Six rides in the Berkshires for intermediate
to advanced cyclists
The
Berkshires are the cultural center in the mountains and hills of western
Massachusetts. We suggest this tour with six days of cycling to the
Berkshires' most popular attractions. 5 nights, 6 days based in Great
Barrington, Massachusetts. Daily Ride options are 35-50 miles, with
rolling hills and a few good climbs, designed for upper intermediate
to advanced cyclists. Road or light hybrid bikes are required, and all
roads are paved. Our rides are on safe quiet country roads with very
little traffic. To fully enjoy this tour, participants should be capable
of riding the short or long loop each day
Location: Great Barrington, MA . We suggest staying at the Days Inn if you prefer to be near downtown in popular Great Barrington, Massachusetts. During your free time this week, you'll enjoy walking along this charming town's tree-lined streets. Make sure to spend one evening at the Mahaiwe Theater Performing Arts Center
Ride
1: Umpachenee Falls : Today's
ride takes you along the flat flood plain of the Housatonic River through
Sheffield farmland to
Umpachenee Falls. We'll stop for sandwiches at the Mill River General
Store. On the return, enjoy an exhilarating downhill ride back to the
Housatonic River before returning to Sheffield , where we'll stop by
the oldest
covered bridge in Massachusetts . Return by bike to Great Barrington.
route map
cue sheet
Ride
2: Stockbridge, West Stockbridge and Hancock
Shaker
Village: Today's rides take
you along the edge of the Taconic Mountains and through tiny Alford
to West Stockbridge
where you'll have time to visit
Baldwin's General Store
and Hoffman Pottery. You
may wish to continue farther for a visit to fascinating
Hancock Shaker Village our Richmond, with a stop at
Bartlett's Apple Orchard.
In popular Stockbridge,
MA you may wish to visit the
Norman Rockwell Museum.
and Chesterwood, the studio
of Lincoln Monument sculptor Daniel Chester French. Our return is along
the rapids of the Housatonic River to Great Barrington. 30 miles with
extra loop options. This could be turned into two good rides. 35- 50
miles with rolling hills.
Cue sheet
map
Ride
3: Barthomews Cobble and Twin Lakes This easy ride take us along
back roads to Sheffield and Ashley Falls , where we'll visit 'Bartholomew's
Cobble , an unusual limestone formation with plants and ferns that are
generally found several hundred miles north of this area . Ride past
the
Colonel John Ashley House built in 1735 and said to be the oldest
complete house in the Berkshires. Return to the inn for a free afternoon.
Relatively flat 30 miles with extra mileage options.
Cue sheet
map
Advanced cyclists version:
Mount Everett , New York State, Connecticut. For the "climbers", we
have a 5 mile ascent toward the second highest mountain in Massachusetts,
'Mount Everett. After reaching rural Mount Washington, you'll have a
great descent to Copake in New York State, riding near Bash Bish Falls.
Continue a few miles on the 'Harlem Valley Rail Trail and cross into
Connecticut, then join the above tour at Twin Lakes. This full day 55
mile ride is for advanced cyclists.
cue sheet
map
Ride
4: Beartown State Forest and Tyringham This 40 mile ride
takes you by the Berkshire Fish Hatchery in Hartsville.and on to Monterey,
MA, where you have the option to turne back through Beartown State Forest
with a challenging quarter mile climb and easy descent--for a shorter
ride. The full ride continues with a sweeping descent into Tyringham,
continuing to Lee, South Lee, and Tyringham, then following the Housatonic
River rapids back to Great Barrington .
cue sheet
map
Other
Activities: You may wish to take time to visit other Berkshire
cultural highlights:
The Mount
in Lenox, the Massachusetts
Museum of Contemporary Art, (MassMOCA) in North Adams, and
Kripalu yoga center
next in Lenox
Getting There:
Great Barrington is at the intersection of Rts. 7 and 23 in the southwest
corner of Massachusetts, approximately 150 miles from New York City
and Boston.
Recommended reading
Mountain Bikes at Dick's Sporting Goods