Holy Mount
Encyclopedia
Holy Mount, 1968 feet is a prominent peak in the Taconic Mountains
of western Massachusetts
, formerly used as the location of religious ceremonies by a nearby Shaker
community. The mountain is located in Pittsfield State Forest and is traversed by the 5 mi (8 km) loop Shaker Trail which begins at the historic Hancock Shaker Village
. The mountain is wooded with northern hardwood
tree species. In addition to the main summit, the mountain has two other peaks, a western spur called Mount Lebanon 1750 feet (533.4 m) and an unnamed northern peak 1920 feet (585.2 m).
Most of Holy Mount is located within Hancock, Massachusetts
, but the lower western slopes are within the town of Lebanon, New York
. The Taconic ridgeline continues north from Holy Mount as Doll Mountain
, south as an unnamed mountain, and to the east as Shaker Mountain
. It is bordered by The Knob to the west across the Wyomanock Creek valley. The west side of the mountain drains into Wyomanock Creek, then into Kinderhook Creek
, thence into the Hudson River
and Long Island Sound
. The east side drains into Shaker Brook, thence to the Housatonic River
and Long Island Sound
. Twin Ponds and Cranberry Pond, two highland water bodies, are located on the southwest shoulder of the mountain and are visited by the Taconic Skyline Trail
and Taconic Crest Trail
.
Taconic Mountains
The Taconic Mountains or Taconic Range are a physiographic section of the larger New England province and part of the Appalachian Mountains, running along the eastern border of New York State and adjacent New England from northwest Connecticut to western Massachusetts, north to central western...
of western Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, formerly used as the location of religious ceremonies by a nearby Shaker
Shakers
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
community. The mountain is located in Pittsfield State Forest and is traversed by the 5 mi (8 km) loop Shaker Trail which begins at the historic Hancock Shaker Village
Hancock Shaker Village
Hancock Shaker Village is a National Historic Landmark District in Hancock, Massachusetts that was established by Shakers in 1791. It was the third of nineteen major Shaker villages established between 1783 and 1836 in New York, New England, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana under the leadership of Joseph...
. The mountain is wooded with northern hardwood
Northern hardwood forest
The northern hardwood forest is a general type of North American forest ecosystem found over much of southeastern and south central Canada, extending south into the United States in northern New England and New York, and west along the Great Lakes to Minnesota and western Ontario...
tree species. In addition to the main summit, the mountain has two other peaks, a western spur called Mount Lebanon 1750 feet (533.4 m) and an unnamed northern peak 1920 feet (585.2 m).
Most of Holy Mount is located within Hancock, Massachusetts
Hancock, Massachusetts
Hancock is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 717 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, but the lower western slopes are within the town of Lebanon, New York
Lebanon, New York
Lebanon is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 1,329 at the 2000 census. The town is believed to be named after Lebanon, Connecticut.The Town of Lebanon is on the south border of the county.- History :...
. The Taconic ridgeline continues north from Holy Mount as Doll Mountain
Doll Mountain
Doll Mountain, , is a prominent peak in the Taconic Mountains of western Massachusetts. The mountain is located in Pittsfield State Forest. The summit is wooded and trailless, but the multi-use Doll Mountain Trail traverses its northern slopes. The mountain is wooded with northern hardwood tree...
, south as an unnamed mountain, and to the east as Shaker Mountain
Shaker Mountain
Shaker Mountain, , is a prominent peak in the Taconic Mountains of western Massachusetts. The mountain is located in Pittsfield State Forest and is named after the nearby Hancock Shaker Village, a former Shaker religious colony and now a historic site. The summit is wooded and is traversed by the ...
. It is bordered by The Knob to the west across the Wyomanock Creek valley. The west side of the mountain drains into Wyomanock Creek, then into Kinderhook Creek
Kinderhook Creek
Kinderhook Creek is a tributary to Stockport Creek, an inlet of the Hudson River in the United States. From its source in Hancock, Massachusetts, the creek runs southwest through the Taconic Mountains into Rensselaer County, New York, and then into Columbia County...
, thence into the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
and Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
. The east side drains into Shaker Brook, thence to the Housatonic River
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
and Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
. Twin Ponds and Cranberry Pond, two highland water bodies, are located on the southwest shoulder of the mountain and are visited by the Taconic Skyline Trail
Taconic Skyline Trail
The Taconic Skyline Trail is a multi-use trail in the Taconic Mountains of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The trail extends from U.S. Route 20 in Hancock, Massachusetts, less than east of the New York border, north along the ridgecrest of the Taconic Range within Pittsfield State Forest and...
and Taconic Crest Trail
Taconic Crest Trail
The Taconic Crest Trail is a hiking trail in the Taconic Mountains of the Berkshires. The trail extends from U.S. Route 20 in Hancock, Massachusetts, less than east of the New York border, north along the ridgecrest of the Taconic Range, first within Massachusetts, then weaving along the border...
.
External links
- Pittsfield State Forest map
- Pittsfield State Forest. Massachusetts DCR.
