Mount Greylock, Adams MA

• 4-star hikes
• 3 to 7 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 640 to 2,280 feet
• Adams, MA | Western Region
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A tall, light gray stone memorial tower rising against a bright blue sky with wispy clouds. The tower features a slightly flared base, narrow rectangular windows near its peak, and is crowned with a large, decorative glass globe beacon. It stands prominently on a lush, green grassy hill surrounded by clusters of dark evergreen trees, while a narrow dirt path in the foreground leads toward a partially obscured wooden picnic table on the right.

Drive or hike to the Veterans War Memorial Tower.

Mount Greylock is the highest peak in Massachusetts, rising above the surrounding Berkshire hills. Hikers reaching the summit find sprawling lawns, views stretching into four neighboring states on clear days, and two historic landmarks: Bascom Lodge and the Veterans War Memorial Tower. The Appalachian Trail crosses directly over the peak, connecting Greylock's summit to extensive trail networks running north toward North Adams and south toward Cheshire.

Several trails ascend the mountain from various trailheads, guiding hikers along rushing brooks, scenic ridgelines, and old ski routes. For those who prefer not to hike, a paved auto road offers motorists and cyclists access to the same summit and views from May through October.

Trail Options Expand KMZ · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Gould Trail 5.7 mi out & back, moderate, gain 2,140 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

⬤ 4★ Gould & Bellows Pipe Loop 6.5 mi loop, moderate, gain 2,280 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ 3★ Overlook Loop 2.5 mi loop, moderate, gain 640 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ Hopper Trail [Y] 4.7 mi out & back, gain 1,100 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ Cheshire Harbor Out and Back [Y] 6.5 mi out & back, gain 1,920 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ Haley Farm Route [Y] 8.8 mi part-loop, gain 2,540 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

P Free parking Y Yet to review

At the summit stands the Veterans War Memorial Tower, a 93-foot granite structure erected in 1932 to honor Massachusetts residents who served in World War I. Its beacon shines at night and is visible for miles across the region. Visitors can climb the internal spiral staircase to observation windows near the top, which look out over the surrounding valleys and hills.

Just below the tower is Bascom Lodge, a stone and timber building constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s using materials harvested directly from the mountain's slopes. The lodge serves seasonal meals and offers overnight accommodations. The open lawns surrounding the lodge and tower give hikers a comfortable place to rest before starting back down.

⬤ 4★ Gould Trail 5.7 mi 2,140 ft
Gould Trail follows a rocky single-track path beside Peck's Brook as it climbs toward the summit. Of the routes on Greylock, this is the one we enjoyed most, largely for the thick forest ambience and the sound of the brook flowing nearby.

A narrow, rocky dirt path ascending through a dense, green forest. The trail winds upward surrounded by tall, slender deciduous trees with lush green foliage overhead, while dry brown leaves and exposed rocks line the ground along the gentle slope.

A gradual ascent on the Bellows Pipe trail.

⬤ 4★ Gould & Bellows Pipe Loop 6.5 mi 2,280 ft
Gould & Bellows Pipe Loop ascends via the Gould Trail and returns along the Bellows Pipe Trail. Bellows Pipe is a long, winding route graded primarily for skiers descending toward the adjacent Thunderbolt ski trail, rather than for uphill hikers. Although a climb up Bellows Pipe is gradual and mostly featureless until it steepens near the top, using it for a low-impact descent and pairing it with Gould Trail creates a varied loop that avoids a repetitive out-and-back trek.

⬤ 3★ Overlook Loop 2.5 mi 640 ft
Overlook Loop winds across the upper western flanks of Mount Greylock. Despite its name, the trail offers only a single, partial viewpoint along the way. The section passing Rockwell Pond stands out as the main highlight. Named after a state official rather than the famous artist, the pond sits in a tranquil forest setting that seems tailor-made for a painting. For those driving the auto road, Rockwell Pond is also easily accessible via a short walk from a nearby parking pull-off.

The interior observation deck of a stone tower, centered on a metal spiral staircase with vertical railing bars leading down. Curved gray concrete walls feature three narrow vertical windows offering views of the surrounding landscape. Oval plaques mounted between the windows read 'Looking East' and 'Looking South,' listing nearby landmarks.

Open seasonally, spiral stairs ascend to panoramic views.

A high-angle vista shows two people sitting in a grassy meadow on a mountain summit, looking out over a expansive valley below. The landscape stretches across lush green forests, open farmland patches, and small residential towns fading into the distant haze.

Room for solitude when admiring summit views.

An aerial overview shows Bascom Lodge, a single-story stone structure with a gabled roof, nestled among evergreen trees on a mountain summit. A paved road curves alongside a small parking lot beside the lodge, surrounded by open grassy lawns and a wide panorama of rolling green mountains stretching toward the horizon under a clear blue sky.

CCC-built lodge in the signature National Park Rustic style.

A tranquil pond reflects a dense surrounding forest of evergreen and deciduous trees, a tiny wooden cabin on the far shore, and puffy white clouds under a blue sky. In the foreground, a slender tree branch arches gracefully overhead from the right bank, framing the mirror-like water.

Don't miss the picturesque Rockwell Pond.

External links:
Mt Greylock State Reservation website
Bascom Lodge website
Mts Williams, Fitch & Greylock at AllTrails (12 mi 2,990 ft)
Mts Saddle Ball & Greylock at AllTrails (7.5 mi 1,740 ft)

Trailspotting nearby:
3★ Gobble Mountain (3 mi)
4★ Lenox Mt & Pleasant Valley (3 mi)
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Hiker standing on a rock looking out at the landscape

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