Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation East Mountain State Forest

Quarry Street, Great Barrington, MA

About East Mountain State Forest

The East Mountain State Forest is a fantastic opportunity to explore lesser-known hiking trails in the Berkshires. Adjacent to the small parking lot on Quarry Street sits the East Rock trailhead, which offers a short but strenuous half-mile hike to East Rock. The hike's difficulty can be mitigated somewhat by veering left at the first fork in the trail, which allows hikers to ascend along a ridgeline. The rock, which sits about 150 feet below the summit, can be safely climbed with a short ladder and offers stunning views of the Taconic Mountains to the west. Also in view are the picturesque streets of downtown Great Barrington, offering a bird's-eye-view of the bustling Western Massachusetts town. Three other Berkshire towns can be observed from the rock, with Egremont due west, Alford to the northwest, and Mount Washington to the southwest.

For those seeking a more adventurous trek through the woods, the East Mountain State Forest is frequented by bushwhackers. Thrill-seekers can continue past East Rock toward the summit, where the trail disappears, and a ridgeline pointing southeast appears. Traveling along the ridgeline leads to an expansive plateau resting between 1450 and 1550 feet. Some take on bushwacking to one of the peaks of Ski Butternut, offering a fantastic resting spot in the offseason before trekking back to Quarry Street.