Ashuwillticook Rail Trail

June 19, 2021 Sunny

This Berkshire rail trail is 12.2 miles long and follows from Lanesborough in the south to the town of Adams in the north. It provides great views of the mountains and also of Mt. Greylock. It passes through the Hoosac River Valley and the long name means essentially “the pleasant river in between the hills.”

We started our bike ride at Lanesborough, parking in Berkshire Mall parking lot, since the main parking was a small lot that was filled to capacity by the time we arrived in the morning. The mall appears to be mainly defunct, but had a small farmer’s market on the weekends.

The trailhead has real restrooms, good signage, and also printed maps for the taking. We got underway and headed northbound.

The first part of the trail is wooded, but then opens to views of the Cheshire Reservoir.

The trail has several road crossings but all are well marked.

The largest crossing had a stoplight and was at the northern part of the reservoir, where there are a few benches and awesome views of the mountain ranges. I learned later that this is also where the Appalachian Trail crosses and heads northwest up to and over the top of Mt. Greylock.

Continuing past the reservoir, much of the trail is wooded and in the shade, with views of fields or farms.

The last several miles have a gentle downslope that make the cycling fast and fun (but remember to save energy for the return).

Eventually you roll into the town of Adams which has some good restaurant choices. We decided on the Daily Grind, which had subs and sandwiches as well as diner-style breakfast options.

After lunch, we made the return trip, deciding to forgo the extra mile extension beyond Adams. We were a bit slow climbing out of Adams but then gained speed. We found an ice cream stand along the way and stopped for a rest.

We also found a giant Cheshire cheese wheel pictured below. A giant cheese wheel of this size was actually presented to Thomas Jefferson in 1802 and you can find more details about it online.

The final stretch home was a breeze and we pulled into the trailhead, a bit tired from roughly 20 miles of riding, but very happy.

The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a real gem, wide and peaceful, and provides plenty of mountain and water views. It’s definitely a great option for families and we would recommend it to anyone visiting the Berkshires.

Wonderful and wide rail trail. Mostly flat and quite scenic, passing woods and water, with views of Mt. Greylock to the north.
One of the best rail trails!
The smoothest, flattest rail trail I’ve ever rode on. On the way back we were also boosted by milkshakes.
A long rail trail. There are some interesting spots and the trail is smooth.
Very fun and smooth. And a few tiny slants but overall very good.