Things to do in Monterey

Named in honor of the Battle of Monterey, an American victory in the Mexican-American War, Monterey was originally part of Tyringham to the north. The two communities are connected by Beartown State Forest. With almost six miles of the Appalachian Trail passing through, the town has two AT shelters on Mount Wilcox. The town features two beautiful “Great Ponds,” Lake Buel and Lake Garfield, home to camps, a town beach, and boat launches that bring paddlers, anglers, and boaters to enjoy the water. Others head to hike in the hills and forests that dominate the town on one of the many trails, such as Bob’s Way, the Appalachian Trail, and Beartown State Forest, or the many preserves owned by the Monterey Land Trust.