Guilder Pond

Guilder Pond Loop at Mount Everett State Forest May 30th at 10:00 am Hike Rating:  Easy going with ups and downs and tree roots.  Just over one mile around the pond.  Option after the pond loop to climb to the Mount Everett Lookout from the picnic area and AT junction for another mile and 650 feet of elevation gain for breathtaking views.  Bring your kayak or paddleboard for some optional paddling after we hike.  Bring lunch, you will want to stay all day! Directions:  From Dunkin’ in Great Barrington 494 S Main St, Great Barrington, MA 01230, head toward MA-23 W/MA-41 S/Maple Ave, follow 41 South to Guilder Hollow Rd/Jug End Rd in Sheffield to Mt Washington Rd to East St in Mount Washington to Mount Everett State Forest Entrance. East Street, Mt Washington, MA 01258.  We will meet at the picnic area (Appalachian Trail sign) where the road ends. Join special guest DCR Interpretive Coordinator Alec Gillman for a guided hike! Guilder Pond in Mount Washington is the second highest Pond in Mass with Mount Everett in the background, you will experience nature at its finest here and amazing mountain laurel and azalea in spring.  John Van Guilder, a Native American, lived in the Guilder Hollow area with Dutch settlers in the early 18th century. Van Guilder influenced his tribe to lease lands to the Dutch in 1740, after marrying the sister of a Dutch pioneer, the VanGuilder Farm site dates back to the mid-1700s, when the Mahican Indians deeded the land to Jon Konkapot VanGuilder, the son of Chief Konkapot. The Mahicans had settled the area in the late 1600s and welcomed the Dutch settlers.  The area surrounding Guilder Pond was subject to land disputes between Dutch and English settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Livingstons, a prominent Dutch family, persisted in charging rent to English settlers who had been granted free towns by the Massachusetts Colonial Legislature.  The Guilder Pond route begins near the Appalachian Trail parking area off Mount Everett Road in Mount Everett State Reservation. When the seasonal gate is open, hikers can drive directly to the trailhead. In the off-season, expect to hike a short distance up Mount Everett Road to reach the start of the loop. The trail circles Guilder Pond, staying close to the shoreline with mostly gentle terrain and minimal elevation change. From the parking area, follow the Appalachian Trail north for a short stretch before turning left onto Guilder Pond Loop. Make your way around the pond for a little less than a mile and turn left onto Mount Everett Road to return to the parking area and complete the route. The well-worn path leads through shaded woods, across sections of exposed roots and rocks, and past stands of mountain laurel and azalea that bloom in early summer. A rock outcropping on the eastern shore of the pond offers a scenic viewpoint and a place to rest or reflect. Though the route is short, the forest setting and steady water views give it a quiet, immersive feel. Guilder ...