I intend to have an entire section on this website devoted to long distance hiking. For now, let me mention this great little hike in MA you might like if you are local. The AT passes next to a historic village in western MA called Tyringham. It was one of the original Shaker Villages (established in 1792). This is a nice 1/2 day hike, as it combines history, architecture, waterfalls, walks across cow fields, bogs, near rivers, through a maple syrup gathering grove, and past an overlook.

I have an article I wrote on the hike, let me try to dig that up and post. For now, I’ve attached a map that will help you find your way.

Information on the Shaker settlement in Tyringham is hard to come by. I was able to obtain this document while doing research for my article – the application for the settlement to be registered on National Historic Registry.

The application includes details on the history of the settlement as well as a discussion on the buildings. I found it to be very useful.

National Registration:  NRHP Tyringham Shaker

Article: To be posted

Map: tyringham-map.ppt

This is an article by Steven Paterwic, probably the most knowledgable Shaker scholar I’ve ever met: mysteries-of-the-tyringham-shakers-unmasked.doc