Hiking Massachusetts Peaks

Mass Public Peaks rank: #6
Elevation: 2,689 ft.
Prominence: 379 ft.
Isolation: 0.8 miles
Summit coordinates: 42° 39′ 45” N, 73° 11′ 1” W 
Town: Williamstown, Massachusetts
Conservation Area: Mount Greylock State Reservation

Links:
Mount Prospect on Peakbagger
Mount Prospect on ListsofJohn
Mount Greylock State Reservation on Wikipedia

General info: Mount Prospect is the highest summit entirely within the town limits of Williamstown, Massachusetts. Though part of the Greylock Massif, it stands somewhat apart on the massif’s northwestern edge, giving it a sense of quiet isolation. It is located within the boundaries of Mount Greylock State Reservation, but the nearby Appalachian Trail bypasses it entirely—leaving the summit to hikers who deliberately seek it out. For that reason, Prospect remains one of the most underappreciated peaks in the region.

The summit itself is wooded and lacks a view, but the Mount Prospect Trail, which climbs steeply from the north, offers a striking vantage point partway up. Occasional glimpses of Mount Greylock and Mount Williams appear through the trees, but the magic of this hike is less about vistas and more about the rugged terrain, solitude, and sense of connection to place. The trail is well-maintained and quiet, often empty even during busy hiking seasons.

Mount Prospect is especially striking in form. Its sharp angles and dramatic wedge shape create a natural pyramid when viewed from the east or from nearby Haley Farm. This unique profile is not just visually compelling—it’s geologically significant. The peak owes its shape to persistent glacial erosion. During the last Ice Age, massive glaciers carved out the adjacent Hopper valley, leaving Prospect as a resistant spine of schist and phyllite. Geologists in the late 19th century noted the mountain’s distinctive geometry, citing it as a textbook example of glacial sculpting in the Taconic range. Today, it still stands as a sharply defined relic of ancient forces.

Historical background: Despite its prominence on the local landscape, Mount Prospect has long lived in the shadow of Mount Greylock. 19th-century records rarely mention it; maps omitted any name for it, and travel writers ignored it in favor of taller peaks with panoramic views. Greylock attracted tourists and artists. Prospect, by contrast, remained largely unnoticed.

Still, a few threads of history tie Prospect to local hikers. Some Williams College students in the mid-1800s may have crossed over Prospect on their way to Greylock, likely from the direction of Haley Farm. In 1863, Professor Albert Hopkins founded the Alpine Club of Williamstown, the first collegiate mountain-climbing club in the U.S. While most of their hikes focused on Greylock, nearby hills like Prospect likely saw occasional visits.

By the early 20th century, Mountain Day—a Williams tradition—made Prospect more familiar. A 1909 account lists it among the peaks students climbed. In 1914, the newly formed Williams Trails Committee (soon the Outing Club) began clearing paths in the area, and Prospect was among their projects. A summit register was placed at the top, marking the beginning of its recreational recognition.

Even so, Mount Prospect never became a major hiking destination. The Appalachian Trail, laid out in the 1930s, bypassed it, and no development followed. Unlike Greylock—with its roads, lodges, and fame—Prospect remained wild and quiet. And in that quiet, it kept its charm: a mountain known more by locals and students than by guidebooks.

Recommended ascent routes: A DCR trail map can be found here. There are just two ways to approach the summit:
Mount Prospect Trail via Appalachian Trail: This is the route I took on my visit. About 5.5 miles out and back with roughly 1,750 ft. elevation gain. Plenty of parking at the Appalachian Trail Pattison Road parking area in North Adams. Follow the Appalachian Trail southward and ascend the ridgeline. I found the first 1.5 miles fairly challenging and steep until the ridgeline elevation is gained, then it’s easy going to the summit. Just as you reach the ridgeline and the AT breaks of to the left (east), there is a very pleasant overlook on the Mount Prospect Trail with a fine view of Williamstown, Berlin Mountain, and the Green Mountains to the north. There’s a large rock cairn at the summit–no way to miss that one.
Mount Prospect Trail via the Money Brook Trail: This route is about 6 miles out and back with 1,600 ft. elevation gain (but nearly all the gain is in one 3/4 mile stretch that looked a little too aggressive for me). When I hit the summit from the north, I encountered another hiker just coming up from this route who reported that it was a tough one. Parking is available at the Haley Farm Trailhead on Hopper Road in Williamstown. The Money Brook Trail will take you to the foot of the mountain and then a left onto the Mount Prospect Trail will take you right up the steep side of the mountain.

Nearby Listed Peaks: The Greylock Massif consists of a number of peaks, some of them prominent enough to be considered independent. Several nearby are on the Mass Public Peaks list including Greylock itself, Mount Williams, Stony Ledge, Ragged Mountain, Mount Prospect, and Rounds Rock. Those interested in a longer hike could include any of these with Mount Prospect, particularly Stony Ledge and Mount Williams.

Click photos to enlarge: