Mount Everett State Reservation, MA: Guilder Pond - Mount Everett - Jug End

ABOUT THE PARK:
Mount Everett State Reservation - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation


DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 42.103508, -73.452774

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Shortly after turning into the park at the park sign, there is a gate with parking before the gate.  The gate is generally open during the summer so people can drive up to the Guilder Pond picnic area, however, due to severe erosion from Hurricane Irene, at this date the road is gated.

TRAIL MAPS:
South Taconic Trails Map (check for new edition Spring 2015) - NY/NJ  Trail Conference
Mt. Washington State Forest Trail Map - Massachusetts DCR
South Taconic Range Map - Berkshire Natural Resources Council

HIKE DISTANCE:
Guilder Pond - Mount Everett - Jug End:  9.3 miles
Guilder Pond - Mount Everett:  3.85 miles
Guilder Pond - Jug End:  7.5 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Mount Everett - Peakery.com
Mount Bushnell - Peakery.com

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
Trailheadfinder.com - AT section miles 1490 - 1493.5

THE HIKE:

Walk beyond the barrier to begin the hike up the gravel road.

Erosion damage to the road from Hurricane Irene.

Turn left on the blue-blazed Guilder Pond Trail which loops around the pond.

Guilder Pond

Guilder Pond Panorama

The Guilder Pond Trail loops around and meets up with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail.  Turn left to Jug end, right to Mount Everett.  Heading towards Mount Everett, the AT comes out into the upper parking lot at a composting toilet with a large Appalachian Trail sign to the left.

Either continue left on the AT or straight beyond a barrier on a gravel road up Mount Everett.  For this hike I chose to ascend on the gravel road and descend on the Appalachian Trail.

A view of Mount Greylock from the gravel road up Mount Everett.

Going up the gravel road, a final sharp turn to the right brings you to a stone shelter with amazing panoramic views.  This view is not on the AT so if you don't take the gravel road, you need to leave the AT to get to it.

Stone shelter at views.

Panoramic view at stone shelter.  Mount Greylock is the tallest mountain in the distance.

Continue along the gravel road which meets up with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail.  Turn left on the AT to reach the summit of Mount Everett.

More views before reaching the summit.

Old fire tower footings at the summit of Mount Everett.

View south of Mount Race from Mount Everett.

From this point retrace back to the parking area either on the AT or the gravel road then continue north on the AT to Jug End.

Fall Foliage on the Appalachian Trail

Views on the way to Jug End.

Cairn at Jug End - continue on a few more steps for views.

View from Jug End

On the way back clouds had moved in so it gave the views along the AT a different look.

Retrace steps back to the upper parking lot, turn right beyond the composting toilet and take the gravel road back to the lower parking lot.

FALL HIKING SNACK RECOMMENDATION:

Super Moist Pumpkin Bread

Because I was in the process of having some dental work done, I was not allowed to eat anything crunchy so I had to come up with a soft hiking snack.  I made a few modifications to the Super Moist Pumpkin Bread recipe (used half the sugar, omitted walnuts, added 1/2 tsp. cloves, used whole wheat flour) and not only was it perfect for a fall hiking day, it was delicious and vegan!

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  From parking area before gate, walk beyond gate and follow the gravel road
[  0.65]  Turn left on blue-blazed Guilder Pond Trail
[  1.20]  Unmarked side trail to right to rock outcrop with pond view
[  1.35]  Turn right on boardwalk on white/blue-blazed combined Appalachian Trail/Guider Pond Trail
[  1.45]  Straight through parking lot past composting toilet on right, cross barrier and follow unmarked gravel road
[  1.60]  Appalachian Trail joins gravel road briefly from left then leave to the right
[  2.05]  View at stone cabin, continue straight to white-blazed Appalachian trail and turn left
[  2.20]  View to the right at blue triangle marker
[  2.30]  Summit of Mount Everett at old fire tower footings; retrace
[  2.40]  View to the left at blue triangle marker
[  2.60]  Keep straight on AT when unmarked road to stone shelter comes in from right
[  2.85]  AT turns left on gravel road briefly then leaves to the right on stone steps
[  3.00]  Come out at upper parking lot at large AT sign, keep left towards composting toilet, turning right just before on the white/blue (combined AT/Guider Pond Trail)
[  3.15]  Continue straight on white-blazed AT on boardwalk when blue-blazed Guilder Pond Trail goes left
[  3.40]  Straight on AT at Hemlocks Shelter sign; rock hop over creek; straight on AT when blue-blazed trail goes right to Glen Brook Shelter
[  4.00]  Rock hop over small creek
[  4.15]  Keep left on AT when blue-blazed Elbow Trail goes straight; rock hop over creek
[  4.70]  AT crosses rock outcrop with views on summit of Mount Bushnell
[  5.00]  More views to the right
[  5.65]  Rock cairn at Jug End; continue briefly to views, retrace
[  8.45]  At upper parking lot turn right beyond composing toilet and follow gravel road back to lower parking lot
[  9.30]  Back at lower parking lot

