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These things to do in Hancock MