Mount Greylock State Reservation, Nature reserve and state park in Adams, Massachusetts.
Mount Greylock State Reservation is a nature reserve and state park in northwestern Massachusetts, covering land across six towns with a wide network of hiking trails through forests, valleys, and open ridgelines. The high point of the park is the summit of Mount Greylock, which is the tallest peak in the state.
Massachusetts established a commission in 1898 to protect the area and began buying land, making it one of the earliest state efforts of its kind in the country. In the following decades, structures like Bascom Lodge and the War Memorial Tower were added to the summit, giving the park its current character.
The War Memorial Tower at the summit was built to honor Massachusetts soldiers and is the first thing most visitors notice when they reach the top. Many people gather around it on clear days, drawn as much by what it represents as by the view it frames.
Road access to the summit is seasonal and typically closed during winter, so it is worth checking conditions before you go. Trails range from easy forest walks to steeper sections, so good footwear makes a real difference regardless of which route you choose.
The Appalachian Trail passes through the reservation for roughly 11 miles (18 km), making the summit a notable stop for long-distance hikers on their way between Georgia and Maine. Bascom Lodge, sitting right at the top, is one of the very few places along the entire trail where hikers can sleep indoors.
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