that there is little to fear about getting lost and the road noise will help you keep your bearings - and, its a beautiful place. A final note, there is no wheelchair access to the water's edge, though there is a spot or two where side trails lead down to the water.

This trail was built by the Berkshire Natural Resource Council with funding from DCR's Recreation Trails Grant. 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