Town of Cheshire Father Tom Campsite

6 Main Street, Cheshire, MA

About Father Tom Campsite

The Father Tom Campsite in Cheshire is located along the Appalachian Trail, providing hikers a comfortable place to rest and regroup. The site includes running water, charging outlets, and bicycles, with neighboring food options fulfilling any refueling or resupplying needs. Also offering explorers the opportunity to sleep via tent or hammock, the Father Tom Campsite is an ideal Berkshires campground, and the adjacent Ashuwillticook and Appalachian hiking trails make it an appealing stop for any close-by journeyers. The site is open from May 1^st to October 30^th and is generously maintained by volunteers and the town of Cheshire.

Father Tom Campsite is named after Reverend Thomas Begley, a former pastor of Saint Mary's Church. During his time in the church, Rev. Thomas Begley offered a nearby church as housing for passing hikers, resulting in its use by over 6,000 people. Father Tom developed an interest in hiking by acquainting himself with (experiences of) the hikers, and completed the Appalachian Trail's 2,200 miles over 12 years. In his honor, the Father Tom Campsite opened in 2020, soon after Cheshire was designated as an official Appalachian Trail Community.