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Skiing

Skiing is a favorite activity in the Berkshires and has been an important component of the local tourism industry for as long as Tanglewood has been. In 1935, the first of the famous "ski trains" left Grand Central Station in New York bound for Bousquet's in Pittsfield, MA, where the rope tow was perfected and night skiing was introduced on Dec. 24, 1936, by U. S. Ski Hall of Fame honoree Clare Bousquet. By 1945, Bousquets featured 10 rope tows. Olympic skiers Heidi Voelker, Krista and Kim Schmidinger began skiing at Bousquets.

Skiing the Thunderbolt trail Mt. Greylock

Berkshires skiing lore also includes the legendary Thunderbolt Ski Run, a world class downhill trail carved into the east slope of Mt. Greylock in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, under the direction of the Mt. Greylock Ski Club. Today, Berkshire county residents and visitors to the Berkshires have several choices for downhill skiing and snowboarding, as well as for cross-country skiing.

Berkshire East Ski Resort

Berkshire East Ski Resort in Charlemont, near North Adams, is unique among local recreational venues because it produces its own energy with a wind turbine, partially funded by a $440,000 grant from Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. In addition to downhill skiing, which has been available on Mt. Institute since the 1950s, there is snow tubing and zip lines, under the name Berkshire East Canopy Tours. If you are coming to the Berkshires to ski in the Charlemont area, you may be interested in North Adams, Mass hotels.

Berkshire East Ski Resort contact information

  • South River Rd. (Rte. 8A),
  • Charlemont, Mass.,
  • Vertical drop: 1,180 feet;
  • Number of trails: 45.
  • Night skiing. 413-339-6617.
  • berkshireeast.com

Berkshire East Ski Resort driving directions and map

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How to get to the Berkshires

Here are inks for local and regional public transportation depots and stops, plus where to get Peter Pan bus and Amtrak train schedules and tickets: how to get to the Berkshires.

Ski Butternut in the Berkshires

Ski Butternut located in the Berkshires just east of Great Barrington offers downhill skiing on 22 trails with a vertical drop of 1,000 feet, as well as snow tubing and snow boarding, making it popular with families with children and young adults. Ski Butternut got its start when the New Haven Railroad developed it under the name Warner Mountain Ski Area in the 1930s. (Media credit: Wikipedia user: Jrclark.)Along with a full range of winter ski activities, Butternut is a popular Berkshires attraction in the summer as the site of music and arts festivals. Berkshires visitors coming to ski at Butternut may be interested in Gt. Barrington, Mass hotels.

Ski Butternut contact information

Ski Butternut map and driving directions

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How to get to the Berkshires

Here are inks for local and regional public transportation depots and stops, plus where to get Peter Pan bus and Amtrak train schedules and tickets: how to get to the Berkshires.

Otis Ridge Ski Area

Otis Ridge Ski Area is smaller than other ski areas in the Berkshires but is a favorite among locals and visiting families who enjoy skiing away from crowds and difficult ski runs. The vertical drop is a gentle 400 feet and with night skiing and eleven trails there will be more time on the slopes and less time in lift lines. Otis Ridge is especially popular with visitors from the nearby Springfield area. Visitors from farther afield may find the listings here to be useful: Lee, Mass hotels.

Otis Ridge contact information

  • Rte. 23,
  • Otis, MA
  • Vertical drop: 400 feet;
  • trails: 11.
  • Night skiing.
  • 413-269-4444.
  • otisridge.com

Otis Ridge map and driving directions

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How to get to the Berkshires

Here are inks for local and regional public transportation depots and stops, plus where to get Peter Pan bus and Amtrak train schedules and tickets: how to get to the Berkshires.

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, located in Hancock and Lanesbourough, MA and abutting the state of New York, is the biggest ski area in the Berkshires and one of the largest in New England. With a vertical drop of 1,150 feets, 44 trails and nine ski lifts, it has a feel similar to nearby Vermont ski areas. Like other ski areas in the Berkshires and elsewhere, Jiminy Peak now boasts a range of outdoors adventure and sporting attractions all year round, including mountain coasters, miniature golf, hiking, and mountain biking. Visitors from away may be interested in Hancock, Mass hotels. (Image credit: Wikipedia User: Jrclark).

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort contact information

  • 37 Corey Rd.,
  • Hancock, MA
  • Vertical drop: 1,150 feet;
  • trails: 44
  • Night skiing
  • 888-454-6469, 413-738-5500
  • jiminypeak.com

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort driving directions and map

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How to get to the Berkshires

Here are inks for local and regional public transportation depots and stops, plus where to get Peter Pan bus and Amtrak train schedules and tickets: how to get to the Berkshires.

Bousquet Ski Area

Bousquet Ski Area, located on the edge of Pittsfield bordering on Lenox and Richmond, is the oldest ski area in the Berkshires and is the place where night skiing was pioneered. There has been skiing at Bousquet’s since 1932, where there is a 750 foot vertical drop from lift-top elevation of 1,818 feet, with five lifts to service 24 trails. If you are interested in lodging near Bousquet, you may find this page helpful: Pittsfield, Mass hotels.

Bousquet Ski Area contact information

  • 101 Dan Fox Dr.,
  • Pittsfield, MA 01201
  • Vertical drop: 750 feet;
  • trails: 21
  • Night skiing and tubing.
  • 413-442-8316.
  • bousquets.com.

Bousquet Ski Area driving directions and map

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How to get to the Berkshires

Here are inks for local and regional public transportation depots and stops, plus where to get Peter Pan bus and Amtrak train schedules and tickets: how to get to the Berkshires.

Catamount Ski Area

Catamount Ski Area, located near Gt. Barrington, MA is especially popular with New Yorkers because it is less than a three hour drive from NYC. There has been skiing at Catamount for over 70 years and now outdoors sports enthusiasts come year round to the aerial forest park and its ziplines as well as mountain bike trails. But is was downhill skiing that put Catamount on the map, with a 1,000 foot vertical drop and 32 trails, including the 2.5 mile Ridge Run, one of the longest ski trails in the Berkshires. If you are visiting the Berkshires to ski at Catamount, you can find accommodation at these Gt. Barrington, Mass hotels.

Catamount Ski Area contact information

  • 3200 Rte. 23,
  • Hillsdale, NY
  • Vertical drop: 1,000 feet;
  • trails: 32
  • Night skiing
  • 518-325-3200, 413-528-1262
  • catamountski.com

Catamount Ski Area driving directions and map

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How to get to the Berkshires

Here are inks for local and regional public transportation depots and stops, plus where to get Peter Pan bus and Amtrak train schedules and tickets: how to get to the Berkshires.