       
 | Property Description | 503 acres | Established 1899 | For more than 20,000 visitors a year, a hike to Squaw Peak is an annual rite. The summit offers panoramic views of Southern Berkshire County. Three miles of trails, some steep, lead through a white pine and oak forest with mountain laurel, hemlock, maple, and birch. Stands of red pine were planted in the 1930s to reforest a landscape that had been heavily logged to provide charcoal for local iron smelters and was devastated by the loss of American chestnut trees. For almost two centuries, Monument Mountain has been a source of inspiration to poets, novelists, and painters. During William Cullen Bryant's stay in Great Barrington (1815-1825), he penned "Monument Mountain," a lyrical poem that tells the story of a Mohican maiden whose forbidden love for her cousin led her to leap to her death from the mountain's cliffs. A rock cairn marks the spot where she lay buried, giving the mountain its name—Mountain of the Monument. On August 5, 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville enjoyed a well-chronicled picnic hike up Monument Mountain. A thunderstorm forced them to seek refuge in a cave where a lengthy and vigorous discussion ensued, inspiring powerful ideas for Melville's new book, Moby Dick. |
| | Trails | | 3 miles of trails. Strenuous hiking, though longer routes up mountain are more gradual than shorter ones. |
| | Facilities | | Picnic tables. |
| | Literature | | Printed trail maps are distributed free from bulletin boards in parking areas. Please understand that supplies periodically run out. You may also download trail maps from this web site or mail order trail maps in advance of your visit. |
| | Hunting Advisory | | Seasonal hunting is permitted at this property subject to all state and town laws. Click here for further information. |
| | Property Acquisition History | | Original acreage a gift, with endowment, of Miss Helen C. Butler in 1899. Additional land given by John Butler Swann in 1980. Additional land purchased in 1985 and 1986. |
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Telephone:
413-298-3239 3000 E-mail:
westregion@ttor.org When to Visit:
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 2 hours. Admission Fees & Permits:
Free to all. On-site donation welcome from nonmembers. Regulations / Advisories:
Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.Some trails are steep and conditions may vary depending on the weather and season. Take caution on summit ledges, especially in winter.please stay on marked trails to prevent soil erosion.A basic level of fitness is required to hike to Squaw Peak.Rock climbing is prohibited.Fires are prohibited.Seasonal hunting is permitted. See details below left. How to Get There:
From intersection of Routes 7 and 102 at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge center, take Route 7 south and follow for 3 mi. Entrance and parking are on right. From Great Barrington, take Route 7 north and follow for 4 mi. to entrance and parking (56 cars) on left. Road Map:
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