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.
Downhill ski areas in the Berkshires
Berkshire East Ski Resort
- South River Rd. (Rte. 8A),
- Charlemont, MA
- Vertical drop: 1,180 feet;
- Number of trails: 45.
- Night skiing. 413-339-6617.
- berkshireeast.com
Blandford Ski Area
- 41 Nye Brook Rd.,
- Blandford, MA
- Vertical drop: 465 feet;
- trails: 22
- Night skiing
- 413-848-2860
- skiblandford.org
Bousquet Ski Area
- 101 Dan Fox Dr.,
- Pittsfield, MA
- Vertical drop: 750 feet;
- trails: 21
- Night skiing and tubing.
- 413-442-8316.
- bousquets.com.
Catamount Ski Area
- 3200 Rte. 23,
- Hillsdale, NY
- Vertical drop: 1,000 feet;
- trails: 32
- Night skiing
- 518-325-3200, 413-528-1262
- catamountski.com
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
- 37 Corey Rd.,
- Hancock, MA
- Vertical drop: 1,150 feet;
- trails: 43
- Night skiing
- 888-454-6469, 413-738-5500
- jiminypeak.com
Otis Ridge
- Rte. 23,
- Otis, Mass.
- Vertical drop: 400 feet;
- trails: 11.
- Night skiing.
- 413-269-4444.
- otisridge.com
Ski Butternut
- 380 State Rd. (Rte. 23),
- Great Barrington, MA
- Vertical drop: 1,000 feet;
- trails: 22.
- Tubing.
- 413-528-2000.
- skibutternut.com
Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club
- Rt. 7
- Lenox, Mass
- 413-637-1364
- 10km groomed trails
- cranwell.com
Hilltop Orchards – Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe
- Rt. 295 / 508 Canaan Rd.
- Richmond, Mass
- 413-281-2028
- hilltoporchards.com
Notchview Reservation
- Route 9
- Windsor, Mass
- 413-684-0148
- 19 miles of ski trails
- thetrustees.org
Pineridge Cross Country Ski
- 1463 Plank Road
- Petersburgh, NY 12138
- 518-283-3652
- 35km groomed trails
- pineridgexc.com
Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing in the Berkshires
Canterbury Farm Ski Touring
- 1986 Fred Snow Rd.
- Becket, Mass
- 413-623-0100
- 13 miles of ski trails
- canterbury-farms.com/
Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club
- Rt. 7
- Lenox, Mass
- 413-637-1364
- 10km groomed trails
- cranwell.com
Hilltop Orchards – Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe
- Rt. 295 / 508 Canaan Rd.
- Richmond, Mass
- 413-281-2028
- hilltoporchards.com
Notchview Reservation
- Route 9
- Windsor, Mass
- 413-684-0148
- 19 miles of ski trails
- thetrustees.org
Pineridge Cross Country Ski
- 1463 Plank Road
- Petersburgh, NY 12138
- 518-283-3652
- 35km groomed trails
- pineridgexc.com
Berkshires downhill and cross-country ski areas
- Where to ski in the BerkshiresArticle updated Dec. 22, 2018, by Dave Conlin Read Where to ski in the Berkshires, with map including driving directions for all snowboarding, cross-country, and downhill ski areas and resorts in the region. The 2016-17 winter skiing season in the Berkshires promises to be one of the best in recent years, thanks to the pre-Thanksgiving snowfall ...
- Pineridge Cross Country SkiingArticle by Dave Read Facebook Twitter Pineridge Cross Country Skiing 1463 Plank Road Petersburgh, NY 12138 518-283-3652 35km groomed trails pineridgexc.com Map for Pineridge Cross Country Skiing in the Berkshires How to get to the Berkshires Follow this link for Berkshires travel information, including public transportation within Berkshire county and Amtrak and Peter Pan bus schedules.
- Hilltop Orchards – Cross Country Ski and SnowshoeArticle by Dave Read Facebook Twitter Hilltop Orchards – Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Rt. 295 / 508 Canaan Rd. Richmond, Mass 413-281-2028 hilltoporchards.com Map for Hilltop Orchards – Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe in the Berkshires How to get to the Berkshires Follow this link for Berkshires travel information, including public transportation within Berkshire county and Amtrak and Peter Pan ...
- Cranwell Resort Cross country skiingArticle by Dave Read Facebook Twitter Cranwell Resort Cross country skiing Rt. 7 Lenox, Mass 413-637-1364 10km groomed trails cranwell.com Map for Cranwell Resort Cross country skiing in the Berkshires How to get to the Berkshires Follow this link for Berkshires travel information, including public transportation within Berkshire county and Amtrak and Peter Pan bus schedules.
- Notchview ReservationArticle by Dave Read Facebook Twitter 2016–17 Notchview Season Ski Passes With a current Trustees membership, and a 2016-2017 Notchview Season Pass, you can ski free all day, every day – including weekends and holidays!.Get your Notchview Season Pass for only $40 if you buy on or before December 15! (After December 15, the Season Pass is $50) Each ...
- Canterbury Farm Ski TouringArticle by Dave Read Facebook Twitter Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing in the Berkshires Canterbury Farm Ski Touring 1986 Fred Snow Rd. Becket, Mass 413-623-0100 13 miles of ski trails canterbury-farms.com/ How to get to the Berkshires Follow this link for Berkshires travel information, including public transportation within Berkshire county and Amtrak and Peter Pan bus schedules.
- Berkshire East Ski ResortBerkshire East Ski Resort offers downhill skiing, snow tubing, zip lines and canopy tours in Charlemont, MA.
- Ski Butternut in the BerkshiresSki Butternut located in the Berkshires at Great Barrington offers downhill skiing on 22 trails and a vertical drop of 1,000 feet.
- Otis Ridge Ski AreaOtis Ridge Ski Area in the Berkshires, between Lee and Springfield, MA, has a vertical drop of 400 feet and night skiing on eleven trails.
- Jiminy Peak Mountain ResortJiminy Peak Mountain Resort is the largest place to ski in the Berkshires and offers outdoors recreation all year including mountain coaster and miniature golf.
- Bousquet Ski AreaSkiing in the Berkshires began at Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield; night skiing was pioneered there and today it offers 24 trails and five lifts with 750 foot vertical drop from lift-top elevation of 1,818 feet.
- Catamount Ski AreaCatamount Ski Area near Gt. Barrington on the New York border in the Berkshires has 33 downhill skiing trails, zip lines and mountain biking trails.
This map shows locations and driving directions for skiing in the Berkshires; downhill skiing areas and cross county skiing areas are marked with distinctive icons. Each area also is listed below the map. Get more information, including contact information and links to the ski areas on our Berkshires skiing page.
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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.