The Berkshires have long been synonymous with Cotswold-like manors, crafted local food, and hard-to-find antiques. But when the first snowflakes fly, Berkshire County becomes the go-to place in Massachusetts for outdoor winter activities. From downhill and Nordic skiing to snowboarding and snowshoeing, the Berkshires have the perfect landscape for winter sports.
Downhill Skiing
The Berkshires is home to half of Massachusetts’ 12 ski areas, so there’s plenty of powder to go around. Located in Charlemont, Berkshire East Ski Area has 45 trails, a terrain park, night skiing, children’s programs, and lessons and rentals. It’s a family-friendly venue featuring affordable rates and a laid-back atmosphere.
In 2010, Bousquet Mountain in Pittsfield was voted Best Downhill Skiing in the Berkshires in a Berkshire Eagle reader’s poll. The ski area features 24 trails, 3 lifts, night skiing, boarding, and snowtubing. After a day carving up the slopes, be sure to visit Bousquet’s rustic, full-service bar for a Berkshires-style après ski.
Cross-Country Skiing
Canterbury Farm is a historic bed-and-breakfast lodging with some of the best cross-country skiing in the Berkshires. Located 10 miles from Lee, high on the Berkshire plateau, Canterbury Farm has over 22 km of groom-tracked trails. The diverse trail system winds through meadows and forests. With an elevation of 1,700 feet, the snowpack is dense and consistent. Canterbury Farm is a full-service cross-country ski center, featuring rental equipment, lessons, and a ski tuning shop. After a day on the trails, sit by the fire in the den and warm up with a hot chocolate.
Located in Lenox, along scenic Route 7, Cranwell Resort maintains 10 km of beautiful cross-country trails. Most of the trails pass through open terrain, making them perfect for beginner Nordic skiers.
Snowshoeing
The Berkshires have more snowshoeing trails than you can dream of exploring in one winter. For the hardcore winter hiker, Mount Greylock State Reservation has over 70 miles of trails, many of which are accessible in the winter. The summit of Mt. Greylock, with stunning panoramic views, is the Berkshires’ version of Everest. However, Berkshire County has several less challenging places to snowshoe, including Beartown State Forest, Maple Corner Farm (with 10 km of snowshoe trails), and Hilltop Orchards , a 200-acre property devoted to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Snowboarding
Featuring 45 trails, 9 lifts (including the Berkshire Express, a 6-person, high-speed summit lift), and more than 167 acres of powdery snow, Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock is a snowboarder’s dream. One day at this full-service ski and snowboard resort and you’ll be pulling moves like Shaun White. With a 1,100 foot vertical, plenty of black diamond runs, and snowmaking that covers 93% of the terrain, Jiminy Peak represents the best of the Berkshires.
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“Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort – Hancock” by MOTT is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
