The Mahican – Mohawk Trail
Envisioned as a 100-mile long-distance trail from the Connecticut to the Hudson that follows the corridor of the historic Native American path, is a significant link for Massachusetts. It preserves an important historic trail even traversing the original trail in one location, connects scenic landscapes, and provides users the opportunity to travel from river’s edge to mountain ridge to river’s edge again. Today, approximately 34 miles of the trail are open and designated in Massachusetts as woodland trail, on-road segments, and water trail on the Deerfield River. Although primarily envisioned as a hiking trail, different segments are also appropriate for cycling, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and paddling.
History
Route Description
Where Can I Find It Now?
How Can I Get Involved?
Trail Etiquette
History
From thousands of years ago, Native Americangroups traveled between the Hudson and the Connecticut valleys along a route that followed the Hoosic River, across the Hoosac Mountains, and along the Deerfield River. Although likely used by a variety of native peoples, it became known as the Mohawk Trail, probably because the Mohawks of present-day New York State traversed it to reach the Pocumtucks in what is now Deerfield for a 1664 battle.
The Europeans expanded the trail into roads and railroads, joining the forts, farms, mills, villages, and towns of northwestern Massachusetts, southwestern Vermont, and eastern New York. The trail later served as a provisioning route for Fort Massachusetts, the mid-18th century garrison between North Adams and Williamstown. It was extensively used during the Revolutionary War. Benedict Arnold passed over it on his way to Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Later, literary figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorn and Henry David Thoreau followed the trail.
Over time, the trail’s route was modified, eventually resulting in the current Route 2. The trail’s rebirth began in 1992, when a group of Williams College students explored the history and path of the trail and assessed its reopening and reuse. The Mahican-Mohawk Recreational Trail today follows the original corridor where possible and traverses a portion of the original Native American trail in Mohawk Trails State Forest.
Route Description
From perhaps 10,000 thousand years ago, Native American groups traveled between the Hudson and the Connecticut valleys along this ancient route. In the 1600s and 1700s, Europeans expanded the trail into roads and railroads, joining the forts, farms, mills, villages, and towns of northwestern Massachusetts, southwestern Vermont, and eastern New York. The trail later served as a provisioning route for Fort Massachusetts, the 18th century garrison between North Adams and Williamstown. It was extensively used during the Revolutionary War. Benedict Arnold passed over it on his way to Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Later, literary figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorn and Henry David Thoreau followed the trail. Over time, much of the trail’s route was modified, eventually resulting in the current Route 2 state highway.
The Mahican – Mohawk Trail today begins at Historic Deerfield. Originally settled by English farmers around 1670, Deerfield is now both a modern community and an “open-air museum” that preserves and interprets the architecture, artifacts and lifestyle of an early New England town. The trail follows roads for a short time before coming to the trailhead at Hoosac Road, where it picks up a former roadbed of the New Haven and Northampton Railroad.
The trail then head up the scenic Deerfield River Valley. Within the first two miles there are three optional woodland loops to the right that bring hikers closer to the river. At the confluence of the Deerfield and the South Rivers, the trail crosses the steep-sided South River at the site of what was a 175-foot high 550-foot long steel railroad bridge (the highest in southern New England). After another 2.5 miles, the trail emerges on Bardwell’s Ferry Road and crosses the Deerfield River on the Bardwell’s Ferry bridge.
The trail follows the PanAm railroad west for 300 yards before plunging to the right onto a 3.5-mile woodland path. This section of the trail is rugged in places, crossing several beautiful streams and with many ups and downs. The trail passes river access for small boats at Wilcox Hollow before climbing up to a trailhead at a pull-out on Route 2. From there, it is only a short on-road walk to the Village of Shelburne Falls, the home of the Salmon Falls with its Potholes (a Native American summer encampment) and the Bridge-of-Flowers.
Notice on the above section: Bardwell’s Ferry Bridge to Route 2 in Shelburne, sections of the trail have been posted approximately 2.5 miles from Bardell’s Ferry or 1.5 miles from the Route 2 pull-out. Hikers cannot complete a through hike. Please plan a round trip accordingly.
The trail from Shelburne Falls to Charlemont does not currently exist on-the-ground, but follows the course of the Deerfield River itself. Paddlers can canoe or kayak this stretch from Charlemont downstream to a boat launch on Route 2 near the Buckland town border. The route of the trail here passes near the Taylor Fort site, built by Otheniel and Jonathan Taylor in 1754, and then the home of Underground Railroad agent, Hart Leavitt, who hid former slaves fleeing southern states on their way to Canada. Moses Rice, the first settler of Charlemont, had his home just east of Legate Brook’s intersection with the Deerfield River, and his son built the Rice Fort east of here in 1754.
From Charlemont the route crosses the Deerfield River on Route 2 and passes by the Hail to the Sunrise statue, erected in 1932 by the Councils of the Improved Order of Red Men to commemorate the Mohawk Indians.
In the Mohawk Trail State Forest the Mahican – Mohawk route traverses 1.25 miles of what is thought to be one branch of the original Native American trail. The stretch of trail runs along the crest of the Todd – Clark Mountain ridge. The segment has remained a trail since around 1600, and may be unique as a cultural resource in this respect. The forest is also the location of Indian Spring, a resting place for many tribes before heading up Todd Mountain. Beyond its cultural and historic appeal, the Mohawk Trail State Forest is extraordinary for its forest resources. Several groves of Civil War-aged white pines have matured to become the tallest trees in New England. Currently, seven Mohawk pines surpass 160 feet in height. Eighty-five surpass 150 feet. The tallest single tree in New England, the Chief Jake Swamp White Pine, tops 168 feet. Mohawk Trail State Forest also includes the largest area of old growth forest in Massachusetts, some 560 acres that include trees up to 500 years old. Close to a dozen species of trees exceed 300 years in age to include a 334-year old black birch, the seventh oldest known of its species.
