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The Head of the Housatonic River from Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Kent

The Head of the Housatonic River from Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Kent

Welcome to bustle of downtown Pittsfield just one mile away. The Sacred M 30 HINSDALE (East Branch) Way Trail is an easy, well-graded river walk alongside beaver Park Street Car-Top Boating Access SHEFFIELD Trout Management Area Pine Knob Loop Trail, Route 7, Sharon, CT the Head of the Housatonic River from habitat. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 7am to dusk. Admis- Park Street is a turn off of Route 7 in Stockbridge just south of Along Route 7 This 2.5 mile loop is a hearty hike up two separate peaks, sion fee for non-members. Visit www.massaudobon.org. the Red Lion Inn. Paddle downstream through the Stockbridge There are multiple informal fishing access points along coinciding with the for 0.7 miles and featuring Pittsfield, to Kent, Directions: From routes 7 and 20 in Pittsfield, take Golf Course. Pull out before the Glendale Dam at the Glendale the Housatonic River from below the Falls Village stunning vistas of the Housatonic River. Visit www.walkct.org. Holmes Road for 2.7 miles to entrance on right. Middle Road Bridge adjacent to the railroad tracks. hydropower plant to Bulls Bridge Dam in south Kent. Directions: On Route 7 one mile north of the intersection The Connecticut Department of Environmental of routes 4 and 7. Just before this intersection, access to Arrowhead 413-442-1793 12 Laurel Hill Association Protection maintains a nine-mile Trout Management Breadloaf Mountain Trail is on the west side of Route 7. 8 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA PO Box 24, Stockbridge, MA Area, beginning five miles below the Falls Village This National Historic Landmark home of Herman Melville, author These trails are maintained by the Laurel Hill Association, the hydropower plant and heading downstream. of Moby Dick, is owned by the Berkshire Historical nation’s oldest village improvement society. The first three trails Society and operates as a house museum interpreting the life begin after crossing the Goodrich Memorial Footbridge at the KENT of the Melville family. Open daily, Memorial Day weekend to end of Park Street. Visit www.laurelhillassociation.org. Columbus Day. Admission fee. Visit www.mobydick.org. Ice Glen Directions: From routes 7 and 20 in Pittsfield take 12a Holmes Road for 1.5 miles. (one mile round-trip) FALLS VILLAGE This short difficult hike through a boulder strewn glacial ravine rewards with deep shade of old hemlocks and pine so cool that ice can PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ON THE OLD MILL TRAIL MILL THE OLD ON BRIDGE PEDESTRIAN LENOX persist in crannies into the summer. At the glen’s south end is reputedly TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS HOUSE, ASHLEY Old Mill Trail 413-394-9796 the tallest pine in Massachusetts. 1 P.O. Box 251, 1383 Route 102, South Lee, MA 20 P Old Sheffield Covered Bridge Once the site of the oldest covered bridge in Massachusetts MONUMENT MOUNTAIN, TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS Wander back in time along the Housatonic River for 1.5 miles. “The best tonic is the Housatonic” . . . Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

First half of the trail is wheelchair accessible. The ruins of a PATRICIAICE GLEN BY FLINN (1837), this 1999 replica is as close to the original as modern engineering allows. Open to foot traffic only, the site is a town nineteenth century textile mill hint at the river’s influence on this Mary Flynn Trail park with car-top boating access. On the National Register of Come explore the special places of the Housatonic River . . . community. Visit www.hvatoday.org. 12b (1.2 miles round-trip)

FLINN Historic Places. from its headwaters north of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, south to Kent, Connecticut. Enjoy riverfront walks through forested Directions: From Route 8 south in Hinsdale, turn left Built in 2003 to help celebrate the onto Old Dalton Road, cross the River and immediately Laurel Hill Association’s 150th hillsides, a quiet float along meandering flat water, or the heady rush of world class rapids. Quaint New England villages dot The Ashley House 413-229-8600 take a left into the trailhead parking area. Anniversary and Stockbridge’s 21 117 Cooper Hill Road, Sheffield, MA your journey, full of history and surrounded by spectacular natural beauty. Writers, artists and vacationers alike are drawn to

beloved resident Mary Flynn, this trail KENT FALLS Owned by The Trustees of Reservations, this National Historic the region from all over the world. Visit the historic home of Herman Melville, or stroll through the Norman Rockwell or follows the bed of the old Berkshire

