Hopper Trail

The Hopper Trail approaches Mount Greylock from the northwest through one of the most ecologically significant landscapes in Massachusetts: the Hopper, a glacially carved cirque harboring the largest old-growth red spruce forest in the state. Beginning near Hopper Road in Williamstown, the trail climbs steadily through a mossy, cathedral-like forest of towering red spruce and balsam fir, some trees exceeding 200 years in age. The Hopper's steep walls create a cool, moist microclimate that has protected these ancient trees from logging and fire. As the trail gains elevation, the canopy shifts from hardwoods—sugar maple, yellow birch, beech—to the boreal spruce-fir community more typical of northern Maine than the Berkshires. The final push to Greylock's summit crosses the Appalachian Trail near Sperry Road campsite before topping out at 3,491 feet. On the ascent, hikers frequently encounter Bicknell's thrush, a rare boreal species that nests almost exclusively in high-elevation spruce forests in the Northeast. The Hopper is also a designated wilderness area under Massachusetts state law, meaning the old-growth character is permanently protected. Return via the same route to fully appreciate the downhill perspective through this ancient forest.