Town of Great Barrington Housatonic Rail Trail

Van Deusenville Road, Great Barrington, MA

About Housatonic Rail Trail

The Housatonic Rail Trail is an accessible trail along an old railroad bed in Great Barrington. The main section of the trail is a ¾-mile stretch from Main Street in Housatonic to the trail's terminus at a solar farm off Van Deusenville Road. This crushed-stone pathway provides a family-friendly spot for a leisurely walk or bike ride, and runners frequent this trail for its flat and forgiving surface. The trail is nestled in a quiet northern hardwood forest, with most of the path shaded under a dense tree canopy. This lush habitat harbors diverse bird and wildlife species, making wildlife viewing and birding excellent activities. This forest displays vibrant colors during the fall, making the Housatonic Rail Trail ideal for leaf peeping in the Berkshires. A bench near the trailhead is a great spot to observe the surrounding nature, eat a snack, or read a book.

Although the accessible path is the rail trail's only official section, an additional 2.5 miles of woodsy, narrower trail runs north of Main Street into West Stockbridge. This northern section coasts along the Williams River and displays excellent scenery, especially near the trail's northern terminus at Route 41, where the river acts more like a gorge. Since this section of the trail is infrequently maintained, it is prone to muddy conditions, fallen tree limbs, and other obstacles that can make the trek a bit more challenging. Still, the pancake-flat path is easy to navigate overall. While this section can be biked, it is best suited for mountain or gravel bikes due to its dirt surface and variable conditions. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are fantastic ways to explore the rail trail when Western Massachusetts gets blanketed in snow.

In addition to being an excellent recreation trail, the Housatonic Rail Trail can serve a practical purpose by connecting pedestrians, bikers, and runners between West Stockbridge and Housatonic on a safe and scenic pathway. The trail has multiple access points where it intersects with roads, including Route 41 and Pixley Hill Road in West Stockbridge, and Main Street in Housatonic. At the trail's southern terminus by the solar farm, a narrow, unmaintained path through public land connects to Van Deusenville Road. However, this is not considered part of the rail trail and can be challenging to navigate.

The best way for vehicles to access the trail is from a trailhead in the back of Saint Bridget's Cemetery in Great Barrington, where there is parking for multiple cars. Pedestrians and bikers from the south can easily access both the official and unofficial sections of the trail from Main Street in Housatonic, while the intersection of Pixley Hill Road and Route 41 is the best access point for pedestrians and bikers from the north. Visitors should note that the rail trail is lined by private property on both sides, so it is important to stick to the path.