Upon leaving the Mohawk Trail State Forest, the trail traverses rural roads in Florida, Massachusetts. The trail follows South County Road to Central Shaft Road, where it crosses over the Hoosac Tunnel. Built between 1851 and 1875 under the Hoosac Mountains for train service between Boston and Troy, the tunnel is 4.75 miles long, the longest in North America upon completion, costing $15 million and 195 lives.
The final leg of the currently designated trail comes down off the Hoosac Range above North Adams, over a trail that was part of the gravel road preceding the modern highway, and landing at another trailhead on Route 2. The trail then goes on-road to the doors of Mass MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art. At the junction of the north and south branches of the Hoosic River, the museum was formerly the Sprague Electric Company and textile mills.
In North Adams, the trail will hopefully follow a proposed bike path west, passing near the site of Fort Massachusetts, (now the north side of the Price Chopper parking lot). The fort was built in 1741 on the Mohawk Trail to assert the Bay Colony’s rights against the French and their Indian allies.
Future proposed extensions will bring this remarkable trail to Williamstown, Massachusetts, before continuing north and west to Vermont and New York where those states are also working to re-develop this historic trail.
Where Can I Find it Now?
Although envisioned as a 100-mile trail, roughly 34 miles are currently designated in Massachusetts, and some of these are on road, on water, or notwell marked or developed. The best sections currently open include:
- Hoosac Road, Deerfield to Bardwell’s Ferry Road:
On Hoosac Road in Deerfield, just west of Stillwater Road, is a trailhead with sign and parking for two cars. From here, you can hike (provided you can cross the South River) approximately 3.5 miles along the old railroad bed and in the woods, past Station Road in Conway to Bardwell’s Ferry Road.
- Bardwell’s Ferry Road to Route 2 in Shelburne Falls:
There are parking pullouts on either side of the Bardwell’s Ferry bridge. To head back down stream to Deerfield, walk up Bardwell’s Ferry Road about 600 feet until you find a small trail sign on the left where the powerline crosses the road. Heading toward Shelburne Falls, on the north side of the bridge, follow the PanAm rail access road up stream for about 900 feet and look for a trail down to the right before you reach the railroad bridge across the Deerfield. This section offers a more rugged woodland hiking path of approximately 4.5 miles.
Notice on the above section: Bardwell’s Ferry Bridge to Route 2 in Shelburne, sections of the trail have been posted approximately 2.5 miles from Bardell’s Ferry or 1.5 miles from the Route 2 pull-out. Hikers cannot complete a through hike. Please plan a round trip accordingly.
- Paddling the River between Charlemont and Buckland: Visitors can paddle this section of the trail on the Deerfield River itself from the Shunpike Rest Area to the boat ramp in Buckland just up stream of the #4 dam and across Route 2 from the Big Indian Shop. This trip is about 8 miles and takes most people about 2 hours to paddle. The water is mostly class I with some class II. Boating outfitters include Zoar Outdoor and Crabapple Whitewater. Information about water releases and river levels is available from The Waterline.
- Mohawk Trails State Forest: Trail maps are available at the contact station. Hikers can pick up the trail in the state forest by taking the road to the right immediately after the bridge at the main entrance. Then look for a blazed trail to the left. This can be difficult to find. You can also take the Nature Trail to the end of the upper meadow. This section of the trail takes you approximately 3 miles to the summit of Todd Mountain and the original stretch of Native American trail, before proceeding on the South County Road in Florida, Massachusetts.
- From the Western Summit: A trailhead is located at the Wigwam Western Summit Motel and Gift Shop on Route 2. The final, one-mile stretch of woodland path descends the Hoosac Range to a trailhead and pullout on Route 2 across from Rock Manor Mobile Home Park.
Get Involved:
The Mahican Mohawk Trail is managed and maintained by a variety of organizations and volunteers. If you are interested in supporting the trail or getting involved in maintenance, contact one of the partners:
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
Manages the state parks and forests include Savoy Mountain and Mohawk Trails State Forests. The DCR Greenways and Trails Program promotes long distance trail development.
Mohawk Trails State Forest at (413) 339-5504
Savoy Mountain State Forest at (413) 663-8469
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
Deerfield River Watershed Association (DWRA)
Serves as the stewards of the trail between Deerfield and Shelburne Falls.
Franklin Council of Governments
Franklin County Land Trust
Helps protect landowners to protect land in Franklin County and owns some land along the trail.
(413) 625-9151
Friends of the Mohawk Trail State Forest
Support efforts to promote and improve the State Forest.
Hoosic River Watershed Association
Is dedicated to the restoration, conservation and enjoyment of the Hoosic River Watershed, and has played a leading role in the establishment of the trail.
(413) 458-2742
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation
Works to address the loss of open space and public access in the Williamstown area.
(413) 458-2494
The Towns of Deerfield, Conway, Shelburne Falls, Buckland, Charlemont, Florida, North Adams and Williamstown.
Trail Use Etiquette
The Mahican – Mohawk Trail crosses a variety of public, private and community lands. Property owners have granted permission for use of the trail out of generosity. All users of the trail should remember that use of the trail is a privilege, not a right.
Please also follow these specific trail use guidelines:
- Respect the rights of private property owners who have generously granted permission for public access to their property.
- Respect other users.
- At trailheads, park in designated areas only. Do not park on private property.
- Do not litter. Carry in/carry out all food and garbage.
- Do not cut or chop into trees.
- Fires are prohibited.
- Please stay on the trail and use steps where provided.
- Respect all signs, including ‘no trespassing,’ allowed uses and regulatory signs.
- Please be sensitive to all natural and cultural resources.
|
