Hop Brook Valley
Encyclopedia
The Hop Brook Valley is a valley
in southeastern Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The valley
lies predominantly in the town of Tyringham, Massachusetts
, although a good portion of it is located in the neighboring town of Lee
. Because of its rural location, scenic views, and variety of hiking trails, it is considered as a destination for travellers of the region.
. With the mountains (part of the Berkshire Hills) surrounding it rising to elevations between 1000 and 2000 ft (304.8 and 609.6 m) in elevation
. In the center of the The Hop Brook Valley lies Hop Brook, a small stream that feeds into the Housatonic River
where the Hop Brook Valley meets the Housatonic River Valley
. Jerusalem Road traverses along the escarpment
on the south side of the valley. Some notable peaks rising above this side of the valley include side include Sky Hill, Beartown Mountain, and Mount wilcox
. All of these mountains are part of the Beartown State Forest
, which lies just to the south of the valley. To the north of the valley, lies the peak of Mount Baldy, as well as several other mountains in the area that form a plateau
extending northward beyond the valley to Route 90. On this plateau lies Goose Pond
, the most elevated body of freshwater
in the state. Below this plateau, Main Road, which turns into Tyringham Road when it enters the town of Tyringham, Massachusetts
runs parallel to Jerusalem Road, but on the north side of the valley. The small and quaint downtown area of Tyringham, Massachusetts is situated where this road merges with Jerusalem road at the southeast end of the valley (Jerusalem turns northwards here). Just south of this intersection, in the center of the valley, lies the Tyringham Cobble
one of the most notably shaped and prominent physical features of the area. The valley is a popular hiking destination because it is crossed (north to south) by the Appalachian Trail
.
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
in southeastern Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
lies predominantly in the town of Tyringham, Massachusetts
Tyringham, Massachusetts
Tyringham is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 327 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, although a good portion of it is located in the neighboring town of Lee
Lee, Massachusetts
Lee is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, metropolitan statistical area. The population was 5,943 which was determined in the 2010 census. Lee, which includes the villages of South and East Lee, is part of the Berkshires resort...
. Because of its rural location, scenic views, and variety of hiking trails, it is considered as a destination for travellers of the region.
Geography
The valley floor at an elevation of about 800 feet (243.8 m) above sea levelSea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. With the mountains (part of the Berkshire Hills) surrounding it rising to elevations between 1000 and 2000 ft (304.8 and 609.6 m) in elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
. In the center of the The Hop Brook Valley lies Hop Brook, a small stream that feeds into the Housatonic River
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
where the Hop Brook Valley meets the Housatonic River Valley
Housatonic Valley
The Housatonic Valley is a geographic region of Connecticut and Massachusetts in the United States, associated with the valley and watershed of the Housatonic River....
. Jerusalem Road traverses along the escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
on the south side of the valley. Some notable peaks rising above this side of the valley include side include Sky Hill, Beartown Mountain, and Mount wilcox
Mount Wilcox
Mount Wilcox can refer to:*Mount Wilcox in Alberta, Canada*Mount Wilcox in Colorado, United States*Mount Wilcox in Antarctica...
. All of these mountains are part of the Beartown State Forest
Beartown State Forest
Beartown State Forest is a Massachusetts state forest located in Monterey. The forest is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation .-Description:...
, which lies just to the south of the valley. To the north of the valley, lies the peak of Mount Baldy, as well as several other mountains in the area that form a plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
extending northward beyond the valley to Route 90. On this plateau lies Goose Pond
Goose Pond
Goose Pond is a water body located in Grafton County in western New Hampshire, United States, in the towns of Canaan and Hanover. The lake is part of the Mascoma River watershed, flowing to the Connecticut River....
, the most elevated body of freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
in the state. Below this plateau, Main Road, which turns into Tyringham Road when it enters the town of Tyringham, Massachusetts
Tyringham, Massachusetts
Tyringham is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 327 at the 2010 census.- History :...
runs parallel to Jerusalem Road, but on the north side of the valley. The small and quaint downtown area of Tyringham, Massachusetts is situated where this road merges with Jerusalem road at the southeast end of the valley (Jerusalem turns northwards here). Just south of this intersection, in the center of the valley, lies the Tyringham Cobble
Tyringham Cobble
Tyringham Cobble is a open space reservation located in Tyringham, Massachusetts on 411 m Cobble Hill in The Berkshires. It is managed by The Trustees of Reservations, a non-profit conservation organization, and is notable for its scenic views over the rural landscape of Tyringham Valley from...
one of the most notably shaped and prominent physical features of the area. The valley is a popular hiking destination because it is crossed (north to south) by the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
.