Taking a hike isn’t most people’s idea of winter entertainment.

However, at Mt. Greylock, many are braving the snow, ice, and cold to get outdoors and explore year round.

Although the mountain's summit road is closed for cars, its hiking trails and campgrounds are open all winter.

Mt. Greylock State Reservation Visitor Services Supervisor Mesehll Bordeleau said, “People do like to use the mountain. They love to get outside. People love to hike. We have people right now who are camping, winter camping, on the mountain.”

Joe Gelinas is part of the local hiking group, Berkshires Hikers. He said his group comes to Mt. Greylock often to hike and snowshoe in the winter.

Gelinas said, “We hike all winter. Our hikes in the winter are sometimes shorter because we’re out snowshoeing so the hikes have to be a little shorter. We’re here today at Mt. Greylock pre-hiking for next Tuesday.”

He said planning ahead is very important in the winter because conditions can vary greatly along the trails.

“As we got up to the beaver ponds on our way up to round rock, the snow was four or five inches deep. Down here, it’s bare ground and ice, so the conditions change," Gelinas said. 

For those who prefer a more relaxing outdoors experience, the Reservation has plenty of educational programming available. Many special events are planned for school vacation week later this month, including animal tracking, tree identification and a nature scavenger hunt. 

Bordeleau said many of the programs have been well-attended this winter. 

“Overall, the programs that we’ve had have gone really well considering it hasn’t been a bumper snowfall year for us," Bordeleau said.