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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.

Where to ski in the Berkshires

Article 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 of Sunday Nov. 20, 2016 which depostited more than one foot of snow in the higher elevations of Berkshire county.

Berkshires snowboarding and downhill skiing

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

Ski Butternut contact information

Otis Ridge contact information

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

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

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.

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

Berkshires cross-country skiing

Canterbury Farm Ski Touring

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

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

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.

Pineridge Cross Country Skiing

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

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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 Snowshoe

Hilltop Orchards – Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe

Map for Hilltop Orchards – Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe in the Berkshires

[mappress mapid=”186″ width=”100%” height=”250″ adaptive=”true”]

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 Reservation

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 adult in a family will need to purchase their own pass. Children under age 18 in a ski pass holding family will receive pass benefits when accompanied by an adult pass holder. $40 for a season’s worth of unlimited skiing and snowshoeing: thetrustees.org

Notchview Reservation

  • Route 9
  • Windsor, Mass
  • 413-684-0148
  • 19 miles of ski trails
  • thetrustees.org

Map for Notchview Reservation in the Berkshires

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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 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

[mappress mapid=”138″ width=”100%” height=”250″ adaptive=”true”]

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

[mappress mapid=”152″ width=”100%” height=”250″ adaptive=”true”]

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

[mappress mapid=”141″ width=”100%” height=”250″ adaptive=”true”]

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

[mappress mapid=”140″ width=”100%” height=”250″ adaptive=”true”]

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.