>> SOCIAL DISTANCING COUPLED WITH SPRINGTIME IN NEW ENGLAND
MAY HAVE YOU EAGER TO EXPLORE THE REGION.
LUCKILY, IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, THERE'S NO
SHORTAGE OF NATURAL BEAUTY TO CONNECT WITH.
CONNECTING POINT'S BRIAN SULLIVAN HITS THE ROAD TO FIND
SOME OF THE GREATEST DAY HIKES IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.
>> THE MOHAWK TRAIL CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL DRIVES IN MASSACHUSETTS WILL ALWAYS BE THE
WAY I GOT BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE.
THERE WERE COUNTLESS TIMES WHAT WE DROVE WHAT I THINK OF THE
SECOND LEG OF TRAIL WHICH CONNECTS TO THE NORTHERN
BERKSHIRES PASSING LANDMARKS LIKE THE MOHAWK TRADING POST
WITHOUT STOPPING BECAUSE WE'RE IN TOO MUCH OF A RUSH OR AT
TIMES WHEN WE PASS THIS LITTLE CUTOUT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN
IT.
WELL, LATELY MORE DRIVERS ARE SEEING IT AND THEY'RE STOPPING
IN FOR A VISIT.
LUCKILY THERE WAS JUST ENOUGH IN LINE TO INDULGE AS WELL.
THE MOHAWK TRAIL IS A BIT OF A HIDDEN GEM AND ACCORDING TO
LOCALS THEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE
ABLE TO VISIT ONE TIME A MONTH TONGUE IN CHEEK IMPLIED.
IT OFFERS UP A COMBINATION OF NATURAL AND UNNATURAL WHICH
MEANS VISITORS ARE CLEARLY BY NATURE BUT UNNATURAL BECAUSE AS
NEAT AS IT MAY FEEL TO WALK DOWN THE WALL OF TREES BUT IT ONLY
HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THE HELP HUMAN HANDS.
THIS IS PART OF A COMMERCIAL NURSERY, FEATURING NORWAY SPRUCE
AND NORWOOD LARCH.
THIS WAS PURCHASED BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 1992.
THE WELL-KEPT TRAIL IS MOSTLY FLAT, EASY TO TRAVEL AND
EVENTUALLY LEADS TO THE SOUTH BRANCH OF THE DEERFIELD RIVER,
AND HIKERS CAN LOOK DOWN AND DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE
DOWNWARD A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE.
THESE STEPS ARE THE STEEPEST DESCENT ON THE ENTIRE TRAIL BUT
IF THAT'S THE PRICE I PAY FOR WANTING TO GET DOWN TO THE
WATERFRONT, IT'S REALLY NOT TOO BAD.
ONCE I GET PAST THIS POINT I'LL HAVE A COUPLE OPTIONS I'LL HAVE
SEVERAL POINTS TO GET TO.
IT'S IN VIEW OF THE DAM IN SHELBURN FALLS WHICH COULD BE
REACHED AT THE TRAIL AT THE BASE OF THE STAIRS.
IT'S A MIX OF VERY SALLO AND VERY DEEP.
FOOTWEAR THAT GRIPS IS RECOMMENDED FOR ANYONE PLANNING
TO SWIM AND FISH HERE.
THE SECONDS PATH IS FARTHER DOWNSTREAM WHICH GIVE US ANOTHER
GLIMPSE OF NATURE AND HUMAN MADE WITH THE GARDENER FALLS
HYDROELECTRIC PLANT DIRECTLY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
THE WATER RUNOFF FROM THE PLANT ADDS DEPTH TO AN ALREADY SWIFT
CURRENT SO SWIMMERS MUST TAKE CAUTION.
BUT IF I WERE PLANNING A GO TO THE BEACH AND SWIM DAY, I WOULD
TAKE THIS PATH.
IT JUST WON'T BE TODAY.
BUT SOMETIME DURING THE SUMMER DEFINITELY.
FROM NOW THE MOHAWK TRAIL BECKENS.
THIS TIME WE'LL BE HEADING TO A TRAIL IF NORTH ADD ADAMS
MAINTAINED BY TRUSTEES OF THE RESERVATION OF WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS.
ONE MINOR DRAWBACK IS THE LACK OF PARKING AT THE TRAILHEAD BUT
WITH SPACES AVAILABLE ONLY A SHORT WALK AWAY FROM THE YMCA
IT'S NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE
CASCADES TRAIL DELIVERS THE GOODS RIGHT AWAY GIVING THE
VISITORS THE TRANQUIL SITES AND SOUNDS FRESHWATER OVER ROCKS.
CONSIDERED BY SOME TO BE CONSIDERED A LUNCH BREAK HIKE
IT'S SEVEN TENTH OF A MILE.
A CAMERA MAY NOT ALWAYS CAPTURE WHAT THE EYE SEES BUT NEARLY
EVERY SIGHT TAKEN IN LOOKS LIKE AN INSPIRATION OF A OIL
PAINTING, AND LOCATED AT THE EDGE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD IT MAY
TRANSPORT HIKERS TO WHAT FEELS LIKE MILES AWAY FROM
CIVILIZATION.
THE TRAIL IS FLAT AND HIKABLE FOR ALL TRAVELERS OF ALL
EXPERIENCE.
A LITTLE BIT OF CREATIVITY MAY BE NEEDED TO TRAVERSE THE WATER.
IF I CAN DO IT WITH CAMERA EQUIPMENT, IT'S NOT TOO
DIFFICULT.
THE ENDGAME FOR THOSE WHO MAKE IT THIS FAR IS WORTH EVERY HOP,
SKIP AND JUMP TAKEN.
EVERY CASCADING WATERFALL IS A GLORIOUS WAY TO BEHOLD AND
THERE'S A WAY TO CLIMB UP WHICH OF THESE A LITTLE ROUGH THIS
JOURNEY.
OVERALL, THE ROUND TRIP TRICK TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF
WHICH FOR A LUNCH BREAK HIKE SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF AN EXTENDED
LUNCH BREAK, IN THAT CASE I THINK I'LL TAKE AN
EXTENDED-EXTENDED LUNCH BREAK. ♪