TRAIL BY PATRICIA BY TRAIL Place showcases the Ashley family and the enslaved African Street Railway Trolley Line. Turn left 860-927-3238 Sloane Stanley museums. Find your welcome here – the Head of the Housatonic River valley in southwestern New England. Americans who lived here in the 18th century, including Eliza- 31 after crossing the Goodrich Memorial Route 7, Kent, CT beth “Mumbett” Freeman whose stand for freedom helped end DALTON (East Branch) footbridge and walk along the Housa- One of the most visually stunning state parks in Connecticut, slavery in Massachusetts. Anchor site on the Upper Housa- Kent Falls features a 200-foot series of cascading waterfalls. A MARY FLYNN FLYNN MARY tonic River. Wheelchair accessible. FALLS VILLAGE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT WOODS POND AT PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE tonic Valley African American Heritage Trail. Visit steep 0.25-mile trail along the falls allows views. Native Ameri- In partnership with the Housatonic www.thetrustees.org. cans fished and camped by the falls. Later small colonial mills Heritage, funding is provided by Directions: From Sheffield center, take Route 7 south 1.6 Decker Canoe Launch Laura’s Tower Falls Village was once a bustling iron works community that dotted the brook. Picnicking (grills provided) and fishing. Fee on Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation G miles. Turn right on Route 7A and follow for 0.5 mile. Turn New Lenox Road, Lenox, MA 12c (1.5 miles round-trip) produced materials for military armaments during the Revolu- weekends/holidays. Visit: www.ct.gov/dep. Salisbury Bank right on Rannapo Road (at railroad tracks), drive 1.5 miles, Paddle through the state-owned Wildlife Moderate hike uphill through old stand tionary and Civil Wars. Directions: Located on Route 7 approximately five miles Aquarion Water Company turn right on Cooper Hill Road. Travel 0.5 mile to entrance Management Area with October Mountain views. forest. Climb Laura’s Tower to enjoy PATRICIA FLINN south of the intersection of Route 45 and 4.5 miles north Northeast Utilities/CL&P on the left. Directions: Northern part of Lenox off Route 7 at the panoramic views of the and 25b Falls Village Nature Trail of Route 341. Allied Printers Housatonic River bridge on New Lenox Road. the Housatonic Valley. Water Street, Falls Village, CT (Falls Village Hydroelectric Station) 32 Appalachian Trail Housatonic River Walk Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum 413-637-2210 This 0.75-mile wheelchair friendly nature trail loops through The longest stretch of riverfront Appalachian Trail on the eastern Housatonic Valley Association www.hvatoday.org 9 forest and fields with river views, joining the Appalachian Trail for 10 Willow Creek Road, Lenox, MA The Mission House 413-298-3239 BY TOWER LAURA’S seaboard, this is an easy and scenic walk on an old farm road 150 Kent Road, P.O. Box 28 , CT 06754 CT: 860-672-6678 MA: 413-394-9796 NY: 845-789-1381 Visit the historic Lenox Station built in 1903. Ride along the 13 19 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA part of its length. Markers and a trail guide show how the along the Housatonic River from Kent to Sharon. The trail leaves Housatonic River in restored 1920s passenger coaches hauled Owned by the Trustees of Reservations, this National Historic landscape changed to support a booming iron industry in the the Housatonic River to steeply ascend Saint John’s Ledges. by vintage diesel-electric locomotives while your conductor Landmark was the colonial home of the first missionary to the 18th-century along with stone ruins of a never-used dike and The trail is accessible at both the Kent and Sharon ends. Foot narrates the trip between Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge. Visit . Just west on Route 7 is the historic Stockbridge canal system. World class river rapids. No fee. Visit travel only. Backpacker camping at designated sites. Stoves www.firstlightpower.com/stewardship. CRANE MUSEUM OF PAPERMAKING MUSEUM CRANE http://berkshirescenicrailroad.org. Cemetery where former slave Elizabeth “Mumbett” Freeman is only, no fires. Carry in/carry out. Visit www.appalachiantrail.org. Directions: From routes 7 and 20 in Lenox take buried. Visit www.thetrustees.org. Directions: From Route 7 take Route 126 north (blinking Directions: From Route 7, turn west on Route 341. Turn Housatonic Street. Travel 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Willow light) into Falls Village. Continue straight for 0.5 miles. right onto Skiff Mountain Road. Continue 1.1 miles and bear 2 Wahconah Falls State Park 413-442-8992 Directions: From Route 7 and Route 102 in Stockbridge About the Housatonic River . . . Creek Road to the museum entrance marked by a railroad Center, take Route 102 (Main Street) west for 0.2 miles. Turn left at the stop sign. Bear right immediately onto right onto unpaved road. Follow to the trailhead. Nestled in a hemlock grove, Wahconah Brook spills over falls crossing sign. Water Street. Parking is 50 yards on the left. before cascading into a deep pool. Follow the trail from the The Mission House is on the right at the corner of Main and Sergeant streets. parking lot to the base of the falls. Picnic, grill, fish and hike