MASSACHUSETTS AT Section Hike ~79 miles Southbound (SOBO)
Oct 12th - 19th, 2025 including 2 days for travel time.
🤞Peak Fall Foliage🤞
County Rd (Vermont) @ SOBO AT mile 591.7 to Great Barrington, MA @ SOBO AT mile 670.5 with help from a shuttle service we will coordinate as a group. We pass through a few towns on shorter mileage days for re-supply opportunities and touring, etc. We hope you join us!
Current proposed itinerary (Updated: 9/22 PM / prior updates: 9/21 & 8/5)
Total AT SOBO Miles: ~79
Total Route Ascent: ~14,669’
Total Route Descent: ~16,309’
Day: 0 | Date: Sun, 10/12 | Travel day | Park at Berkshire South Regional Community Center offers free outside camping, week long parking, $8/day pass gets you access to inside facility for bathroom, showers, etc, during working hours 6am or 7am until 5pm or 8:30pm depending on the day. Stay overnight
Day: 1 | Date: Mon, 10/13 | Williamstown & North Adams, MA | shorter mileage to allow time in town(s) during the day
● Meet about mid-morning for shuttle, or earlier for breakfast perhaps (TBD), for Hank's shuttle service (T: 423.732.0450) exact time is TBD
● Shuttle with Hank's shuttle service (T: 423.732.0450) ~1 hour 22 minutes from Berkshire South Regional Community Center to “County Road” start point below
■ Total AT Mileage: 10.2
■ Start: County Road @ SOBO AT mile 591.7
■ On the way: Williamstown & North Adams, MA 7.2 miles in @ 598.9
■ End: Wilbur Clearing Shelter @ SOBO AT mile 601.9 near Money Brook Falls | Elevation: 2197’
■ Total ascent: 2533'
■ Total descent: 2638'
· Water: stream ~50 yards from shelter
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: older lean-to with “space for 6-7”
· Tent sites: “several”
· Trees for hammocks:
· Bear protection: bear box
Day: 2 | Date: Tue, 10/14 | Cheshire, MA & “in-town” camping area day | shorter mileage to allow time in town
■ Total AT Mileage: 11.8
■ Start: Wilbur Clearing Shelter
■ On the way: Mark Noepel Shelter @ SOBO mile 608.5
■ End: Father Tom Campsite, Cheshire, MA @ SOBO AT mile 613.5 across the street from Diane’s Twist | Elevation: 974’ ***OR*** one of the hotels or B&Bs in Cheshire of your choosing
2021'
■ Total descent: 3261'
· Water: water spicket
· Privy: Port-a-potty
· Shelter: No
· Tent sites: 12
· Trees for hammocks: yes per more than 1 comments
· Bear protection: comments say there is a bear box
· Notes: anyone that stays at Father Tom’s Campsite vs a hotel or B&B must do so of their own choosing as an individual hiker since groups are not allowed; “electricity available”; sponsored by the Cheshire Community Association; comments say you can borrow a free bike to go into town
Day: 3 | Date: Wed, 10/15 | Dalton, MA Day | & shorter mileage to allow time in town in the AM
■ Total AT Mileage: 11.7
■ Start: Father Tom Campsite, Cheshire, MA
■ On the way: Crystal Mtn Campsite @ SOBO AT mile 617.5 | Dalton, MA & the Housatonic River @ SOBO AT mile 622.2
■ End: Kay Wood Shelter @ SOBO AT mile 625.2 | Elevation: 1138’
■ Total ascent: 2743'
■ Total descent: 1932'
· Water: Barton Brook “50 yards steeply downhill” but one commenter wrote it's not as steep as described
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: bunk-&-loft style shelter “for ~10”
· Tent sites: one commenter wrote “excellent tent sites”
· Trees for hammocks: appears yes
· Bear protection: bear box
· Notes: .2 of trail; “close to road with noise overnight”
Day: 4 | Date: Thu, 10/16 | The Cookie Lady Day (& 2nd longest day)
■ Total AT Mileage: 16
■ Start: Kay Wood Shelter
■ On the way: The Cookie Lady @ SOBO mile 631.8. | October Mtn Shelter @ SOBO mile 634
■ End: Updated 9/21: Was previously goingbto be Berkshire Lakeside Lodge @ SOBO mile 641.2 but 9/20 message from them was as pasted below, so looking at alternatives (there are a few+). "I am not able to fulfill your request after all. Perhaps a motel in Lee will suffice? On our website on the AT page, I have a list of trail angel drivers that can pick you up at the kiosk on Rt. 20 (where the trail crosses the road) and take you into Lee. They will also bring you back to the trailhead the next day. There is a Quality Inn (free breakfast/washer and dryer on site and close to lots of restaurants and a grocery store to resupply if needed)...I recommend it; it's worth the $."
