Overview
Mount Washington is a tiny town in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. It is at the southwest corner of the state, the only Massachusetts town to border both New York and Connecticut. It is somewhat isolated — all the roads are back roads — and has a cluster of state parks with beautiful scenery. While it's well worth visiting Mt. Washington, Massachusetts, you won't be able to climb to the top of Mt. Washington with your car there: That Mt. Washington is in New Hampshire.
3 things to do · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Mount Washington
Bash Bish Falls State Park
Falls Road. Perhaps the state's most dramatic waterfall. The falls cascade through a series of gorges, and then drop 60 feet into a sparkling pool below. Wilderness camping available year round. There are two paths from …
Mount Everett State Reservation
East St. Year-round, sunrise to sunset, but no services are available (carry in, carry out). Seasonal road access and parking is available to the Guilder Pond day-use area (informal picnic area). From there a 3/4 mile pa…
Mount Washington State Forest
Year-round sunrise to sunset. Offers 30 miles of trails over 4,169 acres of rugged terrain. Hike the South Taconic Trail to the top of Alander Mountain for excellent vistas. Or follow the Appalachian Trail along the ridg…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 15°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Aug. (climate data from nearby Waterbury)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BDL Bradley International Airport, Hartford — 40 mi away (major hub). Directions
- ALB Albany International Airport, Albany — 49 mi away (major hub). Directions
You will need a car to get in, unless you are a really good cyclist. You can enter the town on foot if on the Appalachian Trail.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bash Bish Falls State Park, Mount Everett State Reservation
- Afternoon Mount Washington State Forest
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Get in
You will need a car to get in, unless you are a really good cyclist. You can enter the town on foot if on the Appalachian Trail.
By car
From Interstate 90 (Mass. Turnpike), take Exit 2 in Lee. Route 102 west for 4.7 miles to Stockbridge. Turn left and take Route 7 south for 7.7 miles through Great Barrington. Turn right and follow Route 23 west for 4.9 miles to South Egremont. Turn left onto Route 41 south, then take immediate right onto Mount Washington Road. Continue for 8.8 miles (becomes East St.).
Do
Do Bash Bish Falls State Park
Falls Road. Perhaps the state's most dramatic waterfall. The falls cascade through a series of gorges, and then drop 60 feet into a sparkling pool below. Wilderness camping available year round. There are two paths from the parking lot on the Massachusetts side of the park: One to a scenic lookout and the other to the falls. The view from the scenic lookout is a bit disappointing. From there, it is possible to do a difficult hike all the way down to the falls. The path from the falls back up to the parking lot is moderately difficult (make sure you take the path to the right parking lot, as there is one on the Massachusetts side and another on the New York side). Numerous signs warn that swimming in the park is prohibited, yet you will see some people swimming at their own risk, anyway. It is possible to see multiple hawks gracefully gliding in the sky over the falls, if you look at the right time.
Do Mount Everett State Reservation
East St. Year-round, sunrise to sunset, but no services are available (carry in, carry out). Seasonal road access and parking is available to the Guilder Pond day-use area (informal picnic area). From there a 3/4 mile path leads to the summit of Mount Everett (2,624-foot elev.), and a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut. Even if you lack time to hike to the summit, it is worth driving up the dirt road to see a great view of the peaceful pond.
Do Mount Washington State Forest
Year-round sunrise to sunset. Offers 30 miles of trails over 4,169 acres of rugged terrain. Hike the South Taconic Trail to the top of Alander Mountain for excellent vistas. Or follow the Appalachian Trail along the ridgeline and through Sage's Ravine.
Sleep
Camping
Stay Mount Washington State Forest
Year-round wilderness camping. Motorized off-road vehicles, snowmobiles and alcohol prohibited. First-come, first-served, no fee required. Limit up to 5 people at each site. Leave-no-trace camping ethics are strongly encouraged. Fires are allowed only at the designated pit.
Go next
Great Barrington is not too far away, and a pleasant place to take a walk and have a meal. Take State Route 23 East. To get to the center of town, turn left onto Federal Route 7 North when you get to the junction.
Nearby
Sheffield
City / town · 2 listings · 5 mi away
Salisbury
City / town · 5 listings · 7 mi away
Great Barrington
City / town · 29 listings · 9 mi away
Canaan
City / town · 11 mi away
Monterey
City / town · 1 listings · 14 mi away
Sharon
City / town · 2 listings · 14 mi away
Norfolk
City / town · 2 listings · 15 mi away
Stockbridge
City / town · 5 listings · 16 mi away
My experience
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