Mount Greylock State Reservation, MA: Greylock in the Round

ABOUT THE PARK:

Mount Greylock State Reservation - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates to Rockwell Road/Sperry Road Parking 42.624380, -73.190564

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There is room for about 10 cars in this lot.  Sperry Road starts directly across from this parking area.  Although Sperry Road is off limits to cars (some older maps still show it as being accessible for cars) you can drive in a short distance where there are additional pull-outs on the right side for parking.

NOTE:  This hike, Hike #4 - Greylock in the Round, starts in a different lot off of Hopper Road.  I picked the Sperry Road lot since I had others with me that would be hiking a shorter route with less elevation gain so this parking area was a better starting point for them.  This turned out to be a good choice as the sun was setting at the end of the hike and the trails were becoming very dark.  Hiking down to Hopper Road that late in the day to get back to the car would have involved a steep descent going down into an even darker valley.  Having parked on Sperry Road, we had the option of abandoning the darker trail and taking the paved Rockwell Road back to the car for some gorgeous sunset views along the way.

TRAIL MAP:
Mount Greylock State Reservation Summer Use Trail Map - MA DCR  (most up to date map)
Mount Greylock Trail Guide & Map - Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Inc.  (very nice map but a little outdated)

HIKE DISTANCE:  12.4 miles

HIKE DESCRIPTION:

All trails are blazed in blue except the Appalachian Trail which has white blazes.  The Haley Farm Trail will have a few white blazes interspersed with the blue.  Intersections are very well marked with trail names.  While there are no rock scrambles along this route, there are several long, steep inclines and switchbacks.

Beginning of Sperry Road across Rockwell Road from Parking Area

Mr. Greylock Summit War Memorial as seen from Stony Ledge

Haley Farm Trail

View From Haley Farm Trail

Field crossing at Bottom of Haley Farm Trail

Money Brook Trail

Hiking Through The Hopper

Money Brook Falls (low water flow end of July)

Meeting Up with the Appalachian Trail

Williamstown with Adirondacks in the distance from Mount Prospect View

Mount Williams Summit

View From Mount Williams

Crossing the road on the way to Mount Greylock summit

Approaching the War Memorial on the summit

Bascom Lodge at the summit.

