Parks and the outdoors in Dalton

13 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Dalton.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
Appalachian Trail
The trail runs through Chalet Wildlife Management area and then the population center of the town. The BRTA Route 4 bus stops at the intersection of High St and Park Ave, which is concurrent with the trail. Helpful for resupplying in Pittsfield if needed. Trailheads and the trail campsites are as follows:
Do
Chalet Wildlife Management Area
Nearly 7,800 acres of mostly forest, sprawling across Dalton, Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Windsor. Plenty of opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, and trapping. The Appalachian Trail runs through the area. Hunting is not allowed on the AT; while on the trail or crossing it firearms must be unloaded.
See
Cranesville Historic District
A complex of historic buildings associated with Crane & Company and listed on the National Register of historic places. The industrial buildings south of Main Street are generally near the Housatonic River and screened from public view. More prominent on Main St is the 1816 home of Zenas Crane, the company's founder. Continuing east along Main St are some late 19th century houses. Most of these were built for company executives. Southwest along South Street, and then along Crane and Porter Aves south of the river, is old company-built worker housing. Most of these were built in the 1910s and 1920s. More worker housing is northeast of the Crane family estates off of Park Avenue; in this area the Cranes in the 1950s built some Capes for World War II veterans.
Do
Day Mountain Wildlife Management Area
382 acres of mostly hardwood forest. Open for hiking, wildlife viewing, hunting, trapping, and fishing. As a wildlife area, there are few maintained trails. The Appalachian Trail runs through the area; no hunting is allowed on the trail and when on or crossing the trail all firearms must be unloaded.
Do
Gulf Road Parking
access point to both the Appalachian Trail Corridor and the surrounding area that is Chalet Wildlife Management Area
Do
Housatonic River East Branch Wildlife Management Area
28 acres of wildlife preserve around the Western District Headquarters. The property includes the East Branch of the Housatonic River as well as fields mowed for access to the river. The old canal, used for a mill in the early 20th century, is now a wildlife corridor. The WMA also contains old apple trees and some vernal pools. Hunting is not allowed due to the proximity of the area to surrounding houses and the nearby school. It is a good fishing site, as the East Housatonic is regularly stocked throughout every spring.
Do
The Boulders Reserve
Gulf Road Trailhead
Forested wilderness and hiking trails sprawling across Dalton as well as Pittsfield and Lanesborough. The Dalton access point is on Gulf Rd, across the street from the Appalachian Trail access point and parking lot.
Do
Wahconah Falls State Park
Hiking trails along the falls. Open for hiking and snowmobiling. Fishing is also allowed. Dogs allowed. No swimming!
Sunrise to dusk
Do Not mapped
Appalachian Trail NB at Gulf Road Parking
Trail head at a parking lot. From here, take Gulf Rd east into town.
Do
Duncan Brook Reservoir
A beautiful hiking area around one of the town reservoirs.
Do
The Pines Trail
Wooded hiking trail
Do Not mapped
Appalachian Trail at Housatonic St
The trail crosses MA Rt 8 here
Do Not mapped
Kay Wood Shelter Trailhead Parking Grange Hall Rd
The trail crosses Grange Hall Rd here

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Dalton (CC BY-SA 4.0).