Jacob's Ladder Scenic Byway - Western Massachusetts' Historic Route 20 [The Seasons on JLSB]

The Seasons on Jacob's Ladder Scenic Byway

The Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway offers adventures in any season. The Berkshire hills are magnificent under a freshly fallen mantle of snow or ablaze with the colors of autumn. The hills and valleys are colored by spring blossoms and cooled by summer breezes.

Explore glacial potholes in Woronoco, paddle wildwater on the Westfield River in the spring, or enjoy the thrills of our annual canoe races. Fish our many lakes for trout, bass and other game fish.

Discover treasures at our numerous antique shops and artist’s studios. Enjoy world class performances at The Miniature Theatre of Chester and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket. Experience a real country fair. Try some locally made maple syrup.

Find miles of state forest with their diverse array of recreation. Hike the Appalachian Trail from its crossing near Greenwater Pond, take a leisurely walk to Sanderson Brook Falls in Chester-Blandford State Forest or go birding in one of our area wildlife refuges.

Here's a sampling of seasonal events and other things to do on Jacob's Ladder Scenic Byway:

SPRING

Chester Hill Maple Festival. In early spring, the Chester Hill Association holds the Maple Festival, during which farmers along Skyline Trail open their doors to the public, serving up pancake breakfasts, demonstrating the making of maple syrup products, and offering horse-pulled hay rides. The crest of Skyline Trail offers splendid views across the valley formed by the Westfield River. For information: 413-354-9696.
Westfield River Wildwater Races. The Westfield River Canoe Club has sponsored this event, held in mid-April, for over 50 years. The race draws more than 200 novice and more than 100 experts annually for an event that originally started as a bar-room bet among eight friends. It is now considered the longest running whitewater race in the country. The races include an eight-mile course for novices and a 12-mile one for experts. It has increased in popularity because of the ability of the Army Corps of Engineers to regulate the flow of the Westfield River through the flood control dams at Littleville and Knightville. Clinics offered by the Westfield Canoe Club are offered the three Sundays preceding race weekend. The Westfield River has been designated a National Wild and Scenic River, and its watershed has been selected by The Nature Conservancy for nomination as a National Forest Legacy Area. For information about the race, visit www.westfieldriverraces.com or call 413-354-6570.
Chester on Track Festival. This historic railroad town holds an annual celebration of its heritage, with a parade, live music, educational demonstrations and exhibits, antique car show, and more. The Chester Railroad Depot and Museum is open for viewing rare artifacts, and railroad cars are prominently displayed in and around the depot. Held annually in May, the festival has become one of the largest in the area. For more information: 413-354-6570.

