Climbing the hills of West County, Route 2 envelops drivers in a postcard scene of maple trees, sprawling pastures and quintessential farmhouses with the family name painted on a sign out front. Also known as the Mohawk Trail after a Native American tribe, Route 2 was named one of the five popular road trips in the country by the American Automobile Association (AAA) this year.
It is not the first time the trail has received recognition: it opened in 1914 as the first scenic road in New England.
The trip AAA recommends is 151 miles, crossing two counties and two states. It begins in Greenfield and winds through Shelburne Falls, Charlemont and Hawley, before setting off to the Berkshires and finishing up in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Of the 450 trips created by the AAA, its Northern New England road trip is among the five most popular country-wide. The other four most popular trips are in North Carolina; through Nevada, Arizona and Utah; along the southwest coast; and in South Dakota.
As it makes its way through West County, the trail passes some quintessential towns and historic sights. Among them is the Bridge of Flowers, connecting Buckland and Shelburne. Originally a trolley bridge for passengers and goods, the railway company went bankrupt in 1927. Its purpose up in the air, residents raised money to plant flowers along the bridge, transforming it from a defunct structure into a tourist attraction.
Sugaring season, a unique part of New England’s culture, is a sweet end to Massachusetts’ lengthy winters. The popular, long-time establishment Gould’s Maple Sugarhouse sits on the Mohawk Trail in Shelburne. The farm is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
Also along the trail are a number of outdoor activities. In the summer months, the Deerfield River offers a wealth of options including zip-lining, whitewater rafting and fishing. The Mohawk State Forest’s 6,000 acres of woods, mountains and gorges will keep campers and hikers occupied. During the colder months, road-trippers can stop at Charlemont’s Berkshire East fields for a day of skiing.
Franklin County’s natural beauty is well known to us. The rest of the country may be catching on.
View the AAA’s New England road trip, which includes Franklin County, here: https://www.aaa.com/roadtrips/new-england/northern-new-england-DT568031.
Reach Grace Bird at gbird@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 280.