5 Driving Tours The Mohawk Trail MOHAWKTRAIL.COM REGION MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL TOURISM COUNCILS 1 Greater Boston Cape Cod Western Mass/ Franklin County The 16 Regional Convention and Visitors Chamber of Commerce Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Bureau 5 Patti Page Way Convention and 395 Main St. PO Box 898 2 Copley Place, Suite 105 Centerville, MA 02632 Visitors Bureau Greenfield, MA 01302 Tourism Councils are Boston, MA 02116-6501 508-362-3225 1441 Main St. 413-773-5463 617-536-4100 888-33-CapeCod Springfield, MA 01103 FAX: 413-773-7008 a rich source 888-SeeBoston FAX: 508-862-0727 413-787-1548 www.franklincc.org FAX: 617-424-7664 www.capecodchamber.org 800-723-1548 1Berkshire www.bostonusa.com Martha’s Vineyard FAX 413-781-4607 www.explorewesternmass.com 66 Allen Street of information North of Boston Chamber of Commerce Pittsfield, MA 01201 Convention 24 Beach Road Hampshire County 413-499-1600 and Visitors Bureau Tourism and PO Box 1698 www.berkshires.org PO Box 5193 Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 Visitors Bureau about Mohawk Trail I-95 Southbound, Exit 60 508-693-0085 Greater Northampton Salisbury, MA 01952 Chamber of Commerce Association FAX: 508-693-7589 Visitors Bureau 978-465-6555 99 Pleasant St. what to see www.mvy.com PO Box 1044 www.northofboston.org Nantucket Island Northampton, MA 01060 413-584-1900 North Adams, MA 01247 Greater Merrimack Chamber of Commerce 413-743-8127 Valley Convention and FAX 413 584-1934 what to do and Zero Main St. 2nd Floor FAX 413-743-8163 Visitors Bureau www.visithampshirecounty.com Nantucket, MA 02554 www.mohawktrail.com 61 Market Street, Unit 1C 508-228-3643; 508-228-1700 where to stay. Lowell, MA 01852 FAX 508-325-4925 978-459-6150 www.nantucketchamber.org 800-215-9805 MetroWest FAX. 978-459-4595 Visitors Bureau www.merrimackvalley.org They will be glad 665 Franklin St. Southeastern Massachu- Framingham, MA 01702 setts Convention and 508-361-9881 to send you Visitors Bureau www.metrowestvisitors.org c/o New Bedford Area 1 Chamber of Commerce Johnny Appleseed Trail literature or 227 Union St. Association Mezzanine Level 2 c/o North Central Massachusetts New Bedford, MA 02742 Chamber of Commerce provide helpful 508-999-5231 860 South St. Massachusetts Office of FAX: 774-929-6826 Fitchburg, MA 01420 Travel & Tourism advice to plan www.visitsemass.com 978-353-7600 136 Blackstone Street , 5th Floor Plymouth County FAX: 978-353-4896 Boston, MA 02109 Convention and www.appleseed.org 617-973-8500 . 800-227-MASS your trip. Visitors Bureau Worcester Regional fax 617-973-8525 . www.massvacation.com 134 Court Street 2nd floor Tourism Corporation Plymouth, MA 02360 Discover Central 508-747-0100 Massachusetts 800-231-1620 311 Main Street, Suite 200 FAX: 508-747-3118 Worcester, MA 01608 www.SeePlymouth.com 508-753-1550 www.discovercentralmass.org This publication is funded, in part, by The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. © 2020 Mohawk Trail Association 2020-2021 2 www.mohawktrail.com www.mohawktrail.com 3 Route 2 east from North Adams leads to the Mohawk Trail, one of the most famous DRIV ING scenic drives in the Berkshires. The road fol- lows the old trail Native Americans of the Five TOUR 1 Nations used to pass between the Connecticut and Hudson Valleys. First point of interest on Mohawk Trail & Savoy State Forest the trail is the Hairpin Turn, where the trail rises sharply to the Western Summit (called '62 Center for Theater and Dance Spirit Mountain by Native Americans). There Approximately 55 miles WILLIAMS COLLEGE CAMPUS . WILLIAMSTOWN Vintage Postcard of The Hairpin Turn c.1920 CLARKSBURG is an observation point from which excellent views of mountainous portions of southern Vermont and northwestern Massachusetts can be seen including Mount Greylock, Mount Prospect and Mount Williams. Williamstown, the home of Williams Whitcomb Summit College Continuing up the trail, the next stop is , the top of the trail. , is the starting place for a tour From this elevation, 2,173 feet, one can see far into southern Vermont and New Hamp- which can cover most of the outstanding shire. Further along, the trail crosses a bridge and turns sharply to the left. Another features of the northern section of Berk- road leads to the right. Here the visitor has a choice of three routes; 1. To continue shire County. Located on the Williams along the trail to Charlemont, Shelburne Falls, and Greenfield; College Campus is the Chapin Library of Rare Books 2. To retrace the route back to North Adams; 3. To turn right in Stetson Hall. On per- Clark Art Institute away into Savoy Mountain State Forest for a visit to Tannery manent display at the Chapin Library WILLIAMSTOWN Falls. [NOTE: The road for the 3rd option is temporarily closed] are original copies of the Four Founding The road out of the Tannery Falls area on the return leg of Documents