Berkshire Knapsackers
Hiking & Outdoors Group - Since 1977
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*** BE PREPARED ***
For all activities, participants must come prepared with adequate water and food. Dress
appropriately in layers for the weather, including rain gear, and wear proper hiking footwear. The hike
leader has the discretion to deny people participation if they are not adequately prepared. Contact the
hike leader with any questions.
Some hikes are listed as “Dog Friendly” or “Dogs on Leash are welcome.” Dogs are allowed only
on these hikes and if leashing is required you must keep your dog on leash! Please do not bring a
dog if it is not reliably under your control, leashed or otherwise, and be prepared to pick up after your dog.
Adults bringing minor children are fully responsible for their safety and well-being. For children
under 14, please contact the hike leader to ask if it is permissible to bring them.
Please be sure to review the ratings for each hike as to
Distance, Pace, and Terrain.
*** Hike Ratings - Contact Hike Leader with any Questions ***
Distance Pace Terrain
AA - Over 10 miles 1 - Very fast A - Very strenuous
A - 8-10 miles 2 - Fast B - Strenuous
B - 5-8 miles 3 - Moderate C - Average
C - Under 5 miles 4 - Leisurely D - Easy
Hikes leave from the trailhead promptly at the “Leave Time.” Please ARRIVE at the trailhead prepared to hike at least 10 MINUTES earlier than the Leave Time.
Berkshire Knapsackers
2025 Spring Schedule
April-May-June
Saturday, April 12, 2025 - Jug End Road, Jug End State Reservation, Egremont, MA
C-3-C: Enjoy this 4.1 mile loop trail near South Egremont, Massachusetts. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete with an elevation gain of 570 ft. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking and walking. Dogs are welcome but must be on leash.
Leave: 9:00 AM at 2991 Guilded Hollow Road, Egremont, MA
Leader: Monique Rinere - 917-445-4208 or monique.rinere@gmail.com
Sunday, April 27, 2025 – Yokum Ridge North, Stockbridge, MA
C-3-C: Hike the Charcoal loop trail, then cross the road and hike the Burbank Trail. The Burbank Trail has a nice Vista where we will have a snack/lunch. Hike is approximately 5 miles with an elevation gain of 1000 ft. Bring water, snacks/lunch. Rain Cancels.
Leave: 10:00 AM at Olivia’s Overlook Parking Lot, West Stockbridge, MA
Leader: Sue Snyder - 413-281-3303 or ssnyder160@gmail.com
Saturday, May 3, 2025 - The Snowhole - Petersburg, NY 🐕
B-3-C: A hike on the Taconic Crest trail through the Hopkins Memorial Forest to the snowhole. (a deep crevice in the ground which can still have snow well into the summer) This will be an out and back hike on the same trail.
Approximately 5.5 miles with an elevation gain of 950 ft. Dog Friendly
Leave: 10:00 AM from the Petersburg Pass trailhead on Rt. 2
Leader: Dennis Goff - k2bmjb@gmail.com or 518-339-8782
Saturday, May 10, 2025 – Honolulu Trail, Pittsfield State Forest, Pittsfield, MA 🐕
B-3-B: This hike is approximately 6 miles with a 1,036 ft elevation gain. Hike Honolulu Trail to Honwee Mountain and return via Churchill Brook/Balance Rock Trails. This is a trail that was cleared by mountain bikers, featuring many switchbacks to make the elevation gain more gradual. Dog friendly.
Leave: 9:30 AM from Lulu Brook parking lot. Google Maps Address: 57 Shamrock Blvd, Pittsfield, MA, GPS Coordinates: 42.49302, -73.29914
Leader: Sally Partridge, 413-822-2818, skpartridge@gmail.com
Saturday, May 17, 2025 - Jug End to Mt. Everett- Sheffield MA
A-3-B: This will be an out and back hike on the Appalachian Trail from Jug End Rd. to the summit of Mt. Everett. The mileage is 9.2 miles with an elevation gain of approximately 2,600 feet. This will be a good workout with excellent views along the way.
Leave: Contact Russ for meeting details by Thursday May 15.
Leader: Russ Cannizzaro - 919-576-6109 or russcann@yahoo.com
Saturday, May 24, 2025 -Trustees Property - Two Bridges and Chapel Falls plus Chapel Ledge, Conway/Ashfield, MA
C-3-C: Parking at the Bullitt Reservation parking lot, we will take the Two Bridges Trail to Chapel Falls, then explore Chapel ledge before heading back on this out and back hike. Total hike is 4.8 miles with an elevation gain of 692 feet. The trail provides excellent birding, a beautiful waterfall, and wide variety of woodlands. This hike is dog friendly, BUT dogs must be on a leash on Trustee properties! Due to the need for a Trustee pass, we will arrange a car shuttle to ensure all can enjoy!
Leave: Contact Jim Solon by May 10 for meeting time and place.
Leader: Jim Solon - 630-881-5343 or jsolon3680@aol.com
Saturday, May 31, 2025 – Alander Mountain Trail, Mount Washington State Forest, Mt Washington, MA
B-3-B: This is an out-and-back 5.8 mile hike with approximately 1,200 ft. elevation gain. The summit of Alander Mountain is just east of the Massachusetts/New York border. The trail is relatively level for the first two miles before a more consistent ascent begins toward the summit. The route is mostly wooded and crosses a stream at the beginning before the views start to open up as you get closer to the top.