Summit View

Small Pond off of Appalachian Trail

Sunset along paved Rockwell Road heading back to parking area.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Cross Rockwell Road and follow Sperry Road (gravel road) beyond barrier
[  1.50]  Stoney Ledge Overlook; at far end of Sperry Road, follow trail into woods towards Stoney Ledge Campsite veering left at fork just before campsite
[  1.65]  Turn right on Haley Farm Trail when Stoney Ledge Trail goes left
[  1.95]  Short side trail on right to view
[  2.50]  White blazes interspersed with blue blazes on Haley Farm Trail - still correct trail
[  3.50]  Keep to the left of the field towards sign then continue straight to woods and right on the dirt road
[  3.60]  Keep straight on dirt road when Hopper Brook Loop Trail (not on map) goes left
[  3.65]  Keep straight on dirt road which is now Money Brook Trail when Hopper Trail goes right
[  3.75]  Keep straight on Money Brook Trail which now becomes grass road when the other side of the Hopper Brook Loop trail comes in from the left
[  3.85]  The Hopper sign
[  3.95]  Cross bridge with Bob Quay memorial sign
[  4.05]  Cross small bridge over gully and turn left on trail going uphill away from Money Brook (this is a bypass that joins up with the trail along the brook again)
[  4.15]  Left on trail meeting back up with brook again
[  4.50]  Cross footbridge to right over brook; trail continues left other side of bridge; cutoff to Hopper Trail goes right
[  4.60]  Rock hop to left over side creek
[  4.90]  Rock hop over creek (was almost dry creek bed during this hike); trail continues to the left after crossing
[  4.95]  Keep right on Money Brook Trail when Mount Prospect Trail goes left
[  5.95]  Keep straight following arrow to Money Brook Falls, left goes to Appalachian Trail (will return to take this trail after short out and back to falls)
[  6.00]  Money Brook Falls; retrace to AT intersection
[  6.05]  At intersection turn right towards Wilbur's Clearing/AT
[  6.30]  At intersection turn left towards WIlbur's Clearing where right goes to Notch Road (can shorten hike by turning right, crossing Notch Road, right on Old Summit Road to right on AT)
[  6.50]  Wilbur's Clearing on left
[  6.65]  When trail ends at Appalachian Trail, turn left towards Mount Prospect view
[  6.90]  Mount Prospect view; retrace on AT (be sure to pick correct trail, the center trail, not the trails to either the left or right leaving the view)
[  7.15]  Keep straight on AT on logs when Money Brook Trail goes right
[  7.30]  Keep straight when side trail goes to Notch Road parking lot; cross paved Notch Road
[  7.45]  Keep straight on AT when side trail to Notch Road parking goes right
[  8.10]  Mount Williams summit and view; continue on AT
[  8.40]  Keep straight on AT when Old Summit Road/Bernard Farm Trail crosses over  (if shortening hike at 6.30 miles above, this is where the Old Summit Road meets up with the AT}
[  9.30]  Did not see Mount Fitch summit sign but probably summit is probably in this area
[10.05]  Keep straight on AT when Bellows Pipe Trail goes left
[10.50]  Mount Greylock summit; continue south on AT
[12.05]  Small pond on right
[11.25]  Turn right at fork on Hopper Trail towards Sperry Road Campground
[11.50]  Right on paved Rockwell Road (if enough daylight left, trails can be taken to Sperry Road back to parking)
[12.40]  Back at parking lot

Mt. Everett State Reservation, MA (Race Brook Falls, Mt. Race to Sages Ravine via the Appalachian Trail)

ABOUT THE PARK:
Mt. Everett State Reservation - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 42.089478, -73.411248

View Larger Map

Off-road parking for about 5-6 cars.

TRAIL MAP:
South Taconic Trails Map (check for new edition Spring 2015) - NY/NJ Trail Conference
Mt. Washington State Forest Map - Massachusetts DCR
South Taconic Range Map - Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Inc.

HIKE DISTANCE:  13.75 miles out and back

HIKE DESCRIPTION:

Pick up the blue triangle-blazed Race Brook Falls Trail from the information board at about the mid point of the parking area.

Some things to note about the trail blazes:  For the most part they are blue triangles although there are some blue rectangles - all are part of the same trail.  Sometimes triangles are used point to the direction of a turn.  In other words, if the triangle is on it's side, that indicates a turn and it is sometimes hard to notice so you have to pay close attention.  Sometimes a "tail" is drawn in to make the turn more obvious.

I had read several accounts of how poorly the trail is blazed but it appears as through there has been recent reblazing and I had no trouble at all staying on the trail. If you aren't seeing blazes, you missed a turn.

The first fork gives  the option of seeing the lower falls via a .35 mile side trail to the right.

Race Brook Falls - Lower Falls

The only way to see the lower falls is to take the side trail and retrace back to the intersection then continue on the left branch of the trail.  At another fork about .35 mile ahead, there is another option to see the lower falls from the opposite side of the creek but the view is much better from the first fork.

The trail ascends and crosses the creek at the bottom of the upper falls.

