Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at 1,074 meters (3,491 feet), is both the state’s first designated reservation (established in 1898) and a National Historic Landmark. I visited on a perfectly clear day, with visibility stretching nearly 90 miles – far enough to see five states: Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.

At the summit, you’ll find the Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial, which has a spiral staircase in its interior, allowing for full panoramic viewing. The beautiful 92-foot stone monument was built in 1932, and honors fallen soldiers from the state.

Also present is the majestic Bascom Lodge, a rustic stone-and-wood lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933 and 1939. It was the most elaborate project for the CCC in Western Mass, and has continued to serve skiers and hikers on the Appalachian and Greylock trails for decades.

Mount Greylock’s ecosystem is also unique due to its elevation and location. The summit ridge is red spruce and balsam fir, making it a sub-alpine boreal forest environment. Its elevation and unique climate mean it is home to vegetation and boreal wildlife found only here. This includes unique bird species and boreal black bear.