Birch Hill Loop(Town of Williamstown, Berkshires)

Did an after work hike in the northern Berkshires today, exploring the slopes of Birch Hill, a foothill just east of the Taconic Ridge in Williamstown.  Parked on the shoulder of Petersburg Road(Elevation 760 feet) where there is room for one or two cars and immediately dropped down to an easy rock hop crossing of Birch Hill Brook.

The Buxton Ravine Trail is a beautiful climb up the northeast slopes of Birch Hill through the Hunter Property, a 190 acre conservation area owned by the town of Williamstown.

The Buxton Ravine Trail climbs nearly 600 feet in about 8/10 of a mile before meeting up with the Hunter Family Loop and then Bob's Ski Loop, both part of the Taconic Trail State Park.  Once up high, the ridge walk is quite pleasant, passing through several expansive areas of ferns.

The 1611 foot true summit sits about 50 yards off trail and is fully wooded.

From the summit, the trail continues west, dropping slightly on a wide ski trail.

At the west end of Bob's Ski Loop, the trail emerges in an enormous meadow.  From this open vantage point, the Taconic Ridge towers almost directly above to the west.

Looking SW from the top of the open field towards Berlin Mountain's ridge.

After the brief hike through open fields, I headed back into the woods on the Sarah Tenney Trail, heading east on the slopes just south of Birch Hill's summit.  Eventually met back up with the Hunter Family Trail on the east edge of Birch Hill's ridge, then looping back towards the Buxton Ravine Trail. 

Descended via the Buxton Ravine Trail back to the car, for a total of 4.4 miles RT and 1000 feet of climbing.

Map below.  Blue Lines=Route Taken