Escape the crowds: Skiing, snowboarding and tubing in the Berkshires
A group of skiers and snowboarders at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA. Credit: Luis Garcia
Winter sports are in full swing and those looking to shred the slopes via board, ski or snow tube should opt for an alternative to the overcrowded and often expensive premier winter resort towns in the Northeast.
Fortunately, there's a convenient, happy medium: the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. Located about three hours from Long Island, the Berkshires offer skiers and boarders their choice of five medium-sized downhill destinations, all suited for beginners and intermediates. The destinations allow visitors to also enjoy snow tubing, snowshoeing and sledding without busting the budget.
Snow bunnies can spend the night in one of the historic nearby communities and explore the dining, shopping, attractions and lodging the area has to offer.
The Berkshires are beckoning. Skip the crowds, discover new terrain and check out these snowy slopes in rural New England:
Skiing and snowboarding
What Berkshire resorts lack in acreage and vertical drop (generally about 1,000 feet), they compensate for in price, snowmaking ability and coverage and practicality, including full-day, twilight and night skiing, as well as four-or eight-hour Flex passes.
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
The Berkshire's only complete resort in Hancock (single day lift ticket starting at $56; 37 Corey Rd., 413-738-5500, jiminypeak.com) offers base lodging and resort amenities, including a restaurant/brewery, outdoor heated pool and whirlpool, exercise room and pickleball courts at its 105-suite Country Inn (rooms for two adults and two children begin at $269). While there, you can also snowshoe (rentals $30 for eight hours) or ride the mountain coaster ($18; $24 for two rides).
A young skier gets some advice at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA. Credit: Luis F Garcia
Berkshire East Mountain Resort
While slightly larger, this resort, located along the Mohawk Trail in isolated Charlton (Single day lift tickets starting at $39; 66 Thunder Mountain Rd., 413-339-6618, berkshireeast.com), takes an additional hour to get to. Nearby accommodations include the Blue Vista Motor Lodge in Florida (rooms starting at $169; 229 Mohawk Trail, 413-664-0007, bluevistamotorlodge.com) and a moderate selection in the quintessential college town of Williamstown, including the Fairfield Inn (rooms starting at $175; 430 Main St., 413-458-7333, marriott.com).
Skiers ride the slopes at Jiminy Peak. Credit: Luis Garcia
Ski Butternut, Catamount Mountain Resort and Bousquet Mountain
Though significantly smaller, both Ski Butternut (Single day lift tickets starting at $25; 380 State Rd., 413-528-2000, skibutternut.com) in Great Barrington and Catamount Mountain Resort (Single day lift tickets starting at $47; 78 Catamount Rd., 413-528-1262, catamountski.com) in South Egremont, are top-to-bottom resorts that tend to be less crowded. Much smaller Bousquet Mountain (Single day lift tickets starting at $40; 101 Dan Fox Dr., 413-442-8985, bousquetmountain.com) in Pittsfield caters primarily to locals and offers snow tubing and lessons for kids and adults.
While Catamount does have one nearby lodging option, the Little Cat Lodge in Hillsdale (rooms starting at $258; 37 Catamount Rd., 518-660-8338, littlecatlodge.com), both are within 10 miles of low-key Great Barrington. Options there include the East Rock Inn (rooms starting at $172; 304 State Rd., 413-200-9822, eastrockinn.com) and the Quality Inn (rooms starting at $91 weekdays, $134 weekends; 372 Main St., 413-528-3150, qualityinngreatbarrington.com).
Snow tubing
An exhilarating add-on to a day on the slopes, especially for younger kids, tubing is available at all the downhill resorts except Jiminy Peak. Typically offered only on weekends in preset 90-minute sessions, it starts at $25-$30 per person.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
Providing much more exercise, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are particularly rewarding in the Berkshires because of its gently rolling terrain, replete with romantic deep woods and vintage farmsteads. Trail passes and equipment rentals both run about $15 to $25. As both depend on sufficient natural snow, call ahead to see if conditions are conducive.
Among the more aesthetic options that also have equipment rentals are: Hilltop Orchards in Richmond (508 Canaan Rd., 800-833-6274, hilltoporchards.com); Maple Corner Farm (794 Beech Hill Rd., 413-357-8829, maplecornerfarm.com) in Granville; Notchview in Windsor (83 Old RTE. 9, 413-684-0148, thetrustees.org); and Stump Sprouts in West Hawley (64 W. Hill Rd., 413-339-4265, Hawleystumpsprouts.com).
Sledding and dogsledding
Hilltown Sleddogs in Western Massachusetts offers tours for those seeking a new winter experience. Credit: Leland Marshall
The Berkshires abound with free, public sledding hills, often located at schools, parks or on municipal golf courses, with some of the best being Osceola (41 Osceola St.) and Clapp Parks in Pittsfield (233 W. Housatonic St.) and Sheep Hill in Williamstown (671 Cold Spring Rd.) Bring your own sled or snow tube.
Try your hand at mushing (dogsledding; weather permitting) at Hilltown Sleddogs (27 Mt. Rd., 413-296-0187, hilltownsleddogs.com) in West Chesterfield (1.5-hour tour is $300 for two, additional riders $50-$125).
Ice skating
Indoor options are limited to the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires in Pittsfield ($10, $5 for kids, includes rentals; 16 Melville St., 413-448-8258, bgcberkshires.org) and Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Skating Rink in North Adams ($10, $5 ages 12 and under; $5 rentals; South, 1267 Church St., 413-664-8185, northadams-ma.gov) There are a number of free, outdoor rinks maintained by municipalities or civic groups, most notably Clapp Park in Pittsfield but you’ll have to provide your own skates.
Indoor activities
See a show at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington. Credit: Leigh Davis
Check out the Norman Rockwell Museum, currently displaying "Home for the Holidays," showcasing holiday scenes from Thanksgiving to New Year's created by the famed artist through Feb. 22 ($25 ages 19 and older; 9 Glendale Rd., Stockbridge, 413-298-4100, nrm.org). View the "Jazz Age Illustration" exhibit featuring works by artists Aaron Douglas, John Held Jr. and Frank E. Schoonover.
A group of visitors at The Clark in Williamstown, MA. Credit: Tucker Bair
Visitors to the area can explore the exhibits at Clark Art Institute in Williamstown (225 South St., 413-458-2303, clarkart.edu) ($22, free under 18); and the MASS MoCa (Museum of Contemporary Art, 1040 Mass MoCA Way, 413-662-2111, massmocaart.edu) in North Adams ($25, $10 ages 6-16.) On most weekends, you can also see a show at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Upcoming events include Met Opera Live in HD (Jan. 11 and Jan. 24) and London's National Theatre in HD: Hamlet (Jan. 31). ($25; $10 ages 21 and under; 14 Castle St., Great Barrington, 413-644-9040, mahaiwe.org).
More to explore
The Red Lion Inn is a charming, historic hotel located in Stockbridge. Credit: The Red Lion Inn
Given the relatively compact nature of the Berkshires, you will never be too far away from your next destination, so travelers don't need to limit themselves to the absolute closest town. In addition to Great Barrington, other areas to explore include Pittsfield, the "metropolis of the Berkshires" with 43,000 people; All-American Lee; Lenox, the upscale cultural and now wellness center; and quaint Stockbridge, whose world-famous Red Lion Inn (30 Main St., Stockbridge, 413-298-5545, redlioninn.com) has been welcoming travelers since 1773 (rooms start at $188). Or find yourself an evocative country inn off the well-beaten path of Route 7 (berkshires.org).
