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Berkshire Grounds for Play: This one's for Beginners โ€” Old Mill Trail

By Taylor Staubach September 25, 2019

Publisher Note: We are resurrecting a former column with a new voice, Taylor Staubach, of Berkshire Family Hikes. She will be giving us her monthly take on one family-friendly hikes in the Berkshires each month and you can find her first column below.

Where We Went : Old Mill Trail, Hinsdale MA

When We Went: July 2019

Difficulty (Boots 1 - 10) : 1 Boot

Trail Length: 1.5 miles, up and back (about 1 hour). The first 0.7 miles is Accessible Trail, the remainder crosses Route 8 and follows the Housatonic River downstream. We only hiked the Accessible Trail.

How Long it Took Us : 1 ½ hours (30 minutes spent crying)



Overview : This newly opened trail was tailor-made for anyone looking to cut their hiking teeth or has an interest in history. Nature and 19th-century textile mills collide in an easily accessible trail at the edge of the Housatonic River. The Housatonic Valley Association installed an interpretive trail that highlights both the natural and mill history of the area. Currently, in the capable hands of Berkshire Natural Resources Council, this proves you don't need to travel too far to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature.

What We Dug: Be sure to grab an interpretive guide and map at the trailhead (or plan ahead and download the app), so you can follow along with the numbered posts along the trail. We used these posts as "Power Up" stations on the return trip. Tag one and energy boost activated! Included in the tour are the remnants of a 1938 Oldsmobile slowly becoming part of the natural landscape. We had fun learning what a "penstock" is (the technical term for a pipe that delivers water to a mill), and walking in the trench that housed such a huge piece of equipment. We tried to imagine we were part of the Housatonic rushing down the "pipe" while we made our way down the trench. It was really fascinating to follow along and learn about the history of the area's mill industry. We were also able to get close to the water for a bit and used the bridges as an opportunity to play Poohsticks. Incredibly accessible, full of interesting stops and opportunities to play and explore. A terrific hike for all levels.

What We Could Do Without: Woof. We had the mother of all meltdowns here. Not sure what it was but we barely got 10 feet into the woods and both kids were crying. Even when you know it's inevitable, it's still frustrating. We eventually calmed down, regrouped and had a fantastic hike. But I'll tell ya, it was touch and go for a bit back there.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled For: Cottonwood, ash, willow, silver maple, hemlock, Asian honeysuckle, gray-stemmed dogwood, hobblebush, Japanese barberry, common buckthorn, song sparrow, hawk, vole, muskrat, barred owl, red squirrel, chickadees, egret, pileated woodpecker, brown creeper.

Must Know Before You Go: It's Free. There are no onsite facilities. Partridgefields General Store is across the street and is a wonderful place for lunch or ice cream (if your kids behave better than mine).

Directions: From the center of Dalton take Route 8 south to the Hinsdale line. From the town line, continue 4/10 miles to a left on Old Dalton Road. The trailhead parking is the first, immediate left. GPS: 42.4480, -73.1305

Website : bnrc.org.

Resources: Download their app by searching “BNRC trails”



Taylor Staubach is the mom of two rediscovering the beauty of the Berkshires through the eyes of her children. Getting outdoors is a great way to inspire creativity, to relax, decompress, and strengthen our family relationships. Days when we feel sluggish and static, nature is there to revive our spirits. Days when our energy is fit to burst through the walls, nature is the great equalizer. Our experiences aren’t always perfect, but the trick is to just keep on going. Berkshire Family Hikes hopes to inspire others to get outdoors and rewild your weekend! For more hiking adventures visit berkshirefamilyhikes.com.