Leave: 9:00 AM at 545 East St., Mount Washington, MA
Leader: Monique Rinere - 917-445-4208 or monique.rinere@gmail.com
Saturday, June 7, 2025 - Kennedy Park - Historic Hike - Lenox, MA
C-4-C/D: Discover some of the secrets of the park. Hike less than 5-miles. We will explore the ruins around the late Aspinwall Hotel. Bring water. No dogs. Rain cancels.
Meet: Church on the Hill entrance on Aspinwall Rd, Lenox, MA or overflow at Church on the Hill parking lot.
Leave: 10:00 AM from Kiosk by water tank.
Leader: Jan Chague - 413-441-9971, or j4chague@gmail.com
Sunday, June 8, 2025 - Storm King Art Center, New Windsor, NY - OUTING (not a Hike):
Storm King Art Center is a 500-acre outdoor museum located in New York’s Hudson Valley (2 hours from Pittsfield), where visitors experience large-scale sculpture and site-specific commissions under open sky.
Grounds can be toured via walking, bike rentals (personal bikes are not allowed), and a tram. Our visit will be 3-hours allowing one to tour grounds at their own pace. Food concessions are available, or you can bring your own. There is an admission fee ($25 for general admission). If there is enough interest, Storm King will be contacted to inquire about a group rate. Carpooling is encouraged. The following link has more information https://stormking.org/
Leave: 8:30 AM from Pittsfield. Contact Scott to register for the outing.
Leader: Scott Latvalla - latvalla@aol.com
Saturday, June 14, 2025 – Mount Greylock – Roaring Brook and Stony Ledge Trails, Williamstown, MA🐕
B-3-B: We will hike up the Stony Ledge Trail to the vista at Stony Ledge. At this junction, we will then follow Sperry Rd to the Roaring Brook Trail. We will then hike down to the parking lot for a total of 5.6 miles with an elevation gain of approximately 1500 ft. Dog Friendly.
Leave: 9:00 AM at Parking area on Roaring Brook Rd. A carpool from Pittsfield will be set up at a later date.
Leader: Harold Moon - 413-464-4995 or moonharold@aol.com.
Saturday, June 21. 2025 - Hoosac Range Trail, North Adams, MA 🐕
B-3-C: We will hike a total of 6 miles out and back to a 180 degree view of Mount Greylock State Reservation at the top of Spruce Hill. The elevation gain is about 900 feet according to alltrails.com. Car pool from Allendale shopping center in Pittsfield (behind McDonald’s). Route 2 East out of North Adams, driving up past the Western Summit; BNRC parking lot is on the right. Rain cancels.
Leave: 8:30 or about 9:00 at the trail head (the parking lot is a little on the small side)
Leader: Tim Wright - tim@timothywright.net or 413-242-4744
Saturday, June 28. 2025 - Ice Glen Trail and Laura’s Tower Trail, Stockbridge, MA 🐕
C-3-C: Hike Ice Glen Trail (1.4 miles with 216 elevation gain) and Laura’s Tower Trail (1.8 miles with 649 elevation gain). These trails intersect so the total mileage will be 3-4 miles. Dog Friendly.
Leave: 10:00 AM from Goodrich Memorial Park, 2 Park Street, Stockbridge, MA. Trailhead parking is at end of road.
Leader: Kate Alexander – katesday@gmail.com or 413-822-3396
About Us
Berkshire Knapsackers was founded in Sept 1977 by Kay Wood, Jack Murphy, Eric Teet, Stanley Wilk, Ann Fitz & Betty Conover. Kay Wood and Jack Murphy among others sent out requests to join and 60 members were signed up, many of whom are still members today. Activities the first year consisted of 21 hikes covering 132 miles. The original group celebrated their 10th anniversary in 1987 at the Audubon Society in Lenox, and their 25th anniversary at October Mountain Lake.
We currently have over 50 outings between September and June with more than 100 members, ranging in age from 20's to 80’s, who value healthy living and an appreciation of nature and the beauty of the Berkshires fostered by outdoor exercise in a social group setting. Outings consist of Hiking, Snowshoeing, Cross Country Skiing, Kayaking & Biking as well as an annual New Years Day potluck.
We carry on their legacy with the original hiking club shaped into what it is today.
In Memory of:
Kay Wood, Tom Conry, Jack Murphy, Ted Thorne, Pat Plue
Richard King, Bern Collins, Harry Oswain, Rudy Hoeltzel, Mike Monico
Join Us
How to Join: Dues are $10.00 per person per year from September through June. Make check payable to Berkshire Knapsackers and mail to the treasurer - Harold Moon, 35 Dodge Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Please include your name, local address, phone number and email address. You may also now pay online at the below PayPal link.
Current Members: Reminder! Please check the mailing label for your membership expiration date. Dues are $10.00 per person per year. Make check payable to Berkshire Knapsackers and mail to the treasurer, Harold Moon, at the address noted above, or pay by PayPal. Please include any changes in your information.
Pay Now with PayPal: Click the below PayPal Logo to join or renew your membership online. In the payment note, please provide your contact information and let us know if you would prefer to receive hard copies of the schedule, or go paperless.
