Hotels near The Mohawk Trail, MA Route 2

The Mohawk Trail was designated in 1914 and is the oldest scenic byway in the United States, following a Native American trade route across northern Massachusetts. The drivable stretch runs 63 miles along Route 2 from Greenfield to Williamstown, climbing over the Hoosac Range into the Berkshires. It is the best of the five for combining colour with actual towns rather than wilderness. The Berkshires usually peak in the second week of October, roughly a week behind the White Mountains.

Build in four stops. The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls is a 1908 trolley bridge planted as a garden, alongside the glacial potholes in the riverbed below. The Hairpin Turn above North Adams is the signature viewpoint, looking down the Hoosac Valley. Natural Bridge State Park at 185 McAuley Road, North Adams, MA 01247 holds the only natural white marble arch in North America. And Mount Greylock, at 3,491 feet the highest point in Massachusetts, has a paved summit road up to the war memorial tower and a view across five states.

The catches are seasonal and structural. The Mount Greylock summit road is seasonal, closes for winter and shuts in bad weather, so confirm it is open on the day rather than assuming. The Hairpin Turn is a genuine switchback and a poor choice in a large motorhome. And Route 2 through the Berkshire towns is slow, speed-enforced and single carriageway for most of its length, so the 63 miles take far longer than the distance suggests.

Pro Tip: Drive west to east, from Williamstown back toward Greenfield, and do Mount Greylock first thing. The summit car park is small and fills by mid-morning on a colour weekend, and coming down off the mountain before 11am puts you ahead of the traffic for the rest of the byway.