Hike Mount Greylock via Thunderbolt Trail

Adams, Massachusetts

3.5/5

based on 2 reviews

Save Add Photo

0 Photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

4.8 miles

Elevation Gain

2275 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

This is a new adventure! Be the first to share your experience.

Each photo and review that you add on The Outbound earns you points towards rewards, free gear, and access to exclusive discounts. Learn More.

Added by The Outbound Collective

Located in the Berkshires, Massachusetts' high point will not disappoint. From the summit, views are possible into five different states: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

This hike starts in Adams, Mass on Thiel Road. You can drive the road as far as you can until you reach a barrier. There is plenty of room to park off the road on both sides. You will walk he road for 0.5 miles until you meet the foot trail, marked as Thunderbolt.

The Thunderbolt Ski trail was originally built in 1934 and rerouted in 1937. It was the site of Massachusetts State Downhill, Eastern Downhill Championship, and various local time trials and trophy races throughout the 1930's and 40's.

Climbing the eastern side of the mountain this is the steepest trail up Mount Greylock (Massachusetts high point 3491 feet). At about the 1 mile mark from your car the trail becomes considerably steep and heads toward the summit ridge. At approximately 1.9 miles you reach the summit ridge known as Hadley Lookout with beautiful views of the town of Adams below. The last 0.5 mile stretch is along the Appalachian trail. The trail will pass a small warning hut shelter.

The summit features A Veterans War Memorial Tower and Bascom Lodge featuring overnight accommodations and meals May - October. There is a road to the summit as well opened seasonally.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Hiking

Bathrooms

Food Nearby

Forest

Picnic Area

Scenic

Wildlife

Reviews

Danielle Sharples

Hike Mount Greylock via Thunderbolt Trail

09/03/18

Unfortunately, the Thunderbolt Trail was one of my least favorite hikes. The beginning of the trail was very hard to locate since the vegetation grew over all the markers—and the trail itself gets to be a very steep incline of dirt with little roots/rocks to grip along the way. Even though the summit views are definitely worth it! Be prepared for a crowd since anyone can drive up to the summit.

3.0

Danny A

Hike Mount Greylock via Thunderbolt Trail

02/11/16

The thunderbolt trail was challenging with near vertical trails towards the summit. A bit more nerve racking for me as I was leading a group of teenagers up it, but was well worth the accomplishment. Greylock offers phenomenal views from the top.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Explore Bellevue Falls

When you reach the falls, you can cliff jump into a large swimming hole at the base. The best time to visit the falls is from April to November. Please note that dogs are not permitted here. Parking is at a cemetery, and the gates are open from 8am to 9pm. Use common sense before cliff jumping - check your route and ensure it is clear of rocks!

Hike the March Cataract Falls Trail

Park at the Junction of Sperry Rd and Rockwell Rd. To get to the trailhead, hike along Sperry Road for about 30 minutes. (Not to the end of the road, see map below.) Then hike along the March Cataract Trail, an out-and-back. You can bring dogs on leash. The trail is short but steep in some parts also the trail is accessible March-October. Enjoy the wildflowers, wildlife, and waterfall on this p...

Hike Mt. Greylock via Money Brook Trail

Park in the parking lot on Hopper Rd. Walk to the end of the road where you will find the Hopper Trailhead. Take the right fork. The Money Brook trail will take you to a waterfall, the Mt. Greylock summit, and back to the end of Hopper Rd. The trail is long but worth the hike, exploring parts of the Appalachian trail and, if one has the time to climb in the fall, the foliage is out of this world.

Hike Tannery Falls

The hike to Tannery Falls may be a little confusing, I'll clear it up for you before you even go there! To get to The falls you will travel down a dirt road that isn't very well maintained during the winter. As you keep driving down the dirt road you will notice a pond , which means you are almost there. Keep driving till you see the big parking area on your right. If you are coming from the op...

Snowshoe at Woodford State Park

Winter comes earlier to Woodford State Park than just about anywhere else in Southern Vermont. At 2,400 feet above sea level, this is an easy spot to find winter without spending a fortune at the local ski resorts. Woodford State Park is only a ten-minute town from the town of Bennington, but it's usually about 10 degrees colder up here in both winter and summer, so don't forget to bundle up be...

Hike Dickinson Hill Fire Tower

Once you drive onto N. Long Pond Road you will follow it appproximately 1.5 miles to the end. From the parking you can take the short walk back on the road to the start of the trail. The trail is actually a rough Fire Tower Road. You will follow this for about 1.3 miles. Here you will see a service road gate on your right. From here you will pass the gate and follow the last .2 miles to the...

Hike Mount Greylock via Thunderbolt Trail

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Explore Bellevue Falls

Hike the March Cataract Falls Trail

Hike Mt. Greylock via Money Brook Trail

Hike Tannery Falls

Snowshoe at Woodford State Park

Hike Dickinson Hill Fire Tower

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps