The Housatonic River Walk

The Housatonic River Walk in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, is a beautiful half-mile greenway trail that runs along the west bank of the Housatonic River, right in the heart of downtown. Despite its urban setting, the trail offers a tranquil and immersive nature experience, showcasing the river’s ecological richness. The trail is surprisingly quiet, and you can hear the river and take in nature without the din of traffic.

The Housatonic River itself is the centerpiece – flowing gently through the town and providing habitat for a variety of wildlife. According to the interpretative signage, there are over 200 native plant species along the trail.

The trail also runs alongside W.E.B. Du Bois River Park (at the downstream branch). Located at Church and River Streets, the park is an entrance to the River Walk, and is very near where Du Bois was born.

Du Bois once lamented that the Housatonic was a blight on the town. He said “The town, the whole valley, has turned its back upon the river. They have sought to get away from it. They have neglected it….” (Reflections upon The Housatonic River speech, 1930). Today, fishing and swimming is still not permitted due to PCB contamination.

Great Barrington, for its part, has taken notable steps to improve the river habitat and green space nearby in the past decades. The River Walk has also been a catalyst for young environmentalists, including the Greenagers, a local youth organization focused on conservation that helps maintain the park.