Race Brook Falls - Upper Falls

Race Brook Falls Trail terminates at the Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail

The south bound Appalachian Trail ascends to the summit of Mt. Race.  Once at the top, the trail follows along the edge of the eastern side of the ridge for continuous panoramic views over a distance of over 1/2 mile.

Mt. Everett to the north as seen from Mt. Race

View of Massachusetts countryside to the east from Mt. Race

Twin Lakes in Connecticut from Mt. Race

Descend from Mt. Race, cross over Bear Rock Stream, descend into Sages Ravine:

Bear Rock Stream

Before crossing Sages Ravine Brook there is a "Welcome to MA" sign but you will still be in MA all along Sages Ravine.

Sages Ravine Brook

Sages Ravine

Where the Appalachian Trail starts to ascend to the left away from Sages Ravine Brook is a good turn around point.  The picture of the Sages Ravine sign is from up at the top of that hill but there is nothing else worth climbing up for unless you are doing a shuttle hike to parking areas in that direction.

Returning via Mt. Race

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  From parking area take trail starting at kiosk (sign trail register)
[  0.30]  Right at fork towards lower falls
[  0.65]  Lower falls; retrace
[  1.00]  Back at intersection take left fork towards upper falls; trail parallels creek; watch for unmarked left turn to rock hop over creek short distance ahead
[  1.15]  Ascend two sets of log steps
[  1.35]  Keep left towards Race Brook Campsite (right trail to lower falls does not provide as good of a view as the first trail to the lower falls)
[  1.60]  Rock hop over creek at top of lower falls; trail turns left away from creek and ascends more steeply
[  1.75]  Trail levels out with views to the east through the trees
[  1.85]  Trail reaches creek, turns right and follows along right side of creek
[  1.95]  Cross creek to left over log bridge
[  2.10]  Rock hop over feeder stream
[  2.25]  Continue through Race Brook Campsite
[  2.50]  Trail switchbacks up short flight of stone steps
[  2.60]  Turn left on white-blazed Appalachian Trail at intersection
[  3.45]  360 degree views at top of rock scramble
[  4.10]  Trail leaves ridge into woods and descends
[  4.25]  Cross small stream
[  5.15]  Cross Bear Rock Stream
[  5.35]  Keep straight when trail to right goes to Laurel Ridge Campsite
[  6.05]  Keep straight when trail merges in from left (easy to miss veering left on the return route so be sure to turn around and make note of this area as a fork going in the opposite direction)
[  6.15]  Keep left when unmarked woods road goes right
[  6.25]  Rock hop across Sages Ravine Brook
[  6.35]  Ascend rock steps where trail parallels ravine from higher up
[  6.45]  Cross feeder stream on log bridge
[  6.75]  Keep left on white-blazed trail when log bridge crosses over on blue-blazed trail to Sages Ravine Campsite
[  7.00]  Turn around to head back when trail ascends uphill to the left
[  7.25]  Keep right on white-blazed trail when log bridge crosses over on blue-blazed trail to Sages Ravine Campsite
[  7.50]   Cross feeder stream on log bridge
[  7.70]   Rock hop across Sages Ravine Brook
[  7.85]  Keep straight on white-blazed trail when woods road comes in from left
[  7.95]  Left at unmarked fork when woods road goes right
[  8.70]  Straight on white-blazed trail when trail to Laurel Ridge Campsite goes left
[  8.85]  Cross Bear Rock Stream
[10.00]  Exit woods on to ridge with views
[10.40]  Summit of Mt. Race
[10.60]  360 degree views with Mt. Everett straight ahead before descending from Mt. Race
[ 11.55]  At intersection, right on blue triangle-blazed Race Brook Falls Trail
[ 11.80]  Follow trail through Race Brook Falls Campsite
[12.25]  Cross over log bridge
[12.35]  Watch for left turn over creek where trail appears to go straight
[12.70]  Cross creek at bottom of upper falls
[13.00]  Keep straight when side trail to lower falls goes left
[13.25]  Descend two sets of wooden steps
[13.35]  Trail turns left and rock hops over creek
[13.50]  Keep right at intersection where left goes to lower falls
[13.65]  Trail exits woods and skirts small field
[13.75]  Arrive at parking area