Riverfront Trail

Trail Description:

The Riverfront Trail is open to the public! GBLC’s newest community trail is available dawn to dusk, year-round. The wide path is designed for accessibility to all and features a crushed stone surface to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. This much-anticipated trail has two sections for year-round exploration, totaling approximately 3,500 feet. Informational signs along the route highlight important wildlife habitats, river and birdlife viewing areas, wetlands, and historic agricultural and urban landmarks. The trail also features a 20-foot long footbridge.

At present, the trail has two sections: from Bridge St. near the green bridge to Olympian Meadows and from Brookside Road to the fairgrounds boundary. To view the photos from our new and improved Riverfront Trail, click here!

In September 2019, the Great Barrington Land Conservancy broke ground on the new Riverfront Trail to connect visitors to a long-inaccessible section of the Housatonic River. The trail was designed and built by Peter S. Jensen and Associates, designer and builder of the Housatonic River Walk and dozens of trail projects in New England. Construction was completed in September 2020.

Envisioned by GBLC and local planners for several decades, this new trail has been made possible through the generous permission of the property owners, The Great Barrington Youth Foundation, The Town of Great Barrington, the John Dewey Academy, Lido Property, LLC, and Bostwick Gardens. Funding was provided by the Community Preservation Act program, the Recreational Trails Program of Massachusetts, the Fields Pond Foundation of Waltham, and numerous private donors.

 

Directions:

Visitors to GBLC’s Housatonic River Walk will be able to continue their journey southward on a five-foot wide pathway from Bridge Street through Olympian Meadows. Public parking is available at Olympian Meadows (578 S Main St, Great Barrington).

The trail later continues as a six-foot wide pathway from Brookside Road to the Fairgrounds boundary. Limited parking at the trailhead- 2 cars only (899 S Main St, Great Barrington). Canoe launch area just beyond the trailhead is available.

 

Riverfront Trail map
Click here to see the full map.