Hinsdale (Massachusetts) Voyage Tips and guide

Hindsdale is a small rural community deep in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts. It mostly offers outdoor recreation and camping opportunities.

The area that is now Hinsdale historically was Mohican land, bordering land that was Pocumtuc and Mohican. It was first colonized by Europeans in 1763. It was officially incorporated as "Partridgefield" in 1771, named for Oliver Partridge, one of the three purchasers of the town. The Western Parish of Partridgefield officially broke away from its eastern half and incorporated in 1804, renaming itself for the family of the reverend Theodore Hinsdale. Hinsdale owned an important woolen mill, which remained important to the economy of the town until it closed during the Great Depression.

Hinsdale is bordered by Dalton to the west, Washington to the south, Peru to the east, and Windsor to the north. The Appalachian Trail runs through forest in the southeast of the town but has no designated trailheads or overnight sleeping areas in the Hinsdale section.

The best way into Hinsdale is MA Route 8, which runs northwest from Dalton, through Hinsdale, and then south into Washington. MA Route 143, whose eastern terminus originates off MA Route 9 in Williamsburg, terminates in Hinsdale and is the best route into the town from the east. While it is possible to travel to Hinsdale on foot from neighboring towns, the best means of travel in is by car.

The main roads of Hinsdale are traversable on foot, but going further afield on foot is more difficult and more time consuming. Car is the best means of transportation around town. Cycling is also possible.

42°25′48″N 73°7′12″W

Map of Hinsdale (Massachusetts)

• 42.436753-73.0828781 Lake Ashmere. (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.43819-73.124062 Hinsdale Town Library, 58 Maple St, ☏ +1 413-655-2303, [email protected]. M 9AM-1PM, Tu-F 2P-6PM, Sa 9AM-1PM. Erected 1866, the building is in French Tudor style, a rare style for New England (updated Dec 2025)

• 42.44117-73.122121 Bas Ridge Country Club, 151 Plunkett Ave, ☏ +1 413-655-2605. Daily 7AM-7PM. Golf course; accepts walk-ins (updated Dec 2025)

• 42.43498-73.084172 Ashmere Lake Boat Ramp, 121 Smith Rd/Hickingbotham Rd (take Creamery Rd off of MA Rt 143; at the junction with Middlefield Rd, continue straight onto Middlefield Rd/Skyline Trail; turn left onto Hickingbotham Rd/Smith Rd, look for the turnoff north to the lake. The turnoff is on the left just before the right turn of the road.), ☏ +1 617-727-1843. Boat launch and small beach for Lake Ashmere. (updated Dec 2025)
  • 42.45142-73.086533 Ashmere Island, Ashmere Lake (access by boat from the south, unless there is ice deep enough to safely travel over the lake on foot), ☏ +1 413-499-0596. An island in the northern part of the lake. Great for picnicking; if doing so, all traces of food must be picked up and taken with you! Only accessible by boat except in cases where the water has frozen deep enough to support going on foot over the ice. The boat launch in the far south of the lake is the only public access point for watercraft. (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.4656-73.11144 Cleveland Brook Reservoir, Frank Shnopp Rd (if coming from the south in Hinsdale, take New Windsor Rd from MA Rt 143; at the junction with Stonehouse Rd, bear left onto Stonehouse Rd; continue north to the junction with Frank Shopp Rd and turn left onto Frank Shnopp Rd. If coming from Dalton in the west, take Old Windsor Rd off of Main St; continue to the junction with Frank Shopp Rd and bear right onto Frank Shnopp Rd.). Reservoir popular for fishing and birdwatching. There are no formal parking areas; instead, park on the roadside, making sure that one's vehicle is fully off of the road. From there, the reservoir beaches can be accessed on foot. (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.409-73.1035 Hinsdale Flats Wildlife Management Area, ☏ +1 413-684-1646, [email protected]. Over 1,900 acres of wildlife preserve. Available to the public for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, trapping, and hiking. In addition to the parking areas listed below, parking can also be found along Creamery Rd, Bullard's Crossing Rd, Buttermilk Rd, and E Washington Rd. (updated Dec 2025)
  • 42.399845-73.0981256 Hinsdale Flats WMA Parking at Bullard's Crossing Rd, 901 Bullards Crossing Rd (take Bullard's Crossing Rd off of MA Rt 8, or else take Skyline Trail/Middlefield Rd off of MA Rt 8; then at the junction with E Washington Rd turn right to go south on E Washington Rd. At the junction with Bullard's Crossing Rd, turn right onto Bullard's Crossing Rd.). Southern parking area for Hinsdale Flats WMA. (updated Dec 2025)
  • 42.423731-73.1079657 Hinsdale Flats WMA Parking at Middlefield Rd, Middlefield Rd (take the small dirt road off of Middlefield Rd). One of two northern parking areas for Hinsdale Flats WMA. This parking location and access road are usually only open for the spring turkey and fall hunting seasons. (updated Dec 2025)
  • 42.422064-73.0964528 Hinsdale Flats WMA Parking at Middlefield Rd/Fassell Rd, Middlefield Rd/Skyline Trail (take Skyline Trail/Middlefield Rd off of MA Rt 8, continue to the junction with Fassell Rd; the parking area will be to the right.). One of two northern parking areas for Hinsdale Flats WMA. As the other parking area is closed much of the year, this is the more reliable of the two. (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.44777-73.1301789 Old Mill Trail, Old Dalton Rd (at the junction of Main St (MA Rt 8) with Old Dalton Rd, on the east side of the junction, across the bridge over the East Branch Housatonic River), ☏ +1 413-499-0596. 3 miles of forest trail, of which 1.4 miles is wheelchair accessible. Open to the public for hiking, birdwatching, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, hunting, geocaching, picnicking, and dog walking. The trail follows the East Branch Housatonic River and offers great views of said river. (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.424562-73.13236410 Plunkette Reservoir, 543 Longview Ave (To access the beach, turn onto Bridge St from Main St (MA Rt 8) then turn left onto Commonwealth Ave; then right onto Goodrich St and then left onto Longview Ave. Continue on Longview Ave until it becomes Plunkette Reservoir Rd, the beach will be on the right.). Swim beach with a lifeguard. (updated Dec 2025)

