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Details

Activity Type: Biking | Road
Difficulty: 3 - Easy
Trip Leader(s): Maisanna Maung
Registration Type: Registration
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001AohJ
Audience: Adults

Description: The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a 12-mile-long, 10-foot-wide paved path in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, following a corridor rich in both Native American and industrial history. Long before the railroad existed, the Hoosic River Valley was the ancestral homeland of the Muhheconneok (Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican) people, who traveled and traded along this route. The name Ashuwillticook (ash-oo-will-ti-cook) derives from the Native American word for the south branch of the Hoosic River and literally means “ at the in-between pleasant river ,” or in common tongue, “the pleasant river in between the hills.” In 1845, construction began on the Pittsfield and North Adams Railroad, which soon became part of the region’s growing rail network and helped fuel the Berkshire economy by transporting limestone, textiles, and other goods. The corridor's industrial importance increased after the creation of the Cheshire Reservoir in 1866, when the Hoosic River was dammed to provide power for downstream mills. The railroad remained a vital transportation link for more than a century before freight traffic declined and the line was abandoned in 1990. Community advocates then worked to preserve the historic rail corridor, leading to its conversion into a recreational trail beginning in 2001.
Today, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a universally accessible path and part of the Massachusetts State Parks system. It runs parallel to Route 8 through the towns of Cheshire, Lanesborough, and Adams. The trail passes through the scenic Hoosic River Valley between Mount Greylock and the Hoosac Mountains. Much of the route is flanked by the Cheshire Reservoir, the Hoosic River and wetlands.
Upon our return to Adams, we'll have the option to grab lunch or enjoy some ice cream. Please plan accordingly, this is a relaxed, social ride with time to enjoy the area. If you prefer, you're welcome to head home once the bike ride is complete.
Fun Fact : Susan B. Anthony, one of America's most famous women's rights leaders, was born on February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts, where her childhood home is now the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum. In addition to fighting for women's right to vote, she was a passionate abolitionist who worked to end slavery. Anthony made national headlines in 1872 when she was arrested for voting in a presidential election at a time when women were not allowed to vote. Susan passed away in March 13, 1906. Although she did not live to see it, her lifelong efforts helped lead to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote throughout the United States. Susan B. Anthony Birth Place Museum (30 minute walk or 5 minute car ride) from the Adams Visitor Center.
Requirements: · Bike in good working condition · Properly fitting helmet required · Water and snacks · Bike lock is a must for this event Parking Address: Please arrive 15 minutes early and be ready to roll at 9:00AM. Adams Visitor Center 3 Hoosac St, Adams, MA 01220 https://maps.app.goo.gl/dUEg7PcLuPLG3PgW7

Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!

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