to Woods Pond 26 Hollenbeck Preserve, Page Road, Falls Village, CT into Connecticut in North Canaan, cascading over the the upper falls. No swimming. Visit www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/ 10 I COBBLE, TRUSTEES OF BARTHOLOMEW’S RESERVATIONS Crystal Street, Lenoxdale, MA Bowker Woods Lower Trail Owned by The Nature Conservancy, this 182-acre bird sanctu- Great Falls in Falls Village and flowing though the western/wahf.htm. The dam that holds this scenic millpond once powered local 14 Bartholomew’s Cobble (328 acres) 413-229-8600 ary has trails through wet fields to the Hollenbeck River. Enjoy meadows and forested hillsides of northwest Directions: From the junction of routes 8 and 9 in Dalton, (one-mile loop) 22 industry and helps stop downstream migration of PCB contami- Donated by Richard Rogers Bowker, an influential American Weatogue Road, Ashley Falls, MA hiking and bird watching. Visit: www.nature.org. Connecticut before being harnessed in a series of follow Route 9 east/Route 8A north/North Street. Turn right Enjoy some of the best panoramic views in Berkshire County Directions: From routes 7 and 112 go north on Route 7 nated river sediment. Paddle upstream into marshy coves and editor and Stockbridge resident, this is a short loop through BY JIM ANDERSON onto North Street/Waconah Falls Road and follow for 0.5 flooded forest and enjoy spectacular views of October Mountain from five miles of trails over the Cobble and along the Housa- for 2.5 miles, turn on Page Road. Go 0.1 mile. three in-stream hydropower . mile (becomes unpaved). Parking area on right. white pine. Directions: Take Glendale Middle Road off Route State Forest. Take the Woods Pond Pedestrian Bridge to the 102 in Stockbridge for 0.8 miles. Look for the sign a short way tonic River. The alkaline soil supports unusual flora including east side and into October Mountain State Forest. into the woods. North America’s greatest diversity of ferns. Designated a It returns to natural flows as an estuary where it drains Crane Museum of Papermaking 413-684-6481 National Natural Landmark in 1971, the visitors center and 3 Directions: At the intersection of Housatonic and Crystal into Long Island at Milford Point. 30 South Street, Dalton, MA Streets (Lenoxdale) continue straight across the railroad natural history museum is open year round. Admission fee for Housed in Crane’s 1844 Old Stone Mill and on the National Norman Rockwell Museum 413-298-4100 tracks. Parking on right between the tracks and 15 9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA non-members. Visit www.thetrustees.org. CORNWALL Register of Historic Places, the museum commemorates the pedestrian bridge. Directions: From Route 7, turn onto Route 7A. Follow for In total, the river drops 959 feet and drains a watershed first paper mill in Dalton founded by Zenas Crane in 1801. Open This museum houses the world’s largest collection of original Rockwell art along with his studio, which was moved here from 0.5 mi. Turn right onto Rannapo Rd. Follow for 1.5 mi. of 1,948 square miles. Along the way, the Housatonic 1-5 pm weekdays, June – October. Free. Visit www.crane.com. Turn right onto Weatogue Rd. Entrance on left. Directions: Take Housatonic Street off Route 9. Follow Stockbridge Center in 1986. Studio open May to October. Stroll River helps define the rich natural and cultural signs to parking lot above museum. along the Housatonic River and enjoy the Terrace Café. Admis- sion fee. Visit www.nrm.org. heritage of the communities through which it flows. LEE Directions: From junction of routes 183 and 102, follow 183 south for one mile to entrance on the left. CONNECTICUT ANTIQUE MACHINERY MUSEUM NORTH CANAAN TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS COBBLE, COLUMBINE, BARTHOLOMEW’S There are more than 100,000 acres of public recreation The Connecticut Antique Machinery Museum land throughout the Housatonic Watershed . . . much Downtown Lee is on the National Register of Historic Places. Butler Bridge (1882) 33 PITTSFIELD 16 Butler Road, Stockbridge, MA 31 Kent Cornwall Road, Kent, CT 860-927-0050 Visitors and residents alike are drawn to of it right here. Lee marble is used around the world – including the base of the Adjacent to the Sloane Stanley Museum and operated by the Washington Monument. From the Route 20 bridge in downtown Enjoy river views from this pedestrian bridge just a short walk Connecticut Antique Machinery Association (CAMA), this the Housatonic River. The river begins its 149-mile- Lee to Willow Dam off Route 102 in South Lee is a trout-stocked from the Norman Rockwell Museum. Access Butler Road from museum boasts restored steam and diesel locomotives,a fully long journey to in the Berkshire catch-and-release area. No fishing allowed from June15 to August Route 183 in Glendale or Glendale Middle Road in Stockbridge. COVERED BRIDGE BY WALTERCOVERED BRIDGE BY KIDD functional blacksmith shop donated by George Lay (son of 15 within 100 feet of posted fish refuge tributaries. Hills of southwestern Massachusetts. Charles Downing Lay, founder of the Housatonic Valley Asso- ciation) and a showcase of Connecticut’s mining heritage. Live demonstrations twice yearly. Visit www.ctamachinery.com. Three main tributaries arise here, coming together in

