CONTACT  |   JOIN  |   AMC  |   AMC ADVENTURES   

A.T. Parking Areas and Trailhead

A.T. Management Committee
11‑Jan‑2025
The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is managed as a "primitive footpath". There are minimal facilities and terrain can be challenging. Hikers are expected to be self-reliant, and carry appropriate equipment for the season and terrain.
Maps are highly recommended and can be ordered from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), or other sources. Mobile maps can be found at FarOut.com in your phone's App Store.

Parking for A.T. Visitors

Note that some parking areas can be full by mid-morning on popular days. Park carefully to maximize room for others. While generally parking areas see little vandalism, hide your valuables and lock your doors. There are no trash facilities at ANY A.T. parking areas, plan to carry out what you carry in.
With exceptions at some State Parks and Forests, parking is free. Day hikers may park at any of the A.T. parking areas listed here. Note that some parking areas (including several on Mt Greylock) are designated for Day Use Only. Vehicles parked overnight may be ticketed or towed at owner's expense at these locations.
Park at your own risk. AMC Western MA makes no guarantee that you, your vehicle or contents will be safe at any A.T. parking area. Below are our assessments based on many years of experience and reports from hikers.
  • Suitable for overnight parking: Generally means this area is available for overnight parking for several days with little if any reported vandalism.
  • Short term overnight use: A weekend will probably be fine, but some incidents have been reported from time to time.
  • Not recommended for overnight use: It's been done, but a bit sketchy.
  • Day use: No overnight parking is permitted.
  • For longer-term parking ideas, contact us at at@amc-wma.org.

Parking Areas

Listed from north to south.

Rt 2, North Adams: Approx. 500 feet east of A.T. crossing.

  • Capacity: 8 vehicles, busy on weekends and in late summer and early fall.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Suitable for overnight parking.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.69936, -73.15358.

Pattison Rd, North Adams: A.T. passes through parking area.

  • Capacity 6 vehicles. Fills quickly on busy weekends.
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Do not park directly across from neighboring water treatment plant gates, this area is needed for truck turnaround.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.68773, -73.15949.

Notch Rd, Mt Greylock Reservation: Approx. 200ft from AT crossing. Blue-blazed access trails provide direct A.T. access.

  • Capacity: 8 vehicles.
  • Day use only. NO OVERNIGHT PARKING; use Greylock Summit parking for overnight.
  • Notch Rd is not open in winter (Nov to May).
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.66944, -73.16772.

Mt Greylock Summit: A.T. passes both ends of parking area. Vehicles longer than 22 feet are not permitted on the automobile road (Rockwell Rd, Notch Rd, Summit Rd).

  • Capacity: 50 vehicles.
  • Fee required.
  • May be full on busy weekend and during foliage season.
  • Suitable for overnight parking.
  • Lat.Lon: 42.63798, -73.16646
  • This is the only available overnight parking in Mt Greylock Reservation.
  • Summit is closed in winter (late Oct to late May).
  • Other day use parking areas near the A.T.
    • Gould Trail (junction of Rockwell Rd and Notch Rd): A.T. crosses this intersection.
      • Capacity 4 vehicles.
      • Closed in winter (late October to late May).
    • "Hairpin Turn" parking (Rockwell Rd): A.T crosses end of parking area.
      • Capacity 5 vehicles.
      • Closed in winter (late October to late May).

Outlook Ave, Cheshire: No official parking area, but wide spot for two vehicles just trail-west of A.T. crossing.

School St A.T. parking, Cheshire: Approx. 200 feet from junction of School St and Church St. A.T. passes end of parking area.

  • Capacity: 20 vehicles (no campers).
  • Open year round.
  • Suitable for overnight parking.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.56586, -73.15574.

Gulf Rd, Dalton: East end of Gulf Rd. Gulf Rd is closed past this point in winter. A.T. passes through parking area.

  • Capacity 6 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.48170, -73.17827.

Grange Hall Rd, Dalton: Approx. 1.1 miles from intersection with South St. Wide area on north side of road. No official signage.

  • Capacity: 4 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter (mostly).
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.45642, -73.16180.

Blotz Rd/Kirchner Rd, Hinsdale: Approx. 3.2 miles from Dalton Division Rd/Williams St, Pittsfield. A.T. passes through parking area.

  • Capacity 6 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lon/Lat: 42.40944, -73.14981.

Pittsfield Rd/Washington Mtn Rd, Pittsfield: At intersection with Beech Rd (dead end). A.T. passes through parking area.

