These unique outdoor gems beckon 12 months of the year! From spectacular fall foliage to picturesque winter vistas to magical summer days – it’s all waiting for you here. Come and explore our fresh air, clean lakes, scenic trails and slopes, and discover how easy it is to find your happy place in the Pittsfield outdoors.
Bousquet Mountain
How many towns can boast a ski mountain just minutes from downtown? Bousquet Mountain is a long-treasured wintertime gem in Pittsfield, which has undergone renovations and enhancements in recent years. New and improved snowmaking, lifts and trail configurations, as well as an enthusiastic new management team make Bousquet a perfect family destination all winter long.
101 Dan Fox Dr. | 413.442.8985 | bousquetmountain.com
The Boulders, Gateway to the Appalachian Trail
The 645 acres of The Boulders provide more than six miles of trails plus the dramatic boulders that give the area its name and offer a vista to the west. The trails lend themselves to hiking, biking, hunting, jogging, dog walking and cross-country skiing.
Mahanna Cobble Reserve Trailhead
A moderate 3.1 mile hike in a lovely forest setting. It starts at the base of Bousquet Mountain and then crosses over into Lenox at the summit. Perfect for hiking and running. Managed by the BNRC (Berkshire Natural Resources Council).
Bousquet Mountain | 101 Dan Fox Dr. | bnrc.org/trails-and-maps/mahanna-cobble
Mass Audubon Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
You never know what you’ll discover at Canoe Meadows! Located just one mile from the center of Pittsfield, this well-run Mass Audubon’s sanctuary brings wilderness to Pittsfield, attracting warblers, turtles, ospreys, and otters. Gentle, flat trails wind through the sanctuary’s scenic woods, fields, and wetlands, and along the edge of the Housatonic River. Bring the family any time of year and let the kids enjoy the ever-changing landscape and wildlife delights.
309 Holmes Rd. | massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/canoe-meadows
Onota Lake
The jewel of the Berkshires, Onota Lake is a a 617-acre lake located minutes from downtown. With its unparalleled scenic beauty, this high-quality lake naturally attracts boaters, fisherman, and nature enthusiasts from around the Berkshires and beyond. On the eastern shore of the lake is the popular Burbank Park. This 153-acre public park offers a fishing pier and free public boat launch, picnic groves with grills, a public swimming beach with lifeguards during July and August, and a walking path along the lake.
Pittsfield State Forest
Streams, waterfalls, and flowers abound in the 65-acre Pittsfield State Forest. Camping, picnicking, and swimming at scenic Berry Pond. Watch the sun set at striking vistas from the top of Berry Mountain, accessible by automobile from April to December. Thirty miles of trails include the paved three-quarter mile Tranquility Trail. A sylvan oasis just minutes from downtown! Photo credit: Patrick Barry.
1041 Cascade St. | 413-442-8992 | www.mass.gov/locations/pittsfield-state-forest
Pontoosuc Lake
Enjoy the popular Pontoosuc Lake with its breathtaking mountains and view of Mt. Greylock year round. There are several public access points including a boat ramp on the southern side of the lake. It covers 480 acres with a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 14 feet, attracting boaters, kayakers and water skiers in summer and ice fishing in winter. Photo credit: Justin Allen
Springside Park
The largest municipal park in Pittsfield, covering 237 acres on the north side of the city, Springside Park is a much beloved city oasis. In addition to its many woodland trails, the park hosts the Hebert Arboretum, a community garden, baseball and softball fields, a basketball court, two playgrounds, yoga classes and a pond. There are popular running and biking trails that also host various events throughout the year. The Springside House in the southwest section of the park dates from 1856.
874 North St. | springsidepark.org