AGENCY GREAT BARRINGTON Directions: Located on Route 7 less than one mile north Pittsfield to form the main stem of the Housatonic WEST CORNWALL CORNWALL WEST of the junction of routes 341 and 7. River. The West Branch flows out of Pittsfield’s Pontoosuc . The East Branch rises in Muddy 27 Sloane Stanley Museum 860-927-3849 Monument Mountain Reservation 413-298-3239 Housatonic State Forest, Cornwall, CT Located in four towns (Cornwall, Sharon, North Canaan, Canaan) 34 31 Kent-Cornwall Road, Route 7, Kent, CT Pond in the town of Washington and the Southwest AL PROTECTION 17 Route 7, Great Barrington, MA in northwest Connecticut, the Housatonic State Forest offers An energetic and talented man, Eric Sloane (1905-1985) was a Branch flows out of Richmond Pond in Richmond. All Owned by The Trustees of Reservations, this 500-acre reserva- prolific artist, author, book illustrator and collector of Americana tion includes a scenic section of Monument Mountain and hiking, hunting, letterboxing, mountain biking and snowmobiling. three branches once powered a variety of mills. There are multiple fishing access sites along Route 7 between including the hand tools on display. Visit the gothic arch

several loop hikes. Enjoy views from the 1,642-foot summit of BECKLEY FURNACE, FRIENDS OF BECKLEY FURNACE Cornwall Bridge and West Cornwall. Visit www.ct.gov/dep. remains of the Kent Iron Furnace. Fee charged. Visit Squaw Peak. No fee, donations welcome. Trails open during www.ct.gov/cct and click on Museums under History. The mainstem of the river meanders south from ice-free months, dawn to dusk. Visit www.thetrustees.org. Beckley Furnace, c/o FOBF 28 Directions: On Route 7 one mile north of the intersection Pittsfield through protected lands, picturesque HOUSATONIC RIVER IN PITTSFIELD BY JANE WINN JANE BY PITTSFIELD IN RIVER HOUSATONIC 23 West Cornwall Covered Bridge (Route 128) Directions: Trailhead on Route 7 (three miles south of PO Box 383, Lower Road, East Canaan, CT of routes 341 and 7. Stockbridge center; four miles north of Great Barrington). Built in 1864, the bridge spans the Housatonic River connecting villages and the flat floodplain farm fields of Great This restored furnace produced iron from 1847 to 1919. Walk to the picturesque village of West Cornwall to Sharon. Listed on WOODS POND, ENVIRONMENT Barrington and Sheffield. The Housatonic crosses OLD SHEFFIELD COVERED BRIDGE 4 D (West Branch) 413-499-9344 the only turbine remaining in the Upper Housatonic Watershed the National Register of Historic Places. Downstream on Lower Pond Mountain Natural Area 860-927-3827 105 Wahconah Street, Pittsfield, MA Rising Paper Company used to power the blast for a furnace. View remnants of slag 35 120 Fuller Mountain Road, Kent, CT October Mountain State Forest 413-243-1778 18 Route 183, Housatonic, MA River Road is an unofficial river boating access site that will This 1919 ballpark is one of the oldest stadiums in the 11 256 Woodland Road, Lee, MA piles and abandoned machinery. State owned, operated by the soon provide handicapped fishing access as well. Administered by the Pond Mountain Trust and The Nature country with one of the last remaining wooden pro ball grand- This Romanesque Revival factory built in 1873 is on the Herman Melville named the mountain while enjoying autumn Friends of Beckley Furnace and on the National Register of Conservancy, this 800-acre peaceful preserve offers an easy 1.2 stands. Lou Gehrig once hit a home run into the Housatonic National Register of Historic Places. views from his home in Pittsfield. Hiking trails abound including Historic Places. Open Saturdays, June to August. No fee. mile trail around pristine Fuller Mountain Pond and a short, steep River behind the right field fence. Today the Pittsfield Colonials the Appalachian Trail and the scenic Schermerhorn Gorge Trail. Visit www.beckleyfurnace.org mountain trail to the top of Fuller Mountain. Open dawn to dusk. The Housatonic Valley Association The Upper Housatonic Valley National call the park home. Visit www.pittsfieldcolonials.com or call Seasonal camping (fee) and car-top boating allowed. No Directions: From Route 44 take Lower Road. Entrance Directions: From Route 7 in Kent, turn right on Route Heritage Area (Housatonic Heritage) 413-236-2961 for more information about the Colonials. Adja- 0.5 mile on left. SHARON 341 west. Turn right on Macedonia Brook Road. Turn right HVA’s mission – since 1941 – is to conserve the natural alcohol. Open sunrise to sunset. Visit: www.mass.gov/dcr/ character and environmental health of our communities cent to the ball park is a car-top boating access site. parks/western/octm.htm. onto Fuller Mountain Road. Entrance is on the right. exists to heighten appreciation of the region, preserve the Directions: Follow Route 7 north through downtown 24 by protecting and restoring the land and waters of the Directions: From Route 20 (downtown Lee), turn right Canaan Mountain region’s historical, cultural, and natural resources, and Pittsfield. Turn left onto Wahconah Street; the park is on Designated in 1972 as Connecticut’s first Natural Area Macedonia Brook State Park 860-927-3238 Housatonic Watershed. onto Center Street. Follow Center Street which becomes 36 improve the quality of life and economy of the 29 your left. Columbia Street for one mile to Bradley Street. Turn right Preserve, this is one of the largest, most rugged and inacces- Macedonia Brook Road, Kent, CT communities within the heritage area. z We look after the environmental welfare of the entire 2,000 onto Bradley Street (becomes Woodland Road). Follow sible tracts of undeveloped forest in the state. The mountain’s Hike the Blue Trail across the hills to stunning views. See the square miles of the Housatonic Watershed — in 83 towns 5 Clapp Park (Southwest Branch) 413-499-9344 signs one mile to campground entrance. sharp peak towers above the Housatonic Valley and affords gorge and old iron works furnace at the south entrance along Housatonic Heritage encompasses the boundaries of the upper West Housatonic Street (Route 20), Pittsfield, MA remarkable views of Bear Mountain and the Taconics. There are Macedonia Brook. Fish and picnic along the brook that cas- from Massachusetts to Long Island Sound. Housatonic River watershed that extends 60 miles from Kent, Here the Southwest Branch and West Branch form the main stem K Lee Car-Top Boating Access Site access trails from Beckley Furnace. cades through the park. Rustic fee-camping available. z Our in-house experts work with property owners, commu- Connecticut, to Lanesboro, Massachusetts. It comprises 848 of the Housatonic River. This 33-acre city park boasts athletic Across from the Lee Athletic Field off Main Street/Route 20 is a Directions: From Route 7 take Church Hill or Blackberry Directions: From junction of routes 7 and 341, follow nity leaders and local, state and national organizations to square miles, including nine Connecticut and 20 Massachusetts fields, a running track and court open year round. River Road. Cut through the fields just west of a pine grove. Route 341 west. Turn right on Macedonia Brook Road. car-top boating access site. Paddle south through some leverage resources. communities. Bear left at junction of Fuller Mountain staying on quick water and enjoy beautiful views of Beartown Mountain and z Our staff lead education programs, workshops and paddle Fred Garner Park (East Branch) 413-499-9344 scenic farmland. Macedonia to park entrance. Visit www.ct.gov/dep. 6 F Pomeroy Avenue, Pittsfield, MA trips to familiarize people with the river as a resource. The heritage area assists communities, organizations, and Located between the confluence of the East Branch and main Bull’s Bridge Recreation Area z Our volunteer stream teams, “the eyes and ears of the citizens in the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of stem of the Housatonic River, this city park was reopened in SALISBURY 37 S Bull’s Bridge Road, Kent, CT river,” clean up shorelines, monitor water quality and solve Massachusetts in identifying, preserving, interpreting and early 2008 after being used as a staging area for PCB cleanup The Bull’s Bridge Scenic Trail joins the Appalachian Trail and problems. developing the historical, cultural, scenic and natural resources work in the Housatonic River. The park includes a car-top meets at the confluence with the Tenmile River. See waterfalls, of the region for the educational and inspirational benefit of STOCKBRIDGE z We have saved more than 5,000 acres of farmland, wetlands, boating access site and nature trail along the river. Paddle gorges and a covered bridge dating to 1842. Hike, kayak, canoe current and future generations. south through the protected lands of the Housatonic Wildlife GREAT BARRINGTON RIVERWALK BY RACHEL FLETCHER (portage around dam) and fish. Enjoy views of an iron furnace riverfronts and forest. Management Area. and the Bulls Bridge Hydropower Dam. Foot travel only. Back- z We work across town borders to guide growth away from

