Community Walk: The Secrets of Muddy Pond & the Building of the First U.S. Railroad Mountain Crossing

Meet at the the intersection of Summit Hill Road and Upper Valley Road at 9:00 am.

This walk will take participants to Muddy Pond, on the watershed divide of the Berkshires, and to the highest point between Boston and Chicago along the rail line. Learn of the unique challenges presented to Whistler’s father as he engineered the world’s first mountain railroad up and over the Berkshire plateau. This area is wonderfully scenic, has abundant wildlife and has an amazing history. Learn why this five-acre Housatonic River headwaters has earned the title of “most deceptive body of water in Mass." and the additional challenges it posed. This is a level walk on the traprock on the side of the railroad tracks. Approximately 2 hours (4 miles). Heavy rain will cancel.