Berlin Mountain – A great day hike in the berkshire mountains
What up my fellow Road Trip Warriors!? If you are looking for a great hike in the Berkshire Mountains then look no further! Berlin Mountain located near Petersburg, New York is a great day hike for any day of the year! The mountain itself is in both New York State and Massachusetts. If this hike interests you then read below to get all the information you will need for this hike!
Summary of the berlin Mountain Hike
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 7ish miles round trip
- Elevation: 2,799′
- Hiking Time: About 3.5 hours round trip. The hike could be done quicker depending on how long you wanted to spend on the summit.
- Elevation Gain: Roughly 1,300′
- Photo Opportunities: Your best bet for photos on this hike is from the summit itself. The views are not astounding, but you are able to take in some of the surrounding Berkshires.
Trailhead
The trailhead for Berlin Mountain is right off of the NY-2 Taconic Trail road. It is located at the Petersburg Pass parking lot. It is a large parking lot that is difficult to miss. The trail register is located at the far right of the parking lot when looking away from the road.
Beginning the trek
After signing into the trail register you can begin your hike up Berlin Mountain. The beginning of this hike is the most strenuous part with a steep elevation gain in the first half mile. Once you get through this initial ascent, the hike eases up and is relatively easy.
gradual ups and downs
You will meander your way through spruce and birch trees and will occasionally get a glimpse of Berlin Mountain in the distance. It looks further away and more demanding than it actually is. There are no deep cols that you drop into which happens more often than not. The trail is also well maintained with minimal to no blow over debris. Continue to follow the Taconic Crest Trail markers. They are blue with white diamonds.
Berlin Mountain Summit
The summit of Berlin Mountain is akin to an open field. There is a lot of space to spread out if you are in a group or the summit is crowded. The center of the summit had some burnt wood from prior fires individuals must have had up there. I do not believe fires are permitted, so I would avoid making one. The summit provides views of Mount Greylock and the surrounding Berkshire forests.
Getting back to the trailhead
You can treat this hike as an out-and-back following the same Taconic Crest Trail down that you originally ascended. Just be sure to follow those blue with white diamond trail markers.
Dog-Friendly
Berlin Mountain is dog-friendly. I took my dog that is a 61 pound hound/retriever mix on this hike and he absolutely loved it. Due to it being in the snow and ice, I had him wear dog boots which worked out well for him. If you plan on bringing your dog on this hike, just make sure to bring the right dog gear needed!
fam-friendly
Berlin Mountain is definitely family-friendly. With it only being about 7 miles round trip with an elevation gain of roughly 1,300′ to the summit, this hike is easy to bang out. You can enjoy a picnic at the open field of a summit with the family, there is enough room to even bring a frisbee.
Clothes/Gear worn
- Vasque Winter Hiking Boots
- EMS Hiking Socks
- Long johns
- Athletic Shorts
- Hiking Pants
- Snow/Wind pants
- Underarmour long-sleeve
- Athletic t-shirt
- Carhartt Hoodie
- Outdoor Research Glove Liners
- Winter Beanie
equipment/food brought on berlin mountain
- 2L of water
- Peanut Butter Granola Bars and Trail Mix
- Extra Pair of EMS Hiking Socks
- Bandana
- Emergency Tent and Blankets (lightweight options are available)
- Knife
- Non-Climbing Carabiners
- Waterproof Matches
- Life-Straw (water filtration straw, costs about $20)
- First Aid Kit
- Kahtoola Microspikes
- Garmin InReach (satellite device that has GPS, can send texts, send SOS, and has many other useful features)
similar hikes in new york
rTW Note
Thanks for checking out this post my Road Trip Warriors! Berlin Mountain is a fun hike in the Berkshires along the Taconic Crest trail and I highly recommend tagging it if you are in the area! If you enjoyed this post and liked the photos then share the link to this post with your friends! Leave a comment as well! Keep on adventuring and remember to carry out what you carry in!
