Visiting the Top of Mount Greylock – The Berkshires, Massachusetts

October 2024

Visiting the Top of Mount Greylock – The Berkshires, Massachusetts

One of the most iconic locations along the Berkshires is Mount Greylock as it is the highest point in Massacheusetts. Standing at 3500 ft, on a clear day you can see a panoramic view 100 miles of five neighboring states. There are so many hiking trails in this state reserve to enjoy, including hiking all the way to the top of Mount Greylock. But what makes this peak so great is that you can actually drive to the top – there is a 16 mile Scenic Byway that is open from mid-May to November.

I would have loved the opportunity to explore the many hiking trails at the Mount Greylock State Reservation but with limited time, we utilized a quicker way to get to the top – driving. That is certainly what makes visiting Mount Greylock very accessible, and also very crowded. It is also a free activity which certainly attracts visitors as well. I was not sure that we were going to have time in our day to fit this in and I am so glad we made some adjustments to make it up here as it is definitely a must visit in the Berkshires. 

There are two directions to take driving up for the surrounding area so it makes it a bit easier to make the journey as a part of a larger road trip. The drive during the fall season is simply incredible as the trees line the road displaying all of their fall colors. There are so many pull off locations for trails so it is easy to spend an entire day in this area just exploring. The views of the surrounding areas are quite beautiful and it was fun to point out areas we visited in the distance. Peak foliage season certainly brings out the best in nature. 

Once at the top, there is a generous parking lot for visitors that constantly has cars coming and going so it was not difficult for us to grab a spot when we arrived. There are several areas to visit, including the Veterans War Memorial Tower and the Bascom Lodge.

Standing at 92 feet tall, the Veterans War Memorial Tower was dedicated in June of 1933 and is an icon in the area today. It is hard to miss when you are driving along the byway to the top of Mount Greylock – it kind of reminds me of the Sauron Tower as it stands so high in the sky with nothing around it. The beacon at the top is lit at night and people often mistake it for a lighthouse – it can be seen from miles away. When visiting, you can climb to the top where you have a 360 degree view that spans almost 100 miles on clear days and there are even markers that indicate what you may be able to see. On the ground floor is a memorial chamber. The climb to the top requires climbing five floors around a spiral staircase – it is tight so on crowded days there may be a line to go up or down. We were lucky to visit on a clear day and at the top enjoyed just how spectacular the views were.

Across the way is the Bascom Lodge which was also built in the 1930s. This lodge has all the right vibes built with wood and stone, full fireplace, and a sun room that overlooks sweeping views. There are rooms available for overnight accommodations that can be booked in advance during the summer season and there is also a large dining room with a kitchen serving multiple meals a day. The dining room is quite a draw for day visitors but they seem to move the crowds through efficiently. Definitely stop inside the lodge and enjoy a moment of relaxation.

Since we had already eaten, we spent about a half hour up here enjoying the views, the monument and the lodge. Once back to the parking lot, we continued on the Scenic Byway which continued to showcase beautiful fall foliage. We were so happy we made it to the top of Mount Greylock – this is definitely something you should include when visiting the Berkshires!

Continue reading about our weekend in the Berkshires here!

Read all blog posts for the Berkshires here!

See our complete itinerary here!

Planning your trip? Check out the Perfect Fall Itinerary to the Berkshires here!