Housatonic River Walk 413-528-3391 DAVEBY PINE KNOB LOOP CULLEN Information about historical, cultural, scenic and natural One of our nation’s most recognizable historic village centers 19 our most special natural places. Behind Main Street, Great Barrington, MA packer camping ONLY on designated sites. Stoves only, no fires. resources within the heritage area can be found at also boasts a great trout-stocked catch-and-release area from Carry in/carry out. Visit www.firstlightpower.com/stewardship. Stroll along this half-mile riverside greenway trail behind Great 29 R Housatonic Meadows State Park 860-672-6772 z We work for healthy rivers and streams, clean drinking the Glendale Dam (along Route 183) south about a mile to the Barrington’s Main Street. Extraordinary volunteer efforts Route 7, Sharon, CT Directions: From traffic light at junction of Route 7 and water and natural places for our families to enjoy. www.HousatonicHeritage.org. railroad bridge. No fishing allowed from June 15 to August 15 removed tons of debris and created this trail. Now a National Along the banks of the Housatonic River, this scenic park Bulls Bridge Road, turn west onto Bulls Bridge Road. within 100 feet of posted fish refuge tributaries. Recreation Trail, it is managed by the Great Barrington Land features picnicking, fly-fishing, hiking, canoeing and seasonal Park on left before covered bridge. Conservancy and volunteers. fee-camping. Visit: www.ct.gov/dep . Visit the W.E.B. Du Bois River Garden Park located at the Directions: Located on Route 7 (two miles north of the corner of River and Church Streets, 200 feet from where the junction of routes 4 and 7). Check us out at

great civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois was born in 1868. GREAT FALLS Du Bois wrote that he was “born by a golden river.” Don’t www.hvatoday.org miss the William Stanley Overlook. In 1886 Stanley 25a Great Falls, Housatonic River Road, Salisbury, CT demonstrated his high-voltage alternating current transmis- Tapped for power by FirstLight Power Resources, Inc., the TRAIL MAPS AND DESCRIPTIONS . . . PUBLISHED IN 2010 BY THE sion and lit up a stretch of Main Street. His design became Great Falls is a spectacularly dramatic sight in late winter/early can be found in the Connecticut Walk Book published HOUSATONIC VALLEY ASSOCIATION the prototype for all transformers and the basis of modern spring. Enjoy several overlooks along the trail from the parking by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. The electrical power distribution. Visit www.gbriverwalk.org. lot and the short, educational footpath at the top of the falls book is available at www.ctwoodlands.org and local explaining Amesville’s history. No fee. bookstores. Maps may also be available from the EGRET GREAT BLUE HERON BY AARON BY HERON BLUE GREAT LOGAN N Bridge Street Car-Top Boating Access Site Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection at Just off Route 7 on Bridge Street, behind the former Searles Middle Q Car-top Boating Access available at the Great Falls www.ct.gov/dep. Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary 413-637-0320 School. Downstream the river is a mix of quick and flat water. parking area and below the dam on Dugway Road. Photos with no credits are from HVA files. 7 Berkshire Sanctuaries, Directions: From Route 44 East, turn right onto Housa- For information about hikes in Massachusetts go to 472 West Mountain Road, Lenox, MA O Brookside Road Car-Top Boating Access Site tonic River Road about 0.5 mile before Canaan town line. www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/hiking.htm or buy AMC’s Symbols below designate areas on map on other side. Owned by Massachusetts Audubon Society, this sanctuary On Brookside Road about 0.5 mile from Route 7, look for the Proceed to pull off to the east just above the dam. Con- Best Day Hikes in the Berkshires by René Laubach at Official car-top boating was once a Mahican Indian landing site and later owned by Dr. access sign on the left just before the bridge. Downstream the tinue south along Housatonic Road to Dugway Road to http://amcstore.outdoors.org/amcstore. 1 Points of interest A access sites ICE ISLAND IN GLENDALE BY SHEP EVANS SHEP ICE ISLAND IN GLENDALE BY , TRUSTEES RIVER, KONKAPOT OF RESERVATIONS Oliver Wendell Holmes. Today it offers a quiet retreat from the river is a mix of quick and flat water. the car-top boating access site below the dam. BULL’S BRIDGE link trailsintoaHousatonicRiverGreenway. are developingnewriversidetrails.HVA isworkingto Trail (SharonandKent).Manyriversidecommunities including thelargestsectionofriverfront Appalachian Excellent hikingopportunitiesexistallalongtheriver, HIKING [email protected]. 413-394-9796, visitwww.hvatoday.org orsendanemailto canoe guide,contact HVA’s BerkshireOffice inSouthLee, chusetts, CornwallandKent. To obtain aMassachusetts canoeing isbestinthegentlercurrentssouthernMassa- Bridge inKentofferchallengingwhite-waterruns.Flatwater the expert,RattlesnakeRapidsinFallsVillageandBull’s The Housatonicprovidesexcellentcanoeingandkayaking.For BOATING from skin,clothesandshoesafterariverexcursion. particularly aboveWoodsPondDam.Washsoilandsediment Minimize skincontactwithPCB-contaminatedsediment, SWIMMING consumption advisories”inthesearchportal. for fish,turtlesandfrogs.Visitmass.govct.goventer“fish and-release, thefishkeepgettinglarger. There arecertain advisories much ofthelengthriverfromPittsfielddownstreamiscatch- fly fishingintheU.S.canbefoundHousatonicRiver. Since tributaries, forbothcold-andwarm-waterspecies.Someofthebest Fishing isamajoractivityalongtheentirelengthofriverandits FISHING and water-basedactivities. the watershed,offeringhunting,hiking,camping,wintersports, There aremorethan100,000acresofpublicrecreationlandin Recreational Opportunities Housatonic Riverfromtheheadwaters in Massachusetts toKent,Connecticut GE/Housatonic RiverSitein New England–www.epa.gov/region01/ge with publicinvolvementandparticipation. addressing contaminationinPittsfieldandtheHousatonic Riverinconcert Environmental Protection Agency continues its large-scalecommitmentto Connecticut Department ofEnvironmental Protection–www.ct.gov/dep Massachusetts FishandWildlife–www.mass.gov/dfwele Massachusetts DepartmentofConservationandRecreation – Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust –www.weantinoge.org Kent Land Trust –www.kentlandtrust.org Sharon LandTrust –www.sharonlandtrust.org Cornwall Conservation Trust, Inc.–www.cornwallconservationtrust.org Salisbury Association Land Trust –www.salisburyassn.org/land-trust Sheffield Land Trust –www.sheffieldland.org Great Barrington Trails andGreenways–www.gbtrails.org Great BarringtonLandConservancy– Stockbridge Land Trust –413-298-0061 Laurel Hill Association –www.laurelhillassociation.org Lee LandTrust–413-243-2097 Richmond LandTrust–413-698-3141 Connecticut Chaptersof Trout Unlimited–www.cttrout.org Taconic Chapter, Trout Unlimited–www.ma-ri-tu-council.org The UpperHousatonicValley NationalHeritage Area – The Trustees ofReservations–www.trustees.org The NatureConservancy–www.nature.org Massachusetts Audubon Society–www.massaudubon.org Housatonic RiverInitiative–www.housatonic-river.com Housatonic FlyFishermen Association –http://hffa.net Connecticut ForestandPark Association –www.ctwoodlands.org Connecticut Appalachian Mountain ClubChapter–http://www.ct-amc.org Berkshire NaturalResourceCouncil–www.bnrc.net Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) –www.thebeatnews.org Berkshire Appalachian Mountain Club–www.amcberkshire.org Appalachian Trail Conservancy–www.appalachiantrail.org Partners protectingtheHousatonicRiver www.mass.gov/dcr www.greatbarringtonlandconservancy.org www.heritage-hikes.org www.upperhousatonicheritage.org Community LandTrusts alongtheRiver Federal Agencies State Agencies

PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS BY PETER MULLIGAN GEORGE L DAREY HOUSATONIC VALLEY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY z z z z z z and ecosystems.Visit www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/acec. creates aframeworkforlocalandregionalstewardshipofcriticalresources and significanceoftheirnaturalculturalresources. ACEC designation these areasreceivespecialrecognitionbecauseofthequality, uniqueness Watershed. Designatedbythestate Secretary ofEnvironmental Affairs, mental Concern(ACECs)areintheBerkshiresectionofHousatonic Areas ofCriticalEnvironmentalConcern: other outdoor recreationactivities.Visit www.mass.gov/dfele. Wildlife, theseWMAsareopentohunting,fishing,trapping,boatingand State-owned andmanagedbytheMassachusetts Department ofFishand Housatonic Valley WMA (818acres)thatextendsfromPittsfield toLenox. Hinsdale FlatsWMA(1,489.5acres)inandtheGeorgeL.Darey Areas (WMAs)arelocatedintheHousatonicRiverheadwaters.The Massachusetts Wildlife Management Areas: z z z z Purple Loosestrife( mation Centeratwww.invasivespeciesinfo.gov. below. Foracomprehensivelist,visittheNationalInvasiveSpecies Infor- A fewofthekeyinvasivespeciesinHousatonicWatershed arelisted crowding outnativespeciesandupsettingthenaturalecosystembalance. or competitorsexist.Thisallowsthemtothriveandspreadunchecked, area wheretheyhavenotpreviouslylivedandnonaturalpredators Invasive speciesaretheanimalsandplantsthatintroducedintoan States infreighterwaterballastanddiscovered intheGreatLakes1988. Native toeasternEurope, zebramusselsweretransportedtotheUnited controlling zebramussels isastronomical. structures islikelyasthe musselscolonizehardsurfaces.Thecostof to boatmotors,intakepipesandother essential totheecologicalfoodweb.Damage feeding depletesthemicroscopicorganisms and riverbottoms.Theirvoraciousfilter colonization, formingextensivematsonlake they serveassubstrateforadditional settling larvae. As musselsbegin togrow, crayfish –eventrashcanactasabasefor Rocks, logs,metal,nativemusselsand shelled mussel.Within ayear, azebramusselcangrowuptoaninch. sink, attachtoanyhardsurfaceandquicklytransformintoadouble quickly drifting withthecurrent. After threetofourweeksoffeeding they larger thanthetipofapencilmakingthemdifficulttospot.Theyspread duce uptoonemillioneggsinaseason.Free-swimminglarvaeareno been foundinthe Twin LakesinSalisbury. Onezebramusselcanpro- River asfarsouthStockbridge. Massachusetts inJuly2009,andlaterLaurelBrooktheHousatonic plant habitat. across thecountrychokingoutnativewetland ornamental plant.Nowitdominateswetlands was introducedintheearly1800sasan For informationandupdates,visit:http://www.epa.gov/region1/ge. about theextentandmethod(s)for 99 percentreductioninPCBconcentrationstheremediatedarea.Negotiations two milesofriverinPittsfieldfromtheGEplanttoFredGarnerPark,resultinga agreement in1999. Two phasesofcleanuparenowcompletedcoveringthefirst The FederalEnvironmental Protection Agency andGEreachedasettlement Connecticut. for fish,frogsandturtlescaughtintheriverfromDalton,MassachusettstoKent, In 1982thefirstfishconsumptionadvisorywaspostedalongHousatonicRiver that resideandfeedontheriverbottomareinturnconsumedbyotherwildlife. attach toriversedimentsandenterthefoodchainthroughfishaquaticinsects PCBs persistintheenvironmentcreatingalonglastingconcern.generally contributed tothePCBcontamination,aswell. oxbows. OtherindustriesalongtheriverinbothMassachusettsandConnecticut PCBs intotheHousatonicRiverandprovidedcontaminatedfilltostraighten For yearspriortotheban,GeneralElectric’s(GE)TransformerDivisiondischarged manufacture anduseofPCBshasbeenbannedintheUnitedStates since1977. in electricaltransformers,capacitorsandheatexchangersbeginning1929,the PCBs continuetoaffect fishandaquaticlifeintheriver. Usedchieflyasacoolant Wetland Commissions. cal impacts.InConnecticut,thesefragileareasareregulatedbylocalInland Commissions overseewetlandandriverbufferzonestominimizeadverseecologi- vides evenstrongerprotectiontoriverandstreamsidelands.LocalConservation that helpcontrolpollutedrunoff. InMassachusetts theRiverProtection Act pro- Both ConnecticutandMassachusettshavestronginlandwetlandprotectionlaws remain seriousconcerns. nutrients, pesticides,sediments,roadandvehiclechemicals,animalwaste– However bothpolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)andpollutedrunoff–whichcarries of 1967,pollutionenteringtheriverfromdischargepipesissubstantiallyreduced. Since thenationalCleanWater Act of1972,andtheConnecticutCleanWater Act sections oftheriverto“catch-and-release”only. Fishing isexcellent,butPCBcontaminationdownstreamofPittsfieldlimitslarge that itissafertoswiminriversegmentshavearockyorgravellybottom. however thepresenceofPCBcontaminatedsedimentinBerkshiressuggests clean enoughforsportfishingandswimming... In general,theHousatonicRiverisconsidered encompasses the13-milecorridorofHousatonicRiverfrom Upper HousatonicRiver ACEC located attheheadwatersofEastBranchHousatonicRiver. Hinsdale Flats Watershed ACEC piles andothercommonresidentialactivitiesaresuitable here. rest ofthebuffer. Traps sediment.Playareas,gardens,compost Includes theyard,garden,orwoodsbetweenyourhomeand Outer Zone date someclearingforrecreationaluse. has trees,shrubsandperennialgroundplants. Itcanaccommo- and thesoiltype,slopeuseofnearbyland. The bestbuffer and offers habitat. Varies inwidth dependingonsizeofstream From thetopofbankinland.Protects streamwaterquality Middle Zone grow andletitgoforthebestprotection. may beabetterchoicewheretreeshavecollapsed abank.Letit offers habitat. The bestbuffer hasmatureforestbutlargeshrubs From thewatertotopofbank.Protects thebankand Streamside a three-zonebuffersystem. You canprotectyourriverwith SEPTIC SYSTEM Invasive Species intheHousatonicWatershed WELL Lythrum salicaria discovered inLaurelLakeLeeandLenox, Zebra Mussels phragmites isindicativeoftheinvasivereed. that therecentandrapidproliferationof native variantofthisplant.Howeveritisbelieved high. Thereisa stands upto15feet can createdense invasive reedthat australis ( Phragmites Phragmites UE OEM OUTER ZONE

