Imagine a multi-day hiking journey where local Berkshires experts plan everything for you—from quality lodging and dining to local transport and even shuttle service for your heavy backpack. Mindfully oriented guides lead you from one charming town center to the next via country roads and woodland trails. Scenic vistas, and historical and cultural perspectives are just part of what stimulates your curiosity. These are precious days for you to reset.
During your journey with Berkshire Camino, a Pittsfield-based walking tour company voted best Guided Tour in the 2022 Rural Intelligence Readers’ Choice Awards, you’ll get all of this and more.
Founded by Berkshires native Mindy Miraglia, Berkshire Camino is inspired by her experience twice traversing the 500-mile Camino de Santiago, a town-to-town pilgrimage with medieval origins that attracts thousands of visitors to Spain each year.
From mid-May through October, Miraglia’s team of expert guides leads groups of 7 to 10 on both shorter day hikes and multi-day journeys, as well as customizable private tours. The hikes range from two-and-a-half to five hours long, and most are suitable for ages 10 and up. The small-group format is solo-traveler friendly, or you can reserve a private excursion for your corporate gathering or family reunion.
This year, there are 13 original routes on offer, several of which are new. For visitors looking to revel in the Berkshires' rich history of arts and culture, Miraglia has developed a day hike in partnership with Mass MoCA, which includes two-day admission to the art museum. You’ll start with a tour of Mass MoCA’s galleries, then head into downtown North Adams, touring large scale art installations and murals along the way.
In search of an adrenaline spike and unmatched views? Also new this season is the Mt. Greylock Summit Loop Hike, which takes visitors up one of the more forgiving paths to the highest peak in Massachusetts.
Now in their second year, the multi-day hikes offer an authentic and accessible pilgrimage experience without the need for international travel. Offered twice in May, June, September, and October, the hikes include lodging and most meals, and average around eight miles of walking each day.
In addition to the multi-day town-to-town route in the Southern Berkshires that Miraglia introduced last year, this year hikers can choose the new routes in the Central/Northern Berkshires woodlands. And if you want to really feel like you’re walking the Camino de Santiago, you can go all in and sign up for both back-to-back in May or June.
To learn more or book a journey with Berkshire Camino, visit Berkshirecamino.com.
