Really nice trails. Was able to go off-leash no problem.read more

A great place to park your car and get on the Appalachian trail. There's a nice info station, with…read moremaps, local business info, and regulations. The parking area itself is quite large, with access to the Appalachian trail as well as an alternate trail. In one direction, the trail goes into the woods. In the other direction, it follows Gulf Rd to High St. Likely, the only section of the Appalachian trail that has a sidewalk.

This small cider/winery is an excellent stop on your tour through the Berkshires. They have some…read moreinventive ciders and wines that don't follow the "rules" of flavor profiles. Using grapes shipped from CA and mixing with apples crown on site, this small batch operation is a delightful stop. Specifically, I want to shout out our wine guide who took us through several of their wines. She made our experience there memorable with her amazing personality, charm, and humor. The space is small but offers a variety of options to hang out and enjoy their wines and ciders - inside by the fireplace, outside on the screen porch, or outdoors on the patio. We loved our time at Hilltop and hope to return.

Sara is the best! She is friendly and very knowledgeable about all of the wines. We loved the…read moreunique flavors and the story behind them all. Once we had tasted a bunch and decided on a glass she suggested that we take a walk through the Orchard up to the top of the hill, which was so peaceful and scenic. Of course we got a few bottles to go and the delicious donuts. We would love to come back.

Easy walking, circular trail through hemlock groves that stays fairly traversable even after…read moretorrential rains. You might ruin your jellies, though - high drainage does not mean mud-free. We caught some sunbathing newts and untouched fungi through beautifully broken sunlight. If photography is your game, burn a roll here in the late afternoon. Bridges are in excellent shape, and the ultimate endpoint is a nicely built deck looking over a waterfall, which is probably too much of a moniker. An elevated stream pummeling rocks on its 30 foot drop is more apt - the sound is there, no fury. Our toddler walked the 1.5 mile trail with little assistance, and he dug the sites, so if moderate, easy views with only minor pitch shifts, then this well marked trail is a great way to spend an hour amongst the natural things.

Fun destination. We headed down the road to a different winery but ended up hanging out here. The…read moretasting room and cider donuts were a nice surprise meandering the Berkshires byways. The apple orchard was lovely to look at too. We tried a tasting flight of wines and had a friendly conversation with Michael. Many of the grape varietals were unknown to me. As a wine enthusiast it was challenging to appreciate the fruit styles. Also tasted ciders and thought many of the ciders were on the bone dry & tart. All in all, it was fun and educational. The gift shop has lots of jams, fresh pies and many other items, plus the best ever cider donuts! Donuts alone are worth the trip!! A new sitting area out back was a nice touch, loved the wood plank walls. It's a great place to visit.

Amazing Orchard / Cidery | Winery in The Berkshires. David and Sara are the best! Wonderful place…read moreto have some fresh cider donuts and a tasting with friends by the fire

Only 3 stars due to the lack of privacy and accessibility to the bathroom. Hiking up a football…read morelength hill kinda bothered me. The tent sites have no privacy. I paid for 3 nights and vacated after 2

This was the third or forth different DCR park that we've stayed at during the opening and/or…read moreclosing weekend of the season. We stayed for three nights over Columbus Day weekend, the last three nights that the park was open. Though it was technically fully booked, at least a third of the campers didn't show up, leaving us with lots of privacy on our first two nights! The park rangers on duty over the weekend were helpful and incredibly friendly. The camping sites are perfect walking distance to all of the trails and a nice mid-point if you plan on hiking several in one day. We enjoyed the Busby trail as well as doing some exploring around Bog Pond. Our big regret was saving Tannery Falls for our last morning and being surprised by a sudden bout of rain. Oh well, it'll give us something to return for! We stayed at site #29, which shares a long pathway (sloped, so it isn't good for a tent, but would be great for a few AWD cars) with site #28 (a beautiful grassy spot that we'd prefer over #29). It also backs up (about 10' of woods separating them) to site #30, which is a small space looking out onto the one-lane road and up the hill to the bathrooms. All of the outer spaces were moderately private with trees on three sides of them. The spaces that are in the center of the park are, as others indicate, very much out in the open. It's a rolling apple orchard with very few trees in it, so it's excellent for RVs, but maybe not the best for tents. Finally, the bathrooms were well within what I'd expect for a DCR facility, though the showers were the dingiest that I've experienced (bring a pair of flip flops!). That being said, there was never a shortage of paper towels, toilet paper, or hot water. There are also beautiful large sinks outside of each of the two bathrooms that are meant for washing dishes. The dumpsters and recycling containers are located at the entrance to the camp site loop and are an easy five-minute or less walk from any of the sites.

