ESTABLISHED IN 1898, THE RESERVATION WAS THE FIRST LAND PRESERVED-IN-TRUST BY THE STATE FOR THE CITIZENS OF MASSACHUSETTS AS A WILDERNESS PARK; THE FLAGSHIP PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION.
AT AN ELEVATION OF 3,491 FEET, GREYLOCK DOMINATES THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE, "A MONARCH AMONG IT'S FELLOWS." HOME TO THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT BOREAL FOREST IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND, THE SUMMIT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS "A CANADIAN ISLAND IN AN ALLEGHENY SEA." CHANGES IN WEATHER PATTERNS, TEMPERATURE, GEOLOGY, AND PLANT DIVERSITY ENCOUNTERED WHILE ASCENDING THE MOUNTAIN FROM THE TOWN OF ADAMS, UP IT'S NEAR VERTICAL EASTERN FACE, ARE COMPARABLE TO WHAT ONE MIGHT EXPECT TO SEE WALKING FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO CANADA.
TOWERING OVER THE HOOSAC VALLEY, THE MOUNTAIN'S SUMMIT AFFORDS VISITORS TO THE PARK 90-MILE VISTAS OF FOUR STATES AND FIVE MOUNTAIN RANGES. WITH OVER 70 MILES OF WOODLAND TRAILS, INCLUDING AN 11.5 MILE SECTION OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL, PASSING WITHIN A FEW YARDS OF THE LODGE'S FRONT DOOR, THE RESERVATION ENABLES GUESTS ACCESS TO A DIVERSE ARRAY OF OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES. WHETHER IT IS A STRENUOUS CLIMB UP THE MOUNTAIN'S EASTERN FACE OR A GENTLE WALK THROUGH A SPRAWLING CLIFF-TOP LOW BUSH BLUEBERRY PATCH, THE PARK'S MANY TRAILS AND VARYING TERRAINS PROVIDE FOR AN ENDLESS VARIETY OF ADVENTURES THAT CHANGE FROM SEASON-TO-SEASON AND DAY-TO-DAY.
SO, WHETHER YOU ARE COMING TO THE BERKSHIRES TO HIKE WITHIN THE RESERVATION, WHITE WATER RAFT ON THE DEERFIELD RIVER, SPEND AN ADVENTUROUS WEEKEND IN THE TREES AT RAMBLE WILD, CATCH AN EXHIBIT AT MassMOCA, OR TAKE IN ONE OF THE DOZENS OF MUSIC, DANCE, OR THEATER FESTIVALS HELD IN THE COUNTY EACH SEASON, BASCOM IS THE PLACE TO STAY BECAUSE, IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER . . .
