Mount Greylock, at 3,489 feet, is Massachusetts’s highest point, rising above the Hoosic Valley in the Taconic Mountains. Known for far-reaching views and a rare high-elevation sub-alpine forest, it also contains northern hardwoods, boreal species habitat, and old-growth trees centuries old. Its name likely came into use through local professors and refers to Gray Lock, an Abenaki leader; earlier names included Grand Hoosuc, Saddle Mountain, and Saddleback Mountain. The mountain inspired writers including Hawthorne, Melville, and Thoreau. Its summit, within Mount Greylock State Reservation, includes the Appalachian Trail and notable twentieth-century structures such as Bascom Lodge, Thunderbolt Ski Shelter, and the Veterans War Memorial Tower.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Adams, Massachusetts · USA