Charlemont to North Adams

Sights

The most recognizable symbol along the trail is the “Hail to the Sunrise” Memorial, a half-ton bronze statue of a praying Mohawk man erected near the highway at the crossroads town of Charlemont to pay homage to the Mohawk Indians.

A short detour up Route 8A is the Bissell Covered Bridge, a 120-foot-long span over the Deerfield River. The best panoramic view is at Whitcomb Summit, the highest point of the trail at 2,200 feet.

Events

The acoustics in the Federated Church in Charlemont [3] are near-perfect, making it a beautiful setting for the Mohawk Trail Concerts (75 Bridge St., 413/625-9511 or 888/MTC-MUSE, www.mohawktrailconcerts.org [4], Fri.–Sat. in late June–July, $15–20), a series that brings internationally renowned musicians to play chamber music.

Shopping

If you’ve ever hankered after moccasins, dream-catchers, or spirit animals enameled on jewelry boxes, you’ve come to the right place. Several Native American emporiums line the trail, including Big Indian Shop (2183 Mohawk Trail, between Shelburne Falls [5] and Charlemont, 413/625-6817, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily), which boasts a 20-foot-tall statue of a Native American man and includes a petting zoo, and the Wigwam and Western Summit Gift Shop (2350 Mohawk Trail/Rte. 2, North Adams, 413/663-3205, www.thewigwam.net [6]), which offers a stunning view from coin-operated binoculars.