Berlin Mountain Williams College Berlin Pass Trailhead

Berlin Road, Williamstown, MA

About Berlin Pass Trailhead

The Berlin Pass Trailhead will bring visitors to an expansive hiking area in Williamstown. Overall, visitors will have several options for an enjoyable day of outdoor recreation in the Berkshires.

Leaving from the trailhead toward the south, visitors will soon see the old Williams ski hill. When enough snow has fallen in winter, this hill is an excellent place for backcountry skiing. But, during the summertime, visitors can hike this trail to the summit of Mount Berlin. Though the path is extremely steep, it is both short and rewarding. Eventually, after about one mile, the trail will reach a grassy field at the peak. This area offers beautiful scenic views of the surrounding Berkshires toward the east.

Meanwhile, heading west from the trailhead on the Berlin Pass Trail, hikers will climb on a moderate slope through a dense forest toward the Taconic Crest Trail, a major north-south thru trail that straddles the MA and NY border. A recommended hike is to head south on the Taconic Crest Trail before looping back to the trailhead via. the Old Williams Ski Trail for a 3-mile hike with fantastic scenery. Plenty of local wildlife species, including songbirds and amphibians, are found in this rugged Western Massachusetts forest. There are also many wildflower species in spring. 

Along the Berlin Pass Trail is the Purple Valley NEMBA "Proof of Concept Trail." This mountain biking trail offers adventurous visitors the opportunity to bike a short but exhillerating hand-made MTB trail.

There is a large parking lot at the end of Berlin Road. Further down the road, visitors will also find a trailhead for a small waterfall.