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Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
4.8 ★★★★★ 464 Google reviews · Running trail in Lenox, Massachusetts · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Nature walks & rugged hikes in a landscape of forests, meadows & marshes known for resident beavers.
What runners say about Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
“The beaver pond area was beautiful and filled with wildflowers, trees with foliage that were just starting to turn and gorgeous birds and chipmunks too many to count.”
“Picturesque wooded paths that are clearly marked, and the cacophony of birds and critters calling in the forests are musical and lovely.”
“This is a space that is friendly to all ages and activity levels.”
Lovely, well-maintained with diverse flora. There are flat trails and loops or continue further into the Audubon and gain elevation to a gorgeous vista. The view at the top overlooks westward. Relatively quiet experience when I went late in the afternoon on a week day.
Great family and kid friendly outdoor location. The many hiking trails cover many levels of difficulty, from flat to hilly. The only problem is they could be a little better marked. We got totally lost bit it was simple to get back with a little bit of basic knowledge of the outdoors.
This is an excellent place to come and enjoy some outdoor hiking. They have a number of tails to explore, but I recommend checking out the trail that goes around the pond. There are a few beaver dams to check out up close which is super cool, and gives you a good chance of seeing some aquatic wildlife.
Fantastic hiking trails at Pleasant Valley Sanctuary. It was well worth the $5 per person we paid for entry. The trails were maintained well and the views were unbelievable. We found it to be very informative send enjoyable. The hike itself was easy but made for a great afternoon, even in December.
Trail conditions & character
“The beaver pond area was beautiful and filled with wildflowers, trees with foliage that were just starting to turn and gorgeous birds and chipmunks too many to count.”
“There are flat trails and loops or continue further into the Audubon and gain elevation to a gorgeous vista.”
“They have a small visitors center and surprisingly nice bathroom facilities for being out in the middle of nowhere.”
“The trails are well marked and we saw many nuthatches and even a Brown Creeper!”
“There are flat trails and loops or continue further into the Audubon and gain elevation to a gorgeous vista.”
“Park in the parking lot, there are 2, and then check in at the building to pay and to get a map.”
“I recently hurt my hip and found the accessible trail with the strategically placed benches a perfect recovery walk for me.”
Plan your run at Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitemassaudubon.org
- Phone+1 413-637-0320
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Friday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–4 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am–4 pm |
Running trails near Lenox
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Kennedy Park
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Barkerville Conservation Area
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Mass Audubon Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
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