This Massachusetts Scenic Byway Is The Road Trip Of A Lifetime

Several centuries ago, the Mohawks and other Native American tribes travelled a well-worn route through northwestern Massachusetts on their way from the Hudson River in the east to the Connecticut River in the west. Used for fishing, hunting, raiding, and travelling, the trail was a lifeline for America’s earliest inhabitants and, later, became important for early European settlers too as a way of linking their new communities.

Today, the route is immortalised as the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway, a 69-mile drive through ancient forests, historic villages, and iconic heritage sites. This is a one-of-a-kind road trip through quintessential New England countryside that gives visitors a unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of America’s first inhabitants. Below we share a two-day itinerary so you won’t miss a thing on this unforgettable journey into the past.

Know Before You Go

The byway is open year-round, although some of the attractions listed below may have seasonal operating hours. The route is particularly popular in the fall when visitors come to see the stunning foliage, which is typically at its peak around early to mid-October.

The byway mostly follows Route 2 with some slight diversions onto Route 2A through the towns of Orange and Greenfield. It is well signposted throughout; just look for an illustrated sign of an Indigenous man standing in front of a mountain. Our itinerary takes travellers from west to east, with suggestions on where to visit, eat, and stay along the way.

Day One: Orange to Shelburne Falls

The journey begins in the charming town of Orange, which takes its name from William, Prince of Orange, and was the site of the first automobile factory in the United States. Drive west out of town onto Route 2 to join the byway and continue on to the town of Erving.

Here you’ll find Erving State Forest, which has 8 miles of hiking trails through oak, maple, and hemlock forest, as well as picnic facilities, scenic viewpoints, and swimming areas. This section of the byway also takes you over one of the trail’s most famous landmarks, the French King Bridge. Built in the 1930s, this dramatic arched bridge crosses the Connecticut River gorge near French King Rock, which got its name during the French and Indian Wars.

The next stop is the pretty town of Greenfield, a good place to grab a bite and spend a few hours exploring the historic village. Hope and Olive is a charming brunch, lunch, and dinner restaurant downtown that’s locally owned and serves a tasty farm-to-table menu. Once you’ve fueled up, do some souvenir hunting at Antique Revivals and Collectibles. Located in Greenfield’s Crossroads Cultural district, the store is a popular stop on the Antiques and Vintage Valley Trail and sells a variety of quirky memorabilia along with vintage jewellery, furnishings, clothing, and more.

Don’t leave Greenfield without a trip to one of its most famous and historic landmarks, Poet’s Seat Tower. Perched atop Rocky Mountain, the sandstone tower overlooks the town and provides sweeping views over the lush Pioneer Valley. The tower was built in 1912 to replace a wooden structure that was a favorite thinking spot for local poet Frederick Goddard Tuckerman.

It’s a short hop from Greenfield to your final stop for the day, Shelburne Falls. Named ‘The Most Charming Small Town in Massachusetts’ by Reader’s Digest, this scenic village was originally a native fishing site before it was settled in 1756. Visit the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum to take a ride into the past on Trolley 10, which was built in 1896 and now offers visitors the chance to take a trolley tour through the same freight yard where it unloaded passengers and goods a century ago.

Near the museum is another popular Shelburne Falls attraction, the Bridge of Flowers. The bridge is a former trolley bridge that was abandoned in 1928 and transformed by local residents into a blooming garden. More than 100,000 people visit the bridge every year to see the colorful walkway, which is open from April to October.

Spend the night in cozy luxury at the Blooming Falls Inn, a Victorian bed and breakfast that’s just a short walk from Main Street. Tucked away on a quiet, leafy street, the house has private guest suites, a cozy common room, a dining area, and a wide front porch where you can soak up the sun and enjoy tranquil garden views. Have a more rural stay at the Shelburne House, a three-room bed and breakfast in the Berkshire foothills. Built in 1835, the house is set amid apple and peach orchards, and its stylishly furnished guest rooms are named for the original owners of the two-acre property.

Day Two: Shelburne Falls to Williamstown

From Shelburne Falls, the byway heads west to the small town of Charlemont, which was settled in 1744 and is the gateway community for the Mohawk Trail State Forest. This 6,000-acre preserve includes ancient mountain ridges, deep gorges, and old-growth forests. The park has a swimming area, a day-use picnic area, and several scenic hiking trails. Join the 100-mile Mohican-Mohawk Trail, which has several trailheads located in the park, to climb the Todd-Clark Mountain Ridge and see some of the oldest trees in New England.

Keep going on the byway to North Adams, named for the Revolutionary War hero Samuel Adams. On the way into town, you’ll traverse the Mohawk Trail’s famous hairpin turn. Located 1,700 feet above sea level, this is a well-known viewpoint with incredible vistas of the Hoosac Valley, Mount Greylock, and Mount Prospect. There’s a restaurant at the turn, the Golden Eagle, that’s been serving customers since 1914.

Stop in North Adams to visit the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, MASS MoCA. Housed in a former textile mill, the museum contains vast galleries, rotating exhibitions, performance stages, and artists’ spaces. North Adams is also home to the Western Gateway Heritage State Park, a former railroad yard that was instrumental in the building of the Hoosac Tunnel in the mid-1800s. A monumental effort, 200 workers lost their lives in the construction of the 4.75-mile tunnel. The park has a Visitor Museum telling the story of the site.

Williamstown is the last town on the byway, but a destination in its own right. A lively college town, this artsy community is the home of Williams College Museum of Art, the Clark Art Institute, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

A Memorable Massachusetts Road Trip

The Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway is one of the oldest in the country, becoming a designated tourist route in 1914. This landmark roadway has seen a lot of traffic throughout the centuries, from Mohawk fishermen and hunters to Industrial Age tourists providing a much-needed economic boost to the towns along the historic corridor. What makes this Massachusetts byway truly unique is its blending of history and natural beauty. Travelling through pristine valleys, gorges, mountain ridges, and old-growth woodlands, it’s easy to imagine this landscape in years gone by. Take a trip into the heart of northwestern Massachusetts for a road trip that travels through time.