BNRC partners with the Berkshire Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association
The Boulders in Pittsfield, Dalton, and Lanesborough has been a popular recreation spot for decades. The 685-acre property, donated to BNRC by the Crane Company in 2015, is open to the public for free for all non-motorized recreational use.
There are two main access points for the property: one from the parking lot on dalton Avenue (Routes 8 & 9) across from the intersection with Hubbard Avenue (look for signage and access improvements there soon), and the other on gulf Road across from the Appalachian Trail trailhead.
Until now, the route from the gulf Road trailhead to the existing trail network has consisted only of two unmarked, steep, and eroding trails. That’s changing!
In partnership with the Berkshire Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), BNRC staff and volunteers completed the first section of a new access trail from gulf Road. The new section creates a half-mile loop called the Heart Healthy Trail, through a beautiful, dark hemlock forest.
The second section of the new access trail will make the connection to the existing green Trail and make it much easier for walkers, runners, and mountain bikers to access the property (see map).
Alison Mcgee, NEMBA Berkshire Chapter president, and Erik Forestell, NEMBA representative for The Boulders, were instrumental in seeing the first section of the project to completion. In addition to the support in trail building, NEMBA has been encouraging the community to connect with the property through a new “Introduction to Mountain Biking” ride series, led by Kevin delaney and Jeremy Manzolini.