Summer is coming to a close but don’t fret. That just means it’s nearly time for Berkshires fall foliage season! This year’s peak colors are expected around mid-October, and are expected to be more vibrant than ever.
Summer can be a lot of fun but it also often seems to go by so quickly. Luckily, cool and colorful autumn is always trailing right behind, a multi-hued pageant of natural beauty. That’s especially true here in the Berkshires.
The Berkshires fall foliage season typically begins mid-to-late September and peaks in early-to-mid October. This year, however, we’re expecting a warmer autumn than usual. That means the fall’s annual color change will occur a little later than usual and will likely be exceedingly colorful.
Fall always draws lots of eager leaf peepers to the area, and who can blame them? The seasonal show is truly fabulous and there are numerous ways to take it in. Fall foliage drives, hiking, biking, paddling, and more.
Berkshires Fall Foliage Drives
The Berkshires are an excellent place for a drive no matter what the time of year. Our quiet country roads take you past pleasant rolling hills, cow-dotted fields, and charming New England towns. The beauty of the scenery only increases under autumn’s colorful spell. We think a drive is one of the very best ways to leaf-peep the Berkshires.
Route 7, between Great Barrington and North Adams, offers one of the most popular fall foliage drives in the area. The course passes through Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lenox, and Pittsfield on its way to North Adams, with no end to attractions along the way. Museums, galleries, orchards, farm stands, antiquing, dining, and much more. In fact, we suggest you plan on making a day of it. You could be just as easy spend a week along this route and still not see it all.
Best of all you can literally “top off” your trip with a drive to the 3,491 foot (1.06 km) summit of Mount Greylock in Adams, the highest point in Massachusetts. The view from the top is always stunning but even more so in autumn’s bright colors.
Does a Berkshires fall foliage drive or day-trip sound like something you’d enjoy? Let us know. We’d love to help you plan your itinerary!
Leaf-Peeping Hiking and Biking
For those looking to get a little closer to the color, the Berkshires are also home to some fabulous hiking and biking trails.
The almost 13 mile-long (20.9 km) Ashuwillticook Rail Trail offers a great variety of lush scenery with parking lots and restrooms along the way. This converted railroad track running between Adams and Lanesborough, is excellent for walking, running, biking, bird-watching … and leaf-peeping!
Other options include Greylock Glen, Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, and Notchview.
Let us know what type of hiking experience your after and we’ll get you pointed in the right direction.
Autumn Boating Adventures
Boating enthusiasts will find plenty of opportunities for a fall foliage paddle trip in the Berkshires.
The area is loaded with lovely lakes, reservoirs, and rivers to explore. Pontoosuc Lake, Onota Lake, Laurel Lake, Goose Pond, and more all offer excellent autumn paddling opportunities. Boat rentals and guides are available nearby.
Whether you’re after a calm float on the surface of a lake like the Stockbridge Bowl or a guided river trip down the Housatonic, the Berkshires have it.
No matter what shape your fall foliage vacation takes, The Inn at Stockbridge is here to help. We can offer advice about where to go, help you make the most of the trip while you’re on it, and are here with refreshing beverages and comfy accommodations once you make it back.
Come, let us share the best of the area with you at our Berkshires inn!