  • Capacity: 6 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.37693, -73.15016.

West Branch Rd: 100 feet Trail - west of A.T. crossing.

  • Capacity: 2 vehicles.
  • Not plowed in winter, active snowmobile route.
  • Not recommended for overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.36185, -73.15353.

County Rd: 200ft trail - west of A.T. crossing.

  • Capacity: 2 vehicles.
  • Not plowed in winter, active snowmobile trail.
  • Not recommended for overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.33322, -73.16227.

Rt 20, Jacob's Ladder Parking: Boundary of Lee and Becket. A.T. passes 500 feet of Trail - east of parking area. Northbound hikers can use blue-blazed access trail above north side of highway from the end of parking area. Southbound hikers hike along guard rail.

  • Capacity: 12 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter (Mass DOT).
  • Suitable for overnight parking.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.29295, -73.16144.

Goose Pond Rd: 0.9 miles from intersection with Forest St. A.T. passes 200 feet of Trail - west of the parking area.

  • Capacity 4 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter (mostly).
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.27426, -73.18316.

Webster Rd: 1.9 miles from Tyringham Main Rd. A.T. passes end of parking area.

  • Capacity: 2 vehicles.
  • Not plowed in winter.
  • Not recommended for overnight use.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.25264, -73.17903.

Tyringham Main Rd, Tyringham: 0.9 miles from Tyringham center. A.T. passes 100 feet from end of parking area.

  • Capacity: 6 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.23534, -73.19438.

Tyringham Cobble Parking (Trustees of Reservations, Tyringham): On Jerusalem Rd 0.2 miles from Tyringham center. Parking area is for visitors to Tyringham Cobble. AT crosses the Cobble and can be accessed from several trails.

  • Capacity 8 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Day use only.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.24297, -73.20598.

Fernside Rd, Tyringham: 2.0 miles from junction with Meadow St. Parking is at wide spot on right approx. 200 ft from A.T. crossing.

  • Capacity: 2 vehicles.
  • Not plowed in winter.
  • Day use only.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.24941, -73.22584.

Beartown Mtn Rd: Parking at gate approx. 0.2 miles from Trail - east of A.T.

  • Capacity 5 vehicles.
  • Plowed to gate in winter.
  • Day use only.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.22771, -73.24461.

Benedict Pond: Parking at boat launch area (fee). DCR Beartown State Forest Recreation Area. Swimming, showers, toilets, drive-in camping. Approx. 1.0 mile on blue-blazed Benedict Pond Trail to A.T.

  • Capacity: 30 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Suitable for overnight parking.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.20272, -73.28879.

Rt 23/183, Monterey: DCR Beartown State Forest. A.T. passes through parking area.

  • Capacity: 10 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.18429, -73.29056.

Lake Buel Rd, Great Barrington: 200ft Trail west of A.T.

  • Capacity: 6 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.17476, -73.29387.

Kellogg Rd, Sheffield: Not a maintained parking area, farm field access. A.T. passes through parking area.

  • Capacity 3 vehicles (maintain clear access for large farm equipment).
  • Plowed in winter, mostly.
  • Not recommended for overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.14423, -73.36005.

Sheffield-Egremont Rd (Shays' Rebellion), Sheffield: A.T. passes through parking area.

  • Capacity: 6 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.14715, -73.38661.

Greenager's Campus, Rt 41, South Egremont: In parking area behind the historic house. Active area. Approx. 500 ft Trail - west of A.T. crossing.

  • Capacity, 6 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Suitable for overnight parking. For long term parking, check with staff.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.14753, -73.41704.

Jug End Rd, South Egremont: Not an official parking area. Wide shoulder on west side of Jug End Rd/Curtiss Rd. No official signage.

  • Capacity: 4 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter with road.
  • Not recommended for overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: no.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.14443, -73.43157.

Mt Everett/Guilder Pond Trail parking, DCR Mt Everett State Reservation: A.T. passes through end of parking area. Road to parking closed area in winter (early November to mid-May). Winter parking at gate 1.0 mile from A.T.

  • Capacity: 20 vehicles.
  • Closed and unplowed in winter.
  • Suitable for overnight parking.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.10689, -73.43578.

Rt 41, Race Brook Falls Trail parking: Rt 41, Sheffield. 2 mile strenuous blue-blazed trail to A.T. Lot fills quickly in summer months.

  • Capacity: 10 vehicles.
  • Plowed in winter.
  • Short term overnight use.
  • Map kiosk: yes.
  • Lat/Lon: 42.08948, -73.41116.