Hoosac Range

The Hoosac Range is a narrow mountain ridge in northwestern Massachusetts that forms part of the Berkshire Highlands. It presents a wooded, elevated barrier between river valleys and is a recognizable local landform.

Forests, ridgelines and valley corridors offer regional hiking and scenic views; roads and railways cross or skirt the range to connect neighboring towns. The range is modest in elevation compared with higher New England mountains but is locally significant for transport and recreation.

In the 19th century a major railroad tunnel was driven through the Hoosac Range to provide a direct rail route across the ridge, changing regional transportation patterns. The area has since remained a mix of forested hills, small towns and transportation corridors.

Geographically the Hoosac Range lies in northwest Massachusetts near towns such as North Adams and Williamstown, forming part of the inland high ground east of the Hudson Valley and west of the Connecticut River basin.

• Regional ridge: The range forms a distinct north-south ridge in northwestern Massachusetts and is locally prominent in the Berkshire landscape.
• Transportation landmark: The rail tunnel under the range is a significant 19th-century transportation project that altered travel routes through the mountains.

What to See #

• Hoosac Tunnel: A major engineered rail passage that cuts through the ridge and was completed in the 19th century to improve east-west rail connections across the range.