Berkshire Natural Resources Council Steepletop Reserve

New Marlborough Monterey Road, New Marlborough, MA

About Steepletop Reserve

The Steepletop Reserve is a 1,230-acre Berkshire Natural Resources Council property that offers over 4 miles of easy hiking trails with extensions along wide open woodland roads. Visitors pass through spectacular swampland, young forests, and historic artifacts on old dirt roads and woodland trails. The main trails take the form of two loops: the North Loop and the South Loop, each a touch over 2 miles round trip. These trails meander through dense forests and wetlands, with easy access to wildlife viewing and birding. From the North Loop, visitors venture deeper into the property along an old woodland road, which leads to a more extensive collection of roads that immerse visitors in one of the most raw natural spaces in the Berkshires.

In the spring and summer, Steepletop offers fantastic wildlife viewing, birding, hiking, and other leisurely outdoor activities. Additionally, Steepletop provides ideal mountain bike trails for adventurous visitors looking to explore the woods on a bike without steep climbs or descents. By the fall, the grounds become dryer, allowing better access to activities like horseback riding and hunting. When Western Massachusetts is overtaken by beautiful fall foliage, many flock to the region's highest peaks to observe the foliage. Steepletop, however, immerses visitors right in the thick of some of the most vibrant colors in the area. Once the snow falls, Steepletop is a go-to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing destination. While the trails are not specifically maintained or groomed for skiing, they are more than wide enough to accommodate all skiing techniques. The expansive trails over mellow terrain allow visitors to enjoy a long day on the snow without exhausting climbs. Additionally, with a consistent elevation above 1,600 feet, Steepletop is often covered in snow when other areas of the region are bare.

The diverse forests at Steepletop are dominated by white pine, black cherry, birch, maple, and oak trees, while additional species are scattered more sparsely throughout the woods. The forest floor is covered with wetland plant life as mosses, fungi, and ferns scatter the grounds. Wildlife thrives at Steepletop, with mammals such as beavers and otters in the wetlands and coyotes, deer, and black bears roaming the forests. Anglers can try shore fishing in a small pond surrounded by the North Loop or fly fishing in any of the streams running through the property.

Steepletop can be accessed from a designated lot on New Marlborough-Monterey Road (North Road). Visitors will find a trailhead with informational signage and trail signs marking the North and South Loops. Dogs are allowed if they are leashed and owners clean up after them. Please note that motorized vehicles are prohibited on the property, including forest roads.