Berkshires skiing
Article by Dave Read.
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
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
