Berkshire: Mountains, Museums and Culture

Hiking trails, waterfall scenery, and places for music, dance, and history give Berkshire a variety of highlights. Mount Greylock and Bash Bish Falls offer nature experiences; museums and cultural programs provide more ideas for planning your trip.

Mountains, Waterfalls, and Trails

At 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. On clear days, views from the summit extend up to 90 miles. Trails in Mount Greylock State Reservation range from easy to extremely challenging. Sperry Road Campground has primitive overnight sites that are accessible only on foot and lie two miles from the summit. The campground may operate seasonally.

Bash Bish Falls is the highest waterfall in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The final stretch of Bash Bish Brook plunges about 60 feet into an emerald-green pool. Bash Bish is connected to Mount Washington State Forest and other protected areas; together, they form a species-rich habitat for many protected species and include areas of old-growth forest.

From the parking area on the Massachusetts side, a challenging hike of about 0.6 miles round trip leads to Bash Bish Falls. Trail conditions may change; check them before your visit. For a different perspective, take the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail: The 10-foot-wide paved trail follows a former railroad corridor for 12.7 miles through Cheshire, Lanesborough, and Adams.

Music, Dance, and Performances

Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Tanglewood Music Center, and the Boston Pops. In a typical summer, performances, recitals, and seminars take place across 500 acres between Lenox and Stockbridge. The Tanglewood Learning Institute, which is based there year-round, is a separate institution.

Jacob's Pillow brings together dance history and a year-round program for artists and audiences. The Dance Festival is the longest-running international dance festival in the United States; Jacob's Pillow was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003. Schedules change, while programs throughout the year appeal to different audiences.

MASS MoCA focuses on large-scale, immersive installations in galleries totaling 300,000 square feet. The museum also presents more than 75 performances year-round; the number may vary with the program. Visual art and performing arts share the space, while Tanglewood and Jacob's Pillow each have their own focus on music and dance.

Shaker Heritage, Museums, and Architectural History

Hancock Shaker Village is a National Historic Landmark with 20 original Shaker buildings. The grounds include a working farm with livestock, as well as historic medicinal and kitchen gardens. Demonstrations of Shaker crafts and historic livestock breeds offer further insight into everyday life, agriculture, and craftsmanship.

The Berkshire Museum brings together a variety of collections. Its aquarium houses hundreds of live specimens, including native and exotic fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Other exhibits include fossils, a 143-pound meteorite, and an Egyptian mummy, as well as artifacts from ancient history.

Ventfort Hall was built for Sarah Morgan in 1893 in the Jacobean Revival style and is home to the Museum of the Gilded Age. Lectures, exhibitions, theater performances, and other events explore changes in American life, industry, and society in the 19th century. Another architectural landmark is the mansion at The Mount, designed by Edith Wharton in 1902.

Historic Rides and Seasonal Events

The Hoosac Valley Train Ride combines a ten-mile journey with insights into local industrial history: The one-hour route travels through the Hoosac Valley region in northern Berkshire County, with commentary on board. The Lenox Station Museum focuses on historic railroad equipment and guided tours of its collection. Visitors can also ride the Lenox Jitney to the railroad yard; a ride in the locomotive cab is available for a small fee.

Naumkeag hosts seasonal outdoor events, including the Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show, Winterlights, and the Daffodil & Tulip Festival. Dates depend on the seasonal program. For those seeking accessible trails, the “Berkshire County Trails for All” brochure introduces residents and visitors to some trails in Berkshire County.

Discover more destinations: Egremont, Otis, Lanesboro, Pittsfield, Lenox, Drury, Williamstown, Lee, New Marlborough, North Adams, West Stockbridge, Great Barrington.

For the broader travel overview: Massachusetts.