Bartholomew's Cobble, Ashley Falls

Bartholomew's Cobble, Ashley Falls

The Trustees of Reservations 105 Weatogue Road Sheffield, Massachusetts 01257

Official Website
Bartholomews Cobble map

Tips for Birding

Birding the Southwest Corner of Massachusetts by Don Reid.

Admission: $5 per person for nonmembers; $1 per nonmember child (6-12); FREE for members

About this Location

Bartholomew’s Cobble is named for its two rocky knolls, or “cobbles,” rising above the Housatonic River. Hurlburt’s Hill, the property’s highest point, rises 1,000 feet to a 20-acre upland field on the Massachusetts-Connecticut border that offers panoramic views northward up the Housatonic River Valley. Boasting an enormous variety of woodland flowers and fern species, the Cobble’s amazingly diverse flora earned it a National Natural Landmark designation in 1971.

Explore five miles of trails and discover the diversity of this landscape, open fields, transitional forests, freshwater marshes, a pair of small caves, and more. Along the way, you’ll find one of North America’s greatest diversities of fern species as well as one of the largest Cottonwood trees in the state. Paddle the Housatonic River, tour the on-site natural history museum, and make sure you return between mid-April and the end of May when the wildflowers reach peak bloom across the property’s 329 acres.

From Mass Turnpike (I-90), use Exit 10 for US-20 East. Follow 4.6 miles, then take 1st right onto MA-102 West/Pleasant Street. Go 6.6 mi. Turn left onto US-7 South. After 8.5 miles, turn right onto MA-7A and follow for 0.5 miles. Turn right onto Rannapo Road and follow for 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Weatogue Road to the entrance and parking (30 cars) on the left.

There is an entrance fee at Bartholomews Cobble for non-members.

Notable Trails

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike at Bartholomews Cobble.

Features

  • Entrance fee

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

Content from Official Website

Last updated December 21, 2023