Trail: 4 stars, Price: 2 stars Most of easy/moderate trails…read moreare groomed, which is good. Despite the number of cars parked at the parking lot, trails are not much crowded. However, black trails and some blue trails are not groomed. I was cross-country skiing for 4 hours there and half of the trails I skied are not groomed. If you want to ski a lot, it is inevitable to ski not groomed trails as well. Considering paying $16 for 4 hours and half of them are not groomed, it is a rip-off. I have cross-country skied for $12 in Western Mass. Hope they decrease the price a little, then it will be a good deal.

Notchview is an excellent cross country skiing resort that is right off the main highway, very easy…read moreto get to, and has excellent trails. A great place for beginners and advanced skiers alike. Parking: As the turnoff is right off the main highway, traffic getting in and out of the parking area can be a little bit frustrating to navigate. There is parking alongside the road on both sides. As you approach Notchview from the road, take a look at the parking situation up near the lodge, sometimes there are several empty spaces, but most people don't see them, and end up parking clear at the bottom of the slight hill. Lodge: Notchview's lodge does not accurately match the quality of the skiing area. It's tight quarters, with chairs and tables crammed in every possible spot, leaving little room for comfort. Upstairs however, there are a couple of couches and an armchair, which is rarely ever taken. For a bit of privacy and peace and quiet, I'd recommend sitting upstairs. Notchview also does not have a kitchen. Instead, they rely on premade sandwiches, soups from a local restaurant, and other miscellaneous bakery items, such as bagels, muffins, and the odd vegetable samosa. The chili here is absolutely abhorrent, with far too much cumin. However, I did find that I really enjoyed the vegetable samosas, despite them being cold and not able to be warmed up. Cocoa, cider, etc. are all made from a packet, which you make yourself. There's little to no service in the food department. I'd advise planning ahead, and either packing your lunch, or making a trip to a local restaurant for a bite to eat. Skiing: Notchview excels in the trail department. There's lots of mileage, from beginner to advanced: gently sloping hills, wide open meadows, naturally increasing to steeper climbs and downhills. Some of the trails are a bit narrow. The tracks are well laid, and in most cases on both side of the trail. Notchview is not the easiest place for a beginner to start, as even some of the more basic trails still require technical skills that a first time cross country skier may not have. Before hitting the trails, I would have beginners practice in some of the more wide-open meadow spaces, especially how to kick up a hill and safely traverse a downhill. I'd strongly suggest skipping the rudimentary bunny hop trail. It is for beginners; however, if you are over the age of 10, your skis will be too long to navigate the sharp up and downs. You'll fall after getting stalled between two hills, and twist your knee like I did. It is much easier for those with very short skis to navigate this area. On the open-faced hills and meadows, the wind can get a bit harsh, so it's advisable to avoid these areas on particularly windy days. Once in the forest however, the wind dies down quite significantly. Another pro and con for Notchview is that they host a number of cross country skiing races. Notchview was the first place I ever tried to cross country ski, and it was very intimidating to be surrounded by advanced skiers who were intensely focused on their race (they can be a bit coarse). I would recommend avoiding race days if at all possible, as the lodge becomes very congested and some trails are limited due to their use by those racing. Not to mention the fact that the crowds can cause a lot of frustration and anxiety for those who are just learning. Notchview is a cross country skiing staple. Its simple access, no-nonsense directions make it an easy choice when the weather may be poor. However, you will end up sacrificing a chance at good food at a comfortable lodge, and instead be subjected to lots of people, both on the trails and off.