Private Hikes    "Welcome All" Group Hikes    Backpacking/Overnights    Team Leadership   

Southwestern New England Foliage quick links: Private foliage hike "Welcome all" group hike schedule (Northeast peak foliage reports) In depth info If you're interested in hiring a guide, joining in on a scheduled group hike, getting your employees or students some fresh air and team leadership exercises, or wanting to learn more advanced techniques (backpacking, rock-climbing, snowshoeing), Berkshire Hiking offers reasonably priced, safe, healthy, fun outings designed to help you enjoy the beauty of Berkshire Mountains, Litchfield Hills, and beyond.

We're focused locally to the western Massachusetts and Connecticut where the altitude ranges in the 1,000 to 2,500 foot range (Mt Greylock the exception at nearly 3,500 feet). However, the guides also lead outings in the 4,000 feet all the way up to Mt Washington's 6,288 peak if you have a desire to hire them out for private outings. Long distance views, tough hikes, easy hikes, waterfalls, river walks, forest strolls, open field treks, remote back country hiking, Appalachian Trail - this part of the country has it all. Berkshire Hiking now has 3 highly trained and experienced guides to handle any type of outing you'd be interested in. We also have 2 day-hike leaders to handle moderate and beginner outings. Please scroll down to learn about upcoming "welcome all" group hikes as well as other services available to you. I look forward to seeing your smiling faces out there. I will lead two of these hikes and hope to be co-lead support for most others. Don't let this foliage season slip by without getting out there. Use Berkshire Hiking to find your own hike or join in on one of our group outings or hire one of us out if you prefer to have your own private guide. Either way...don't let winter grab you before the warmth of autumn, and uniqueness, of foliage slips away. Browse the services available then call 203.788.7665 or email to book an outing.

Private Fall Foliage and Snowshoe Hiking Tours
Berkshire Hiking now has access to 3 high level hiking guide in addition to day hike leaders. You can plan out any type of hiking, Appalachian Trail overnights, rock-climbing, during the foliage season then when (if! remember last year?) it snows then we segue into winter outings (winter hikes, cross country ski, and snowshoeing). Please click here for more details/info on getting a private guided outing set up for you.

"Welcome All" Fall Foliage Group Hikes
Listed below are 3 hikes in northern Berkshire County, 1 southern Berkshire County hike, and 3 in Connecticut's Litchfield Hills. They're planned to allow folks too far away from one hike to go to one within reach. The hikes are open to any one who wants to join in. No special hiking technique is needed but you will need to be in reasonably good cardiovascular shape to join in. Please email or call to get additional information or to sign up for the hike that interests you. Price range for these group hikes will be in the $10-$15 per person range unless otherwise specified (the more people who sign up, the more likely it will be $10 per person). If you see a hike, or several hikes, that you want to go on please email or call to get your name on the list. (Sorry but dogs are NOT allowed on these hikes. You can hire out a private guide if you want to bring your dog on a guided hike or ask to be put on the email list if a dog hike gets scheduled. We realize people love to hike with their dogs so trying to come up with a good spot to take a pack of cool dogs out there - but unless we specifically create a hike for dogs please do not bring your dog on the hikes listed below. Thanks for understanding.)

If you are available to hike week days check out the mid-week hikes listed in additional to the weekend hikes. These mid-week hikes are nice spots that are typically quite popular or weekends during foliage season and thus hard to find parking, so we like to visit them mid-week...when everyone else is busy working! Consider taking a day off for some fresh air and foliage. If the mid-week hikes get at least 7 people signed up, we'll head out.

1. The "welcome all" foliage hikes have ended and remaining ones are fully booked. Please check back next month for any upcoming winter hikes. You can also of course hire private hiking guide still if you want a glimpse of foliage.

Backpacking/camping lessons
Ever wonder how to properly pack and unpack a campground? Cook a meal out on the trail? Berkshire Hiking has a certified instructor in all things outdoors and available for private lessons for individuals or larger groups.
Email  203.788.7665

Team Leadership
Send out a group of friends, co-workers, young people, teammates on a hike where simple, fun, useless workshops are conducted along the way. The outing can be as casual or extensive as you'd like it to be. It can be something that really pushes the group to work and communicate together or something really mellow designed to teach a few basic communication techniques and group tasks
Email  203.788.7665

Artist's Inspiration
If you are an artist (amateur or professional) and looking to nature for inspiration, hire a Berkshire Hiking guide to lead you to magnificent places. Whether it's for a few hours, a day, or even weekend, Berkshire Hiking can be your personal tour guide and driver. We'll hike in with you to show you the more remote places or drop you off at a spot you've noticed along the way. We'll keep your supplies fresh, your stomach full, and be a personal assistant and local information guide.
Email or call for more information: Email  203.788.7665

Transportation
A Berkshire Hiking guide can meet you at the trail head, or at a local establishment (gas station, restaurant, etc.) for a convenient rendezvous. If you're in the area without transportation we may be able to make pickups and drop offs.

Hey New Yorkers! Take a train ride from Grand Central Station and we'll pick you up at the Metro North train station of your choice...then take you on over for a great hike and back to the train on time! Hike and spend a short time visiting picturesque local towns. A great way to spend the day away from the city!
Email  203.788.7665

(Right now Berkshire Hiking can do pick ups along the Harlem Valley line but you can also find trails to walk to, or other guide services, along the Hudson Valley line. http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_gohiking.htm )

Bus and Train info
1) Bonanza Bus has a route with stops in various rural towns in western Connecticut and Massachusetts that may be near your trails or parks - www.bonanzabus.com/nypitben.htm.
2) Metro North train that runs out of Grand Central Station in Manhattan and goes upstate New York has an Appalachian Trail stop which will drop you off right at the trail head near the Connecticut border. Check their website for information, www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr/, and click on MAPS from the top menu and then Metro-North Rail for a visual of their stations. ). Metro North also wants it known they are pro hiking! They've created a page to help those looking to escape the city for some hiking. http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_gohiking.htm . Berkshire Hiking as of now can pick you up along the Harlem Valley line such as the Appalachian Trail stop, but the Hudson line has some great stop offs (A.T., Harriman Park and Bear Mountain).