Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway
Route 2 across northern Massachusetts from Orange to Williamstown, through Shelburne Falls, Charlemont, the Hairpin Turn and North Adams.
Also known as Mohawk Trail (Route 2)
- Length69 miles[1]The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism gives about 63 miles.
- Drive timeNot verified
- RoadsRoute 2[2]
- Start and endRoute 2 between Orange and Williamstown[2]The same page also describes it as Route 2 from North Adams to Millers Falls.
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonFall foliage, though it is a year-round drive[2]
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway follows Route 2 across the northern edge of Massachusetts, from Orange and Greenfield in the Connecticut River valley west over the hills to North Adams and Williamstown. It began as a Native American footpath between the Hudson and Connecticut river valleys.
Stops along the way include the French King Bridge over the Connecticut River, the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, Mohawk Trail State Forest in Charlemont and the Hairpin Turn overlook above North Adams. MASS MoCA in North Adams is open year-round.
Fall foliage brings the most visitors, but the state's tourism office calls it a drive for any time of year. Expect slow, winding stretches through the hills.
Stops along the way
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French King Bridge
Steel arch bridge high over the Connecticut River between Erving and Gill.
-
Greenfield
Town at the east end of the Mohawk Trail.
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Bridge of Flowers
Former trolley bridge in Shelburne Falls planted as a garden, open April to November.
-
Mohawk Trail State Forest
Year-round state forest in Charlemont for hiking and skiing.
-
Hairpin Turn
Overlook on a sharp curve with views of the Hoosac Valley.
-
MASS MoCA
Contemporary art museum in North Adams.
-
Williamstown
College town at the west end of Route 2's scenic run.
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Greenfield Farmers' MarketGreenfield, MA · about 0.1 mi from the route
- North AdamsNorth Adams, MA · about 0.1 mi from the route
- Berkshire Grown Winter Farmers' Market- Williamstown, MA · about 0.2 mi from the route
- Shelburne FallsShelburne, MA · about 0.3 mi from the route
- Great Falls Farmers Market, Turners FallsTurners Falls, MA · about 2.4 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Farms along the way
- Hall Tavern FarmSpecialty · Shelburne, MA · about 0.9 mi from the nearest stop
- Good Bunch FarmCsa · Shelburne Falls, MA · about 1.6 mi from the nearest stop
- Barberic FarmOrchard · Shelburne, MA · about 1.7 mi from the nearest stop
- East Mountain FarmFarm store · Williamstown, MA · about 2.0 mi from the nearest stop
- Clarkdale Fruit FarmsOrchard · Deerfield, MA · about 2.1 mi from the nearest stop
- Diemand FarmHoney · Wendell, MA · about 2.3 mi from the nearest stop
145 farms in our directory are within about 25 miles; these are the closest. Farm stands and pick-your-own seasons vary, so check with the farm before you go.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Sep, Oct. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- Acorn squashSep, Oct, Nov
- AlmondsAug, Sep, Oct
- Asian pearsAug, Sep, Oct
- Butternut squashSep, Oct, Nov
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Molly Stark BywayVT · about 16 mi away
- Mohawk Towpath BywayNY · about 48 mi away
- Connecticut Route 7 Scenic Road (Kent to Canaan)CT · about 61 mi away
- Connecticut State Route 169CT · about 75 mi away
- The Battle Road Scenic BywayMA · about 82 mi away
- Connecticut Routes 49 and 14A Scenic RoadCT · about 90 mi away
More scenic drives in Massachusetts
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Massachusetts Scenic Byways (Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Road Trip: Slow Down Along the Mohawk Trail (Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).