No Mud (or Little) Hikes

The best spring views don't always require hiking boots. Here are four local favorites, ensuring you get all the fresh mountain air without the messy cleanup.

• The Mount, Lenox -7 minutes from BHS. Edith Wharton’s gardens and forest trails are free and open to the public year-round (dawn to dusk). The main paths are well-maintained crushed gravel, making it a sophisticated, dry way to see the first spring bulbs.
• Tanglewood Grounds, Lenox -7 minutes from BHS
  Before the summer concert season begins, Tanglewood’s 200+ acres are a quiet secret. Stick to the paved service roads and hard-packed walkways to enjoy the famous "Shed" views and the Stockbridge Bowl overlook without the "Mud Season" mess.
• Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Lanesborough -15 minutes from BHS. This 14-mile former railroad track is fully paved and follows the edge of the Cheshire Reservoir. It’s the gold standard for spring because you get wide-open water views and mountain vistas without a single patch of mud.