5 Amazing Hikes to See History, Art, and Nature

Discover trails where beautiful views connect with must-see Berkshire attractions.

The Berkshires boasts hundreds of miles of marked paths offering easy ways to combine a short hike with exploring history, culture, and geologic wonders. We’re here to help you find some of the best hiking spots, plus a few hidden gems!

Bidwell House Museum, Monterey

Explore the natural beauty of the Berkshires while learning about early American life. Forested walking trails at Bidwell House lead to a 1740s meeting house, overgrown stone walls marking former pasturelands, and majestic hemlocks. For a longer hike (and a prime fishing and swimming spot at Steadman Pond), follow the Royal Hemlock Trail from the museum parking lot and connecting trails to Berkshire Natural Resources Council’s Hudson-Howard Reserve. The reserve also abuts Beartown State Forest, home to tranquil Benedict Pond and a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Museum trails are open year-round during daylight hours.

Field Farm, Williamstown

For sweeping views of the northern Berkshires—without the climb up Mt. Greylock—head to the nature preserve and 4.5 miles of hiking trails at Field Farm. Artwork on display in the outdoor sculpture garden and the Bauhaus-style Guest House includes curated installations from the Williams College Museum of Art collection. Remember your binoculars: In addition to the scenery, this idyllic spot is home to red-tailed hawks, foxes, beavers, and deer. Grounds open dawn to dusk, leashed dogs welcome.

Berkshires Outside, photo by Christina Lane Photography.

The Mount, Lenox

Take a tour of Edith Wharton’s elegant Gilded Age mansion at The Mount or just blissfully roam the surrounding formal gardens and marked walking trails. From May to October, a contemporary outdoor sculpture show winds along the quarter-mile woodland path from the parking lot to the house. Periodic guided birding and nature walks in partnership with Mass Audubon offer a beginner-friendly way to identify wildlife found in the Berkshires (pre-registration required). In addition, public trails on the abutting conservation land (once part of the estate) are accessible at Edith Wharton Park on the shore of Laurel Lake in Lenox. Seasonal. Trails close at dusk.

Natural Bridge State Park, North Adams

North America’s only natural white marble arch is a geologic wonder spanning a steep gorge carved by glacial erosion more than 13,000 years ago. Bring your camera! Observation decks and boardwalks offer views of Hudson Brook twisting through the chasm and tumbling over a mesmerizing white marble waterfall. The 48-acre Natural Bridge State Park is also home to an abandoned marble quarry that is an important part of the industrial history of the northern Berkshires. Open late May to mid-October.

Hancock Shaker Village, Hancock/Pittsfield

Springtime at this living museum and working farm means newborn calves, piglets, and lambs, plus the cuteness of the Baby Animal Festival (April 18-May 10). Established by the Shakers in 1793, the Village is home to herb and vegetable gardens, the iconic Round Stone Barn, restored 18th-century buildings, and interpretative walking trails. The Farm & Forest Trail is a 1.5-mile accessible loop through pastureland and quarries. Take the new trail spur to explore the ruins of a 19th-century Shaker homestead on the South Family Trail.

Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or connecting to nature in a personal way, there are myriad options for hiking and nature walks in the Berkshires. BerkshiresOutside and Housatonic Heritage are great resources for well-kept routes, accessible trails, hiking safety tips, and more of the spectacular experiences that can be found on mapped trails near Berkshire attractions. Check the weather and site conditions (especially during mud season!), lace up your boots, and enjoy what makes the Berkshires an incredible destination for outdoor adventures. See you out there!

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