Whether you’re a casual walker, an avid bird watcher or an adventurous hiker, Pittsfield has so much to offer with its year round scenic beauty and ever-changing landscapes.
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a paved, 10-foot-wide biking, running, and walking trail running through Pittsfield, Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Adams. Free parking at the Crane Avenue entrance in Pittsfield, and open to the public year-round. Photo credit: Good Bites & Glass Pints
Start of trail in Pittsfield: John’s Building Supply at 1 Crane Ave.
The Boulders, Gateway to the Appalachian Trail
The 645 acres of The Boulders provide more than six miles of trails (easy to moderate) plus the dramatic boulders that give the area its name and offer a vista to the west. There trails all lend themselves to hiking, biking, hunting, jogging, dog walking and cross-country skiing. Managed by BNRC (Berkshire Natural Resources Council).
Mass Audubon Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
Located just one mile from the center of Pittsfield, Canoe Meadows a brings wilderness to Pittsfield, attracting warblers, turtles, ospreys, otters, and the occasional bear at different times of year. Perfect for the whole family, the trails weave through a serene sanctuary with a relatively flat terrain. Enjoy woods, meadows, and ponds along the edge of the Housatonic River. Every season brings its own animal and avian delights waiting to be discovered!
309 Holmes Rd. | massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows
Mahanna Cobble Reserve Trailhead
Starts at the base of Bousquet Mountain and then crosses over into Lenox at the summit. A 3.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail with a lovely forest setting. Perfect for hiking and running. Managed by the BNRC (Berkshire Natural Resources Council). Mahanna Cobble is also the northern trailhead for the first section of The High Road.
Bousquet Mountain | 101 Dan Fox Dr. | bnrc.org/trails-and-maps/mahanna-cobble
Onota Lake
A beautiful and beloved 617-acre lake minutes from downtown. Popular for fishing. swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, and boating. The lovely paved walkway hugs the shores and makes for a perfect way to enjoy the water, birds, trees, and scenic vistas.
Pittsfield State Forest
The sprawling state forest has over 30 miles of trails. Whether hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, or exploring the mountain range to Berry Pond, you’re sure to find the perfect outdoor adventure. The paved Tranquility Trail is wheelchair accessible. Hikes vary from beginner to advanced.
1041 Cascade St. | 413-442-8992 | www.mass.gov/locations/pittsfield-state-forest
Springside Park
The largest municipal park in Pittsfield, Springside covers 237 acres on the north side of the city. In addition to its many woodland trails, the park hosts the Hebert Arboretum, a community garden, baseball and softball fields, a basketball court, two playgrounds and pond.
874 North St. | springsidepark.org
Wild Acres Conservation Area
Located on the southwest side of Pittsfield, Wild Acres has an easy 1-mile loop trail with beautiful marsh views and a lovely pond. Originally owned by the Shakers, today it is under the purview of the Conservation Commission and open to the public for walking, hiking and fishing. Be sure to take the easy hike to the tower and watch planes at nearby Pittsfield Airport land and take off! Photo credit: Chip Schaller
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