Massachusetts Audubon Society Lime Kiln Farm Wildlife Sanctuary

Silver Street, Sheffield, MA

About Lime Kiln Farm Wildlife Sanctuary

The Lime Kiln Farm Wildlife Sanctuary is a 363-acre pastoral property managed by the Massachusetts Audubon Society in Sheffield. Home to more than 500 species of plants, the sanctuary has one of the most diverse plant ecosystems in the Berkshires, with many rare varieties. The Lime Kiln Loop is a three-quarters-of-a-mile hiking trail with only modest elevation change showcasing rolling hayfields that are actively hayed by local farmers. Be on the lookout for the more than 50 different species of butterflies that call the preserve their home. Birding enthusiasts can take advantage of the hefty population of Pileated Woodpeckers and Alder Flycatchers in the sanctuary.

Visitors looking for a more extended excursion through nature can connect from the Lime Kiln Loop to the Quarry Trail, which takes hikers past a boulder spur that can be observed up close. The Taconic Vista Trail is past the spur, which provides spectacular views of Mount Everett and its surrounding peaks to the west. These views glow in October, making the sanctuary an ideal stop on a Western Massachusetts fall foliage trip. Hikers can also connect to the Orchard Trail, which loops through a wooded area of the property and engages visitors with the sanctuary's plant life. A hike that includes the Taconic Vista Trail and Orchard Trail is between 2-2.5 miles over easy terrain. However, the low-lying land is conducive to flooded trails, so conditions vary.

Parking is found off Silver Street, where the Lime Kiln Loop trailhead appears. Visitors should know that pets are prohibited for the protection of plants and wildlife, and hikers should remain on trails.