■ Total ascent: 2106'
■ Total descent: 2497'
Day: 5 | Date: Fri, 10/17 | The Long Day With Options (see below)
■ Total AT Mileage: 17.5
■ Start: Berkshire Lakeside Lodge
■ On the way: AT Stand offering snacks, electricity, & WIFI @ SOBO mile 650.9 | Shaker Campsite with privy at SOBO mile 652.9 | North Mt Wilcox Shelter @ SOBO mile 657; elevation: 1952’; water: brook in front of shelter; privy: yes; shelter: “large lean-to with space for 8”; tent sites: “several”, “plenty”; no bear protection mentioned: .3 off trail
■ End: South Mount Wilcox Shelters @ SOBO mile 658.7 | Elevation: 1791’
■ Total ascent: 3632'
■ Total descent: 3225'
· Water: spring or just SOBO on AT
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: 2: 1 old, 1 new – space for at least 10
· Tent sites: 5 tent pads
· Trees for hammocks: appears yes
· Bear protection: bear box
· Notes: .1 off trail
Day: 6 | Date: Sat, 10/18 | Last hiking day & shortened in case some want to start traveling home on 10/18
■ Total AT Mileage: 11.8
■ Start: South Mount Wilcox Shelters
■ On the way: Ice Gulch at SOBO mile 663.9 | Tom Leonard Shelter @ SOBO mile 664.1 | Ledges @ SOBO mile 666.6
■ End: Great Barrington, MA / US Route 7 @ SOBO mile 670.5 @ Google Maps “Appalachian trail and US 7 Massachusetts” & either walk👎 (5 miles road walk 👎) or 1st hikers to finish shuttle to cars followed by helpful assist to get everyone back to cars at Berkshire South Regional Community Center
■ Total AT ascent: 1995'
■ Total AT descent: 2917'
Trip notes:
● Hike 6 days: Sun-Sat, 10/12-10/18 | Travel back home Oct. 18th or 19th depending on your preference
● Personal vehicles are currently planned to be left near our intended finish point, Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Great Barrington. Chris & Pam will coordinate shuttle cost, re-supply cost (if a re-supply is preferred) + tip split evenly among all hikers.
● 13⅓ average hiking miles per day. Longest day is 17.5 miles. Average ascent = 2445' per day. Largest total single day ascent is 3632' on our longest day (Day 5)
● Possible re-supply at about half-way -- unlikely, but under consideration -- however, individuals can make the own arrangements if not coordinated as a group, of course
● General intention is to sleep at relatively established areas each evening large enough for a group of perhaps 10 or less except Day 2; unofficial &/or “stealth” sites will likely be an option each day as well for hikers, plus hammock users will not need tent-sites, of course.
● All are at their own risk and are expected to be aware of their own capabilities for a section hike like this one. Make sure you know all of your gear, navigation, food needs, etc, and provide for yourself accordingly.
● We will need to connect with new faces to make sure they have had prior experience a section hike like this requires and is comfortable with the itinerary, etc.
● Please let us know if you have any questions.
