"In the woods is perpetual youth" - Emerson

GUIDED HIKES: 1-2 north of NYC, 2-3 hours west of Boston (click here)
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Bowker's Woods - Stockbridge, MA




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Bowkers left pic

Difficulty: Easy, Moderate

Main Attractions: Old woods, wetlands, Housatonic River.

10 day forecast

Nearby Hikes:
Monument Mountain
Bartholomew's Cobble
Mount Frissel

Bowkers main pic

Bowker's Woods is divided into two sections. The lower trail, located about a mile outside downtown Stockbridge on Glendale Middle Road, is a mile plus loop that offers pleasant views and a cool calming atmosphere.

The trailhead dissects two ancient stonewalls that run parallel to the road. From there a well-worn path carries the hiker through upland hardwood forest dappled with small wetlands then meets a fork. Take the left and gradually descend a hillside. At the bottom is the Berkshire Railroad Train Tracks and after crossing you'll find yourself in an old forest.

The trail meanders further and after some time runs into the remnants of an old trolley track. If desired, there's a short trail that leads to a scenic view of the Housatonic river. Follow that less-than-well maintained path to a large stone structure extending into the river and from there you'll receive views of Glendale and some wetlands that Canadian Geese, Blue Heron, and Wood Duck tend to frequent. It's a great spot for birding. Back on the main trail, towering hardwoods and pines sway overhead, creaking in the cold months and cooling the air during humid summer days. Running along moss covered boulders and old stone walls, the path starts to rise dramatically exposing much of the Housatonic River and revealing the many wonders of a riparian ecosystem. Eventually the trail crosses the railroad again, climbs a steep hillside, and reconnects to the first bit. The upper portion, which is only a short drive away, begins near a small pond opposite the entrance to The Norman Rockwell Museum. The forest has a similar feel, calming and peaceful, and it more than many other woods does well to muffle noise pollution. It's easy to lose oneself on this wood of valuable wildlife territory. The wetlands make for especially fitting habitat, and if you look for animal signs you'll likely see deer tracks, leftovers from a squirrel's meal, owl pellets, or even deep gashes in a lonely white birch, characteristic of bear.

Walking the entirety of Bowker's Wood won't take long. With a combined length of a little over 2 miles it's certainly worth the time and effort. The trails are both scenic and serene, perhaps not worthy of a whole day's trip, but considering their proximity to attractions like The Norman Rockwell Museum, Chesterwood, and the Berkshire Botanical Gardens, outdoor enthusiasts and art lovers alike will love Bowker?s Woods. Bowker's Wood is owned and maintained by the oldest village beautification society in the United States, The Laurel Hill Association, founded in 1853.

Click here if you're interested in getting a guided hike in this region.

Bowkers parking Directions: From South: Take RT-7 N, turn onto RT-102E (Main Street) in Stockbridge, turn left onto RT-183S, the upper trailhead is directly across from the entrance to the Norman Rockwell Museum, the lower trailhead is another 0.5 miles down the road, take a left onto Glendale Middle Rd and go another 0.3 miles, the trailhead is off in the woods, look for large stone walls and depression in the road-front vegetation.

From North: Take RT-7 S, turn onto RT-102E (Main Street) in Stockbridge, turn left onto RT-183S, the upper trailhead is directly across from the entrance to the Norman Rockwell Museum, the lower trailhead is another 0.5 miles down the road, take a left onto Glendale Middle Rd and go another 0.3 miles, the trailhead is off in the woods, look for large stone walls and depression in the road-front vegetation.

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