In Connecticut,zebramusselshave Rest oftheRiver ) Illustration andcaptionprovidedby Adair Mulligan is an (designated in2009;12,000acres) (designated in1992;14,500acresis RIPARIAN BUFFER The ConnecticutRiverJointCommissions ) ( Dreissena polymorpha) Five areasofCriticalEnviron- DL OESTREAMSIDEZONE IDDLE ZONE Housatonic RiverHealth Two WildlifeManagement cleanupareunderway. PROTECTED PLACES www.crjc.org were

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE BY H. ZELL

DIDYMO, MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY z z z z z z z z z to eradicatewithcurrenttechnology. one waterbodytoanother. Onceestablished,theyareimpossible You caneasilyandunknowinglytransportzebramusselsfrom z z z z z z

MALE BELTED KINGFISHER BY KEVIN COLE WOOD TURTLE BY LT SHEARS of fishforeating. nearby fornestingandroostingplenty seacoasts, wheretherearetalltrees includes lakes,marshes,rivers,or Natural year-roundhabitatofbaldeagles along majorriversandatlargereservoirs. Connecticut fromDecembertoearlyMarch Species.” Upto100eagleswinterin Massachusetts “StateEndangered The baldeagleisaConnecticutand that drainsintothisriverstretch. southern PittsfieldtonorthernLee,andthesectionofwatershed its natural beauty. ACEC. Agricultural, historicandarchaeologicalresourcescomplement Taconic Trail andthe Appalachian NationalScenic Trail traversethe hills, openfieldsandstreams,ponds,wetlands.BoththeSouth scenic landscapesinMassachusettswithwoodedmountains,rolling stretching acrossEgremontandMountWashington, isoneofthemost Karner BrookWatershed ACEC examples ofcalcareousfensinsouthernNewEngland. continuous calcareousseepageswampandsomeofthefinest significant naturalcommunitiesinMassachusettsincludingthelargest The brookanditsassociatedwetlandscompriseonofthemost acres) coverssectionsofSheffield, EgremontandMountWashington. Schenob BrookDrainageBasin ACEC fen –anecologicalgemuniqueintheBerkshires. within amileoftheHousatonicRiver, includesa160-acrecalcareous Kampoosa Bog ACEC away fromwaterbodiesandstormdrainsdrainingtowatercourses. eliminated byafewsimpleactions.Here’s whatyoucando: The goodnewsisthatmostpollutedrunoff canbereducedoreven What Can You do? widespread, pollutedrunoff isdifficult tocontrol. by increasingits velocityandtoxicity. Becausethesesourcesareso and replacesitwithimpervioussurfacesexacerbatespollutedrunoff Riverfront developmentthateliminatesnaturalvegetation andsoil habitats andtowildlife–wheningesteditblocksdigestivesystems. chemicals cankillaquaticlife.Litter, too,posesathreattoriver washing intotheriverwithnextrain.Highconcentrationsofthese effectiveness butwillincreasetheirimpact onaquaticlifewhen toxicity. Overusingpesticidesandherbicideswillnotincreasetheir septic systemsandtreatmentplants notdesignedtoneutralize Dumping householdchemicalsdownthedraincansendthemto bacteria andparasites thatcancausediseaseandkillaquaticlife. Failing septictanks andpetwastes alsocreateproblems,carrying wastewater treatmentplants. Storm drainsactuallyleaddirectlytotheHousatonicRiver–not cides, litterandothercontaminants andcarrythemintoourriver. fields itcanpickupoil,grease,gasoline,sand,salt,fertilizers,pesti- moves overandthroughourparking lots, roads,lawnsandplaying Polluted runoff comesfrommanysources. As rainormeltedsnow What isPollutedRunoff? yo %slto 10 minutes de 32 < as 1%solution Freezing Vinegar Lysol 1 Chlorine/Bleach Solution 140degrees Steam/Scalding hotwash Disinfectant launching intofreshwater. hot, dryweatheranduptofourweeksduringcool,wetweather, before Keep yourwatercraftandequipmentdryforatleastoneweekduring Ponds programat617-626-1250orvisitwww.mass.gov/lakesandponds. Massachusetts DepartmentofConservationandRecreationLakes Note: Alldecontaminationproceduresshouldbeimplemented z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z To reportaZebraMusselsighting,orformoreinformation,contact Check outwww.hvatoday.org. ing andotherriverstewardshipactivities. Take actionandjoinyoulocalorganizationsincleanups, monitor- anything elseintoyourneighborhoodstormdrain. Never dumpgarbage,animalwaste,oil,toxicchemicalsor Pave less. disturbing landalongsidetheriver. Always installandmaintainsiltsedimentcontrolswhen Don’t bealitterbug. Properly disposeofpetwaste. Recycle usedmotoroilandantifreeze. Wash yourcaronthelawnandusevegetablesoap. apply assparinglypossible. If youmustusepesticides,themonlyintroublespotsand Use lessfertilizeronyourlawn. Mulch leavesandyardwasteintoacompostarea. between yourlawnandtheriver. Keep asmallerlawnandmaintainnativeshrubs,treesplants hall fordatesofHouseholdHazardousWasteCollectionDays. Don’t pourhouseholdchemicalsdownyourdrain.Calltown every twotothreeyears. Make sureyoursepticsystemisworkingproperlyandpumped Conservation andRecreationZebraMusselsbrochure,2010 *Recommendations fromtheMassachusettsDepartmentof STOP AQUATICHITCHHIKERS! Please takegreatcarebeforelaunchingyourboat! OR thoroughlycleanyourboatandequipment: *CLEANING SOLUTIONS *CLEANING (designated in1995;1,350acres)Stockbridge Concentration or call617-626-1218. www.mass.gov/czm/invasives/index.htm Hampshire. To reportasighting,visit Connecticut RiverinVermont andNew nearby inVermont andinsectionsofthe Housatonic Watershed, butitisidentified There arenoreportsofDidymointhe fishing, swimmingorpaddlingundesirable. mats thatcoverthestreambedmaking and streams.Didymocanproducethick to plants,rocksandhardsubstratesinrivers because ofitsslimyappearance,itattaches Didymo z e alno ae 10 minutes oz. pergallonofwater od–10 20 minutes sold –100% re 24 grees F (designated in1992;7,000acres),

is analgae. Also calledrocksnot 10 seconds F submerged, tangledtreeroots. hole inthestreambank,oramong the waterdoesnotfreeze,ina on waterwaybottomswhere foraging. Inwinter, theyhibernate forest andfieldsforsummer extensive areasoffloodplain, banks forhibernation,and streams withdeeplyundercut require cleanriversandlarge and Massachusetts.They Concern" speciesinConnecticut The woodturtleisa"Special eat fishaboutfiveincheslong. feet ofthesurface.Kingfishers birds tospotpreywithintwo clear andcalmenoughforthe supply isadequateandthewater support nestingpairsifthefood estuaries andoceanbayscan rivers, butpondsandlakes, nest sitesnearcreeksand Male beltedkingfishersprefer (designated in1990;13,750 Contact Time hours

BALD EAGLE BY USFWS

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