Pleasant Valley Sanctuary

The Low-down

Pleasant Valley Sanctuary provides a lovely, in-town set of trails right in Lenox, Massachussetts, the heart of the Berkshires. Pleasant Valley is part of the Massachussetts Audobon Society, and its well-maintained and well-marked trails show the power of community support in maintaining local preserves.

There are several trails that allow for a variety of hikes, depending on your fitness, interests and time. There's even an "all persons" trail that is paved with small rocks and has nice wooden bridges over the brooks, perfect for wheelchairs or strollers.

Table of contents

1) The Low-down 2) Getting There & Parking 3) Route Finding 4) Trail Resources 4.1) Helpful Hints 4.2) Activities allowed 5) External Links

Getting There & Parking

From the Massachussetts Turnpike (I-90), take exit 2, which puts you on Route 20. Follow Route 20 for about 6.6 miles, as it merges with Route 7. From what is now Route 7, take a left on West Dugway Road. Follow West Dugway Road about 1.6 miles, and the Sanctuary parking is on the right.

Route Finding

• The most strenuous and challenging hike in Pleasant Valley Sanctuary starts at the entrance and takes you up to the top of Lenox Mountain, approximately 2,126 feet in elevation.
  

  

  Placid Pikes Pond

• From the entrance, go past the restrooms and follow the path to the left called the Pike's Pond Trail. If you're lucky, you'll spy some beavers hard at work in one of the two ponds you pass along the trail.

• Just past Pike's Pond, you'll find the junction of Pike's Pond Trail an the Trail of the Ledges. Follow the Trail of the Ledges up a very steep ravine.

• Plan for the Trail of the Ledges to take about 45 minutes...it's that steep. In some places, you'll scramble up white mountain rock.

• You'll reach a junction with Laurel Trail, but continue on the Trail of the Ledges to reach the top of Lenox Mountain. You'll be rewarded with stunning views of the Berkshires. Mount Greylock is to the north, the Catskills are to the southwest and the Taconic range is directly in front of you to the west.

• From the top of Lenox Mountain, you'll follow the Overbrook Trail down to the entrance. Depending on how long of a hike you want to do, you can either finish up with a direct route to the bottom by following the Bluebird Trail when you reach the junction. Or, you can follow the Beaver Lodge Trail for another short loop before you finish up.

Trail Resources

Helpful Hints

Bring a lightweight jacket or a small fleece as it can get cool on the top of the ridge near the firetower.

There is an admission fee of $4/adult. The trails are only open when the Nature Center is open: Tuesday-Friday from 9AM-5PM; Saturday, Sunday and Monday holidays from 10AM to 4PM; and Mondays (late June to Columbus Day) from 9AM to 4PM.

Activities allowed

Hiking

External Links

Official Pleasant Valley Sanctuary site