• 42.44141-73.101961 Berkshire Fur Shop, 172 Peru Rd (MA Rt 143), ☏ +1 413-655-2653. M-F 8AM-5PM. Fur clothing and servicing (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.447392-73.1295862 Hinsdale Food Mart, 371 Old Dalton Rd (just off MA Rt 8), ☏ +1 413-655-4039. M-F 5:30AM-9PM, Sa 6:30AM-9PM, 7:30AM-9PM. Asian-owned food store (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.43667-73.123153 Hinsdale Wine and Spirits, 70 South St (MA Rt 8), ☏ +1 413-655-0157. M-F 6AM-8PM, Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 9AM-7PM. Liquor store (updated Dec 2025)

• 42.440487-73.1262121 Hinsdale Pizza House, 90 Main St (at the junction of Main St with River Rd (MA Rt 8)), ☏ +1 413-655-4019, [email protected]. Tu-W 3PM-8PM; Th-Sa noon-8PM. Pizza, Italian, and Greek food. Has dine-in, takeout, and delivery. $10-$20. (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.44749-73.1295772 Krispy Krunchy Chicken, 371 Old Dalton Rd (just off MA Rt 8), ☏ +1 413-655-4039. M-Sa 11AM-6PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Hinsdale location of a national fried chicken restaurant chain. Inside the Hinsdale Food Mart (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.438034-73.1250463 Ozzie's Steak and Eggs, 26 Maple St (just off of Main St, between Main St and MA Rt 8), ☏ +1 413-655-8309. Tu-Sa 8AM-1:30PM, Su 8AM-12:30noon. American cuisine, serves breakfast and lunch $10-$20. (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.44101-73.117814 Topsy's Treats, 258 Maple St (MA Rt 143), ☏ +1 413-655-4044, [email protected]. W-F 3PM-9PM, Sa-Su 1PM-9PM. Ice cream shop. Hard serve made in house, and soft serve. (updated Dec 2025)

If you want an indoor hotel experience, you will have to go nearby; Hinsdale only offers outdoor campsites as listed below. For hotels or other similar lodging, look in Peru, Windsor, Cummington, Dalton, and Pittsfield.

• 42.429112-73.1310851 Fernwood Forest Campground, 350 Longview Ave (from Main St (MA Rt 8), turn onto Bridge St. Then turn left onto Commonwealth Ave, then right onto Goodrich St and then left onto Longview Ave. Continue on Longview Ave until the destination), ☏ +1 413-655-2292, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Campground with pop up tenting spaces, tents, camper rentals, and RV camping spaces. Includes WiFi, campfire spaces, a recreation hall, and an outdoor playground and lawn games area. Contact for season and rates information. Business hours 8AM-8PM daily. 2025 season was May 1 - October 15. Tent sites with no electricity – $35/night, $210 week; Tent sites, pop ups and RVs with under 20 ft (6 meters) – with 20 amps of electricity – $45/night, $300/week; RVs – with 50 and 30 amps of electricity – $50/night, $300/week; camper rentals – $85/night, $500 weekly. (updated Dec 2025)
• 42.3838-73.08822 Summit Hill Campground, 34 Old Middlefield Rd (take MA Rt 8 to the junction with Bullards Crossing Rd, then take Bullards Crossing Rd to the junction with E Washington Rd. Then turn right onto E Washington Rd and continue south to the junction with Old Middlefield Rd; at the junction, turn left onto Old Middlefield Rd and continue to the destination. Alternatively, at the junction of MA Rt 8 with Skyline Trail/Middlefield Rd, take Skyline Trail/Middlefield Rd and continue to the junction with Fassell Rd; take Fassell Rd to the junction with E Washington Rd. Continue on E Washington Rd to the junction with Old Middlefield Rd; turn onto Old Middlefield Rd and continue to the destination.), ☏ +1 413-623-5761, [email protected]. Campground with pop up tenting and RV sites available. Offers full hookups, picnic tables, a pool, campsites fire pits and a communal fire pit, a camp store, ATM, and a game room, and daily fresh coffee. 2025 season was May 1- Sept 28. RV: $50 daily, $250 weekly, $700 monthly, $160 3 Day Holiday; Tents $40 daily, $200 weekly, $600 monthly, $145 3 Day Holiday; Seasonal Rates $2,600 RV site with water and electric; $2,700 RV full time with water and electric; $2,700 RV site with water, electric, and sewer; $2,800 RV full time with water, electric, and sewer; visitors $8 adult, $4 child, $16/$8 overnight adult/child; A/C use $10 per 24 hours. (updated Dec 2025)

Visit Pittsfield and Great Barrington to the west or go further even west to Albany and the New York Capital District. East is Northampton and Amherst, and southeast is Springfield. South on MA Route 8 goes to Torrington and Waterbury, Connecticut.

Pittsfield ← Dalton ←

N  S

→ Washington→ becomes → Torrington