Mount Race
Encyclopedia
Mount Race, 2365 feet is a prominent peak in the south Taconic Mountains
of Massachusetts
. The mountain is known for its waterfalls, ridgeline cliff face and expansive views of the Housatonic River
valley and Berkshires to the east, and for its pitch pine
and scrub oak
summit ecosystem. Several trails cross the mountain, including the 2140 miles (3,444 km) Appalachian Trail
.
to the north. Another waterfall, Bear Rock Falls is located on the southeast side of the mountain along the Appalachian Trail. A primitive campsite is located near Race Brook Falls on the Race Brook Falls Trail.
The summit and west side of Mount Race is located in the town of Mount Washington
; the east slopes are located in Sheffield, Massachusetts
. Much of the upper areas of the mountain are located within the Mount Washington State Forest
; other parcels are part of conservation easements.
The east side of the mountain drains into Race Brook and Bear Rock Brook, thence into Schenob Brook, the Hubbard Brook, the Housatonic River
, and Long Island Sound
; the south side drains into Plantain Pond, thence into Bear Rock Brook. The west side drains into City Brook, thence into Bash Bish Brook, the Roeliff Jansen Kill, the Hudson river
, and New York Bay of the Atlantic Ocean.
Taconic Mountains
The Taconic Mountains or Taconic Range are a physiographic section of the larger New England province and part of the Appalachian Mountains, running along the eastern border of New York State and adjacent New England from northwest Connecticut to western Massachusetts, north to central western...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The mountain is known for its waterfalls, ridgeline cliff face and expansive views of 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...
valley and Berkshires to the east, and for its pitch pine
Pitch Pine
The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized pine, native to eastern North America. This species occasionally hybridizes with other pine species such as Loblolly Pine , Shortleaf Pine , and Pond Pine The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized (6-30 meters or 20-100 feet)...
and scrub oak
Scrub Oak
Scrub Oak is a general name for several species of small, shrubby oaks, including the following species:*California Scrub Oak *Leather Oak *Coastal Scrub Oak...
summit ecosystem. Several trails cross the mountain, including the 2140 miles (3,444 km) 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...
.
Details
Race Brook Falls, a popular waterfall, cascades from a common ledge between Mount Race and Mount EverettMount Everett
Mount Everett at 2,624 ft - or 800 m - is the highest peak in the south Taconic Mountains of Massachusetts. The mountain is known for its expansive views of the southern Taconics and Berkshires; for its fragile ecosystem of old growth pitch pine and scrub oak; and for its rare plant and animal...
to the north. Another waterfall, Bear Rock Falls is located on the southeast side of the mountain along the Appalachian Trail. A primitive campsite is located near Race Brook Falls on the Race Brook Falls Trail.
The summit and west side of Mount Race is located in the town of Mount Washington
Mount Washington, Massachusetts
Mount Washington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 130 at the 2000 census, making it the smallest town in Berkshire County and, after Gosnold and Monroe, the third smallest in...
; the east slopes are located in Sheffield, Massachusetts
Sheffield, Massachusetts
Not to be confused with the city of Sheffield in the UK, or Sheffield, Vermont.Sheffield is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,257 at the 2010 census. Sheffield is home to...
. Much of the upper areas of the mountain are located within the Mount Washington State Forest
Mount Washington State Forest
Mount Washington State Forest is a scenic state forest in the southern Taconic Mountains of the southwestern Berkshire region of Massachusetts. It has 30 miles of trails for hiking, as well as offering wilderness camping, fishing, horseback riding trails, and cross-country skiing...
; other parcels are part of conservation easements.
The east side of the mountain drains into Race Brook and Bear Rock Brook, thence into Schenob Brook, the Hubbard Brook, 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...
, and Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
; the south side drains into Plantain Pond, thence into Bear Rock Brook. The west side drains into City Brook, thence into Bash Bish Brook, the Roeliff Jansen Kill, the Hudson river
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
, and New York Bay of the Atlantic Ocean.
External links
- South Taconic Range trail map.
- Mount Washington State Forest. Massachusetts DCR.
- Mount Everett State Reservation. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
- Mount Washington State Forest map
- Berkshire Natural Resource Council
- http://www.amcberkshire.org/Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain ClubAppalachian Mountain ClubThe Appalachian Mountain Club is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups. Created in 1876 to explore and preserve the White Mountains in New Hampshire, it has expanded throughout the northeastern U.S., with 12 chapters stretching from Maine to Washington, D.C...
] - Commonwealth Connections proposal PDF download. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
