Hike Mount Greylock via Bellows Pipe Trail and Gould Trail Loop Mount Greylock State Reservation, MA

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Mount Greylock via Bellows Pipe Trail and Gould Trail Loop GPX Track

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I decided to hike Mount Greylock, the high point of Massachusetts, from the east using two separate trails to form a nice loop. The peak can be accessed from other directions as well as just by driving to the top. I parked at the Bellows South Trailhead and headed up the well-marked Bellows Pipe Trail trail to the summit. It's really just an old roadbed through the forest and therefore wasn't a particularly interesting endeavor, but a steep forest walk is always a good time for the quads.

From the summit of Mount Greylock, I headed down its southwest slope on the Appalachian Trail, where I picked up the Gould Trail at a small parking lot. This trail leads down through some pretty forest that was quite a bit nicer than my ascent route on the Bellows Pipe Trail. The trail descended the south side of Mount Greylock and eventually I came to a junction that pointed to the Gould Trailhead, the trail crossing over Peeks Brook to reach it. It seems the standard way to do this loop would be to reach the trailhead and then continue along the south bank of Peeks Brook on a connector trail. Rather than take this and follow the Gould Connector Trail, I stayed on the north side of Peeks Brook along an old roadbed. This continued descending for a while and led into an overgrown field with a great view of Mount Greylock above. Past the field was an old covered bridge, which I marked on my attached map. If you're scared of ticks, you can just cross over Peeks Brook rather than go through the field. Either way, I was back on the Gould Trail and continued north to the Bellows Trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Mount Greylock

3487 ft

2463 rise

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Along the Bellows Pipe Trail.

Well-marked junctions. Keep ascending.

It's a pretty boring roadbed walk, but still pretty.

Another well-marked junction.

Passing a shelter.

The trail narrows from being a road into a proper singletrack.

Steep sections at the switchbacks.

The trail clearly continues to follow an old roadbed, making long a sweeping switchbacks rather than typical trail laid for hiking.

Last push to the summit.

View back.

Some nice stairs lead off the trail and up toward the summit.

A road crossing, Mount Greylock just ahead.

Mount Greylock summit memorial visible.

View from Mount Greylock.

Mount Greylock.

Along the Appalachian Trail briefly.

Small parking area for the Gould Trailhead. I headed down the Gould Trail.

Pretty scenery, a lot nicer than the ascent.

Just past the junction that would lead to the Gould Trailhead. I stayed on the north side of Peeks Brook instead, following this old roadbed.

View back along the old roadbed I followed, Peeks Brook on the left. Here you can cross the brook and be back on the official Gould Trail. Alternatively, head through the field (out of frame on the right).

Short walk through an overgrown field. The route leads down to an old covered bridge.

Gould's Covered Bridge. This leads back to the Goud Trail.

Along the Goud Trail, which led me back to the Bellows South Trailhead.

Pretty scenery just before getting back to the car.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!