Cascades Trail

Cascades Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Massachusetts, set within The Cascades on city-managed land. The route is about 1.4 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 438 feet, and it reaches a high point of 911 feet. The trail is rated easy, and the climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.48 miles in, where the grade reaches 9 percent. The most comfortable months for a visit are late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in North Adams show June highs around 76°F and September highs around 72°F, with July the warmest month at about 81°F. That station sits roughly 250 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run a little cooler. The trip takes about half an hour, so it works well as a quick outing. Wilbur's Clearing to Summit and Thoreau's Footsteps are both about 2 miles away, and Clark Crag offers climbing about 4.6 miles off. For an overnight stay, Old Seth Warner Shelter Site is about 5.9 miles away.