Top Backpacking Trails in Massachusetts
9 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.
Massachusetts backpacking on this site centers on three areas. In the Berkshires, the Appalachian Trail crosses 90.2 miles of the state, per the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, from Sages Ravine over Mount Everett, through Dalton, and over Mount Greylock, at 3,491 feet the state’s highest point, to the Vermont line. The site covers it in four sections of about 9.5 to 33.5 miles, plus the Mount Greylock Hopper loop and the 35- to 38-mile Taconic Crest Trail along the New York line. In the North Quabbin Region, the roughly 22-mile Tully Trail and the New England Trail meet at the Royalston Falls lean-to. On Cape Cod, Sandy Neck’s permit-only sites lie 2.3 to 3.3 miles out on soft sand.
Most trips here allow camping only at designated sites. AT and Greylock shelters are first come, first served, and DCR asks Greylock backpackers to register with the Visitors Center. Sandy Neck requires a permit, and its sites close from July 1 to Aug. 15 each year. Fire rules differ from site to site, so check before lighting one.
MassWildlife estimates at least 4,500 black bears in the state, commonly in western and central Massachusetts, so store food securely. Hunting is allowed on most state forests, and 2026 deer seasons run from Oct. 5 through Dec. 31, so wear blaze orange in the fall. Expect high stream crossings in Sages Ravine after heavy rain, possible spring flooding near Tully Lake, and Sandy Neck’s Marsh Trail flooding at high tide.
Quick picks
- Coastal camping: Sandy Neck Backcountry Camping via the Marsh Trail
- Waterfall loop: Tully Trail Loop with Royalston Falls Shelter
- Loop over the state's highest peak: Mount Greylock Hopper Loop: Money Brook, Wilbur's Clearing, and the Summit
- Multiday trip with a cabin: Appalachian Trail: Jug End to Upper Goose Pond (Jug End Road to US 20)
Berkshires
- Appalachian Trail: Dalton, Mount Greylock, and the Vermont Line (Gulf Road to the Massachusetts-Vermont Border) Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Mount Greylock State Reservation, and Clarksburg State Forest area, northern Berkshires (Dalton, Cheshire, Adams, North Adams, Williamstown) 28.3 miles Hard Designated shelters and campsites, a town-run campsite in Cheshire; first come, first served
- Appalachian Trail: Jug End to Upper Goose Pond (Jug End Road to US 20) Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Beartown State Forest, and the Upper Goose Pond area, southern Berkshires (Sheffield to Lee) 33.5 miles Hard Designated shelters, campsites, and a caretaker-staffed cabin; first come, first served
- Appalachian Trail: Sages Ravine, Mount Everett, and Jug End (Connecticut Line to Jug End Road) Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Mount Everett State Reservation, southwestern Massachusetts (Mount Washington and Sheffield) 9.5 miles Hard Designated shelters and campsites only; first come, first served
- Appalachian Trail: Upper Goose Pond to Dalton (US 20 to Gulf Road) Appalachian National Scenic Trail and October Mountain State Forest area, central Berkshires (Lee, Becket, Washington, and Dalton) 18.9 miles Moderate Designated shelters and campsites; first come, first served
- Mount Greylock Hopper Loop: Money Brook, Wilbur's Clearing, and the Summit Mount Greylock State Reservation (Williamstown, North Adams, Adams, New Ashford, Lanesborough) 11 miles Hard Free first-come lean-to shelters year-round; reservable hike-in Sperry Road Campground in season
- Taconic Crest Trail (Hancock, Massachusetts, to Petersburgh, New York) Pittsfield State Forest (MA), Hopkins Memorial Forest (MA), and Taconic Ridge State Forest (NY), along the Massachusetts-New York-Vermont border 37 miles Hard Primitive camping in New York's Taconic Ridge State Forest; reservable Berry Pond Campground in Massachusetts
Cape Cod
North Quabbin Region
- New England Trail: Mount Grace to Royalston Falls New England National Scenic Trail (Metacomet-Monadnock Trail), Mount Grace State Forest, Warwick State Forest, and Royalston Falls Reservation (Warwick and Royalston) 9.6 miles Moderate First-come lean-tos at Mount Grace and Royalston Falls; reservable cabin and tent platforms on Stratton Mountain
- Tully Trail Loop with Royalston Falls Shelter Tully Lake, Royalston Falls Reservation, and Royalston and Warwick State Forests, North Quabbin Region (Royalston, Orange, Warwick) 22 miles Hard One first-come lean-to on the trail; reservable walk-in campground at the trailhead
Backpacking in Massachusetts: common questions
Do you need a permit to backpack in Massachusetts?
It depends on the trip. No permit was found for the Appalachian Trail, where shelters and campsites are first come, first served, and the Mount Greylock shelters are free and not reservable, though DCR asks backpackers to register their itinerary with the Visitors Center at (413) 499-4262. Sandy Neck on Cape Cod requires a camping permit bought from the Town of Barnstable, and Tully Lake Campground and Greylock's Sperry Road Campground take reservations in season.
Can you camp anywhere in the Massachusetts woods?
Not on the trips covered here. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says camping on the AT in Massachusetts is restricted to designated sites, and camping on Mount Greylock is limited to its shelters and campground. The Trustees prohibit camping along the Tully Trail except at the Royalston Falls shelter and Tully Lake Campground, and the New England Trail allows camping only at designated overnight sites.
Are there bears on Massachusetts backpacking trails?
Yes. MassWildlife says Massachusetts is home to at least 4,500 black bears, commonly found in western and central Massachusetts, with the population growing and moving east. It advises storing food in bear-resistant containers and never storing or eating food in tents. Many Appalachian Trail sites in the state have bear boxes, according to the AMC Western Massachusetts Chapter.
Is it safe to backpack in Massachusetts during hunting season?
Hunting is generally allowed on MassWildlife lands and most state parks and forests, and MassWildlife urges all outdoor users to wear blaze orange during hunting seasons and put orange on pets. For 2026, MassWildlife lists archery deer season from Oct. 5 to Nov. 28, shotgun season from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, and primitive firearms season from Dec. 14 to 31. Hunting is not permitted on Sundays in Massachusetts, and on Mount Greylock DCR restricts it from May 20 until Columbus Day.
When is the best time to backpack in Massachusetts?
Seasons depend on the trip. Upper Goose Pond Cabin on the Appalachian Trail has a caretaker from mid-May to mid-October, Mount Greylock's auto roads are open May 16 to Oct. 30 in 2026, and the Greylock shelters are open year-round. Sandy Neck's camping areas close every year from July 1 to Aug. 15, and the Trustees say parts of the Tully Trail near Tully Lake can flood during spring runoff or heavy rain.
Can you bring a dog backpacking in Massachusetts?
Rules vary by managing agency. DCR requires pets on Mount Greylock to be leashed and attended at all times, and the Trustees require dogs on the Tully Trail to be leashed at all times. The Town of Barnstable doesn't allow pets in the Sandy Neck camping areas, per the trip page on this site.
Where this comes from
- ATC: Welcome to Massachusetts
- Massachusetts DCR: Camping at Mount Greylock
- Massachusetts DCR: Mount Greylock State Reservation
- The Trustees: Tully Trail
- Town of Barnstable: Sandy Neck camping
- New England Trail: Closures and notices
- MassWildlife: Bear aware camping (2025)
- MassWildlife: All outdoor users wear blaze orange during hunting seasons (2026)
- MassWildlife: Deer hunting regulations
- Massachusetts EEA: Drought management