Help does anyone know of any AT parking lots in MA,VT, or CT that are plowed enough to park in for this weekend?
I am headed out this long weekend to backpack for a few days, I am getting dropped off. I need to find a parking lot that is plowed, to leave my truck in. I do have a 4 wheel drive truck. Can any one help me? Thank you so much.
Happy Trails to all.
POOHBEAR
POOH-BEAR
i dont know what kind of accumulation they have out there or what kind of plow service, so here are some worst case scenario alternatives. where rt 7 and 112 meet in CT, the AT crosses there and there is a parking lot. if it is unusable you could go down to the friendly folks at the mountainside cafe .5 miles north on 7 and they would probably be nice to you. as would the folks at falls village. the parking lot by the great falls may be open too, since its municipal. the trail out of falls village is the road, follow the blazes over the bridge, stay right and the parking lot is like .75 miles by lovely great falls. (good swimming! go for it!) the best jump off spot in CT is the lot a mile out of salisbury, as it is a hop skip and jump away from the glorious lions head and the great taconic ridgewalk, with riga shelter (dope spot) and bear mountain, then sages ravine (would be so splendid this time of year) there are three parking lots on 41 between salisbury and sheffield MA the AT crossing, the undermountain trail, and the race brook falls trail. try all three, and barring that ask someone in moderately friendly salisbury. there is a woman who runs a hiker b&b in salisbury, her info is in wingnut.
i only ridgeran CT, so thats all i can do for you. have fun i am jealous.
milo
There should be no problem, I was at Greylock a week ago and there was only a few inches on the ground. Its been raining today and everything is melting
chef
The first parking lot on 41 north of Salisbury had a truck broken into last week, according to the local paper—purses taken. I think the lots farther north have more cars in and out and are safer. Best would be in a non-trail head lot as others have suggested above.
CTKaren
I checked out a couple AT parking area in central Mass. on Tuesday morning this week. None of the roadside areas used strictly for AT parking are plowed, but the snow was only 6-12 inches deep (surely less now) and a truck with 4WD could easily park there. Leave a shovel in your car in case of new snow while you’re gone. The places within MA with actual off-road parking areas are MA 41 by Shay’s Rebellion (S. Egremont), Lake Buell Rd. and MA 23 (both in Gr. Barrington), Main Rd. (Tyringham), Blotz Rd. (Washington). There may be others in the northern part of the state, and I’ve omitted those on Rt. 41 near the CT border. Also, the Greylock Community Club on Rt. 2 in No. Adams has been known to allow hiker parking with permission (please ask and leave a donation). In VT there are trailheads that are heavily used in winter and therefore plowed (the one just south of Stratton Mountain comes to mind).
DebW