Sheffield MA

Discover a New World

If you enjoy exploring the natural surroundings, there are a couple of excellent places to go hiking in the area: Mount Everett State Reservation and the Appalachian Trail, and Bartholomew’s Cobble.

Upon entering Mount Everett State Reservation from Route 41 in Sheffield MA, you will gain access to Race Brook Trail, where you can view Race Brook Falls along the way. This trail connects to the Appalachian Trail where you have the option to follow either a northerly route to Mount Everett and Jug End State Reservation or a southerly route which will take you to Sage's Ravine near the Connecticut border.

Bartholomew’s Cobble is another place to spend some time hiking. With over 300 acres to explore, this reservation contains five miles of trails offering mostly moderate hiking although some strenuous hiking may be found.

With its 100-foot high rocks bursting forth from the ground, this geological wonder is a sight to behold.

Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the wild flowers that bloom from mid-April to June. June is also the best time to view the wide variety of ferns that grow on the reservation.

Bird watchers will appreciate Bartholomew’s Cobble during the spring migration with May being the best month for viewing. And, hawk migration takes place from September to November.

Guided canoe tours, led by expert naturalists, offer an opportunity to explore the natural habitat of the reserve while gliding along the Housatonic River.

The Cobble also has a Visitors Center and natural history museum which allows visitors to participate in workshops, lectures, and children's programs.

From Bartholomew’s Cobble, you may follow the trail that leads to
Ashley House. This historic property was once the center of historic
turmoil when the enslaved African-American who lived there, Elizabeth “Mum Bett” Freeman, sued the Ashleys for her freedom and won. This event initiated abolition of slavery in Massachusetts.

For those interested in African-American history, Ashley house is one
of several sites throughout Berkshire County that are included on the Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail. Others include the W.E.B. Du Bois boyhood homesite in Great Barrington, and the Samuel Harrison House in Pittsfield.

If you love to fish, Sheffield MA has plenty of fishing spots to choose from. These include:

Larger bodies of water such as:

• Berkshire Trout Pond


• Combes Pond


• Davis Pond


• Fawn Lake


• Harman Marsh Pond


• Mill Pond


• Spurr Lake


• Threemile Pond

• Bear Rock Stream


• Dry Brook


• Hubbard Brook


• Ironwork Brook


• Konkapot River


• Race Brook


• Schenob Brook


• Soda Creek


• Stony Brook

For those who prefer the arts, Loring Gallery features the fine art and sculpture of a group of talented 20th century artists, plus vintage prints and posters by Toulouse Lautrec.

And, if you like to participate, Berkshire Choral Festival provides the opportunity for choral singers to come together for eight weeks each year on a “singing vacation.” Singers rehearse and study for five weeks then spend three weeks performing choral masterpieces under the direction of world-class conductors in various cities in the US and Europe.

When it is time to eat, there are several restaurants and eateries located in the town and numerous others located throughout the surrounding area.

There are also many wonderful places to stay, in and around the town, while visiting in Sheffield MA.

So, plan to take a trip to this town soon and enjoy all that Berkshire County has to offer.

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