SUMMER

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. America’s premiere international dance festival is located on the site of Becket’s historic Carter Farm, which dates from 1790. The “Pillow” is an international venue for dance performance and education, founded in the early 1940s by modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn. Today this 150-acre facility is open to the public from June through August. In the course of the ten-week festival, 150 performances are presented on three stages by companies from around the world representing contemporary, modern, ballet, dance-theatre, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and culturally-specific dance. More than 200 free events – open rehearsals, outdoor performances, open studios, daily talks by Scholars-in-Residence, exhibits, film and video showings, and panel discussions – are available to the public. For information on current programs and events, call 413-243-9919 or visit www.jacobspillow.org.
Berkshire Scenic Railway and Museum. On summer weekends and holidays, the museum offers narrated train trips through the Housatonic River Valley towns of Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge. You will ride back in history in 1920s era passenger coaches, on a 20 mile, 1 ¾ hour round trip connecting Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge. For information: 413-637-2210 or www.berkshirescenicrailroad.com.
State Forests and Parks. The 2,308-acre Chester-Blandford State Forest was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression. It contains Sanderson Brook Falls, Goldmine Brook Falls, a campground, and numerous hiking trails, including the H. Newman Marsh Trail and Boulder Park Accessible Trail. October Mountain State Forest, the largest state forest in Massachusetts at 16,127 acres, offers 46 campsites, of which several are wheelchair accessible. Trails are available for every level of experience and include the famous Appalachian Trail, accessible from within the state forest or from a parking area on the Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway at the Lee/Becket border. Gardner State Park, named for the former national president of the Grange Association, Charles M. Gardner, is popular for picnicking and for swimming and fishing in the nationally designated Wild and Scenic Westfield River. It is located on Route 112 in Huntington.
Littleville Dam. The Littleville flood control dam and recreational facility was built in 1963 in response to the devastating 1955 Westfield River flood. The two-and-a-half mile long impoundment created by the dam is trout-stocked and is popular for fishing and canoeing. It is located off of Route 112 in Huntington, not far from the Gateway Regional School campus.
Knightville Dam & Wildlife Management Area. The Knightville flood control dam was completed in 1941. The basin behind the dam is dry except for the East Branch of the Westfield River during most of the year. It is maintained as nesting habitat by the Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers, who manage the facility. The dry basin offers wonderful opportunities for hiking, biking, birding, fishing, and many other activities. The basin can be accessed from Rt. 112, about five miles north of Jacob's Ladder Scenic Byway, by the southern-most of two gated roads. There is also a multi-use trail along the east side of the basin, accessible via Knightville Rd., about 4 ½ miles north of JLSB.
Summer Camps and Campgrounds. In addition to the campgrounds mentioned above, the town of Becket is home to six resident summer camps and one private RV campground.
Historic Lee - the Gateway to the Berkshires. Historic downtown Lee is a wonderful place to stay while you visit summer events at Tanglewood, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Norman Rockwell Museum, and the many other attractions of the Berkshires. Downtown Lee is located just north of Exit 2 on the Mass Pike.
Local Country Fairs. Local fairs held during the summer months include the Becket Village Country Fair, the Littleville Fair in Chester, and the Middlefield Fair. These old-fashioned country fairs have arts and crafts, livestock shows, contests, food and activities for children.

FALL

Lee Founder’s Day Weekend. Each fall, in late September/early October, Lee holds its own birthday celebration, known as Founder’s Weekend, with three days of events such as the “Taste of Lee,” Hometown Parade, Festival Latino and the popular Classic Car Show. For more information, call the Lee Chamber of Commerce at 413-243-0852 or visit www.leechamber.org.
Great River Ride Bicycle Tour. This annual 100-mile tour through the Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway area is held on the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. For information: 413-562-5237. or visit www.newhorizonsbikes.com.
Appalachian Trail. Known as the “A.T.” to hikers, the Appalachian Trail is America’s longest walking trail - approximately 2,175 miles from Maine to Georgia. Ninety miles of the AT pass through western Massachusetts, along the ridges and valleys of the Berkshire Mountains. Backcountry campsites and shelters are available for hikers. Parking for the Appalachian Trail is located at the Lee/Becket Border. There you will also find an interpretive panel with a map of the area and tips on nearby trail conditions and highlights.
Local Country Fairs. In the fall, you can attend the Blandford Fair and the Chester Hill Harvest Festival, old-fashioned country fairs with livestock, contests, and activities for children.

WINTER

Blandford Ski Area. This ski area has been owned and operated by the Springfield Ski Club since 1936 and is the oldest continuously operating club-owned ski area in North America. Located just ½ hour from Springfield, the ski area offers exciting downhill skiing, ski sales, and ski instruction. The Blandford Ski Area is located on 2nd Division Road in Blandford, just three miles off of the Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway. For ski conditions, call 413-568-4341, and for more information, visit www.skiblandford.org.
Canterbury Farms Cross-Country Skiing. Canterbury Farms’ trail system was specifically designed for classic Nordic-style cross country skiing, and it has recently been adapted for ski skating as well. Twelve miles of trails are groomed and tracked daily. With a northern exposure, nestled high in the Berkshire Foothills, the facility gets the best snow in the area. Surrounding the Farm are 2,000 acres of state and private forestlands, allowing for wilderness skiing as well. The Farm’s staff is available to fit guests with the proper ski equipment or provide lessons if needed. The Berkshire Room of the farmhouse has a cozy fireplace and hot food and drinks. For ski rates, lessons, and packages call (413) 623-0100 or log onto www.canterbury-farms.com.
Hiking and XC skiing. Our numerous state forests and open spaces provide ample opportunity for winter recreation. There are many trails that are well-suited to cross country skiing and snowshoeing when conditions are right. There is also ice skating, fishing and climbing when the lakes and streams are well frozen.