of the United States. Across Main Street from the Chapin Library, is the Wil- liams College Museum of Art this Circle Tour leads just northwest of Savoy Center and onto , noted for its permanent collection and changing exhibitions East Road in the town of Adams. East Road paralleling Route 8 to that emphasize American art, modern and contemporary art, and non-western art. The col- Thompson Memorial Chapel the North leads back to North Adams, and gives a commanding lege’s , a Gothic structure built in 1904, is on the north side of view of Greylock Mountain, towering over Adams, a charming Main Street in Williamstown. A series of stained glass Victorian town with an elegantly restored Main Street. windows merit particular attention, especially when A must-see is the Western Gateway Heritage State Park, viewed from within the chapel. located on Route 8 in the center of North Adams. The freight yard Continuing west on Main Street is the picturesque First Congregational Church 7 district of North Adams has been restored and now houses a va- . Further along Main riety of contemporary and historical attractions, including an ex- Street is the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance, Williamstown The- Tannery Falls cellent exhibit on the building of the Hoosac Tunnel. To complete which is the summer home of the the tour, turn left on Route 2 and return to Williamstown. atre Festival, professional theatre under the direction SAVOY of Mandy Greenfield (July through August on the Main Stage, Nikos Stage, staged readings, and a Free Theater). Going west on Main Street, the road leads Museum of Contemporary Art Williams College Williamstown Theatre Festival Natural into Field Park, where a faithful reproduction of a 1753 NORTH ADAMS Bridge Clarksburg house was built in 1953 for the town’s bicentennial. Williamstown The Milne Memorial Library is located at 1095 Main Street in. Mass MoCA Hairpin Turn On the west side of South Street is the Sterling and Francine 2 Western Summit Clark Art Institute , known for its Impressionist collection, old North Adams Whitcomb Summit masters, English silver, prints, and drawings. MCLA Florida Whitcomb Hill Rd. Proceeding east on Route 2, one comes to a vast historic Heritage State Park mill complex in downtown North Adams. It is the site of MASS Hoosac Tunnel MoCA which presents art exhibitions, music, dance, theater, Riv 8 er Rd. and multimedia events. North Adams is also home to the Fall Savoy Mt. Foliage Festival and Parade. 2 Natural Bridge State Park is located east of North Adams 7 i State Forest off Route 2 and 8. This natural bridge of white marble was cre- Adams ated by the waters of Hudson Brook. A dam on the brook is Marble Dam at Natural Bridge made from the white marbled quarried on that site. NORTH ADAMS Tannery Falls 4 www.mohawktrail.com www.mohawktrail.com 5 DRIV ING TOUR 2 North Berkshire & Mohawk Trail Approximately 53 miles Griffin Hall on the Williams College Campus Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts The Elk Memorial WILLIAMSTOWN NORTH ADAMS FLORIDA This scenic tour brings you north on Route 7 to The Mohawk Trail. Starting in Native Americans). Travel through the scenic town of Florida to the Whitcomb Pittsfield, take Route 7 to Lanesboro, the birth place of humorist, Josh Billings, who Summit, home of the Elk Memorial on the highest point of the Mohawk Trail at is buried in the village cemetery. Continue north on Route 7 to South Williamstown, 2,200 feet. One quarter mile past the summit, Whitcomb Hill Road leads to the eastern HISTORIC FIVE CORNERS. Here several walking tours to historic houses are available. portal of the Hoosac Tunnel. Follow this road back down to the Deerfield River. Following Route 7 to Williamstown you are now on Route 2, The Mohawk Trail, between Take a left on River Road until it crosses the railroad tracks. Look here for the eastern Williamstown and Greenfield. Starting in Williamstown, which is the home of Williams portal of the Hoosac Tunnel engineered and completed in 1875 by blasting through College, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, five miles of sheer granite. Continue left on River Road to Bear Swamp Project and and Williams College Museum of Art, this “village beautiful” deserves a tour of its Visitor’s Center which has picnic facilities. Retrace River Road and cross the iron own. Enjoy its many fine shops, craft galleries, and eateries. Continue on Route 2, east bridge over the Deerfield River until the junction of Route 2 at the Indian Bridge. to the City of North Adams, where you can visit the Western Gateway Heritage State Take a right and after a short distance view the famous “Hail to the Sunrise” Statue, Park, Natural Bridge State Park, MASS MoCA, Massachusetts College of Liberal a memorial to the Mohawk Native Americans, sponsored by The Improved Order of Arts, and the North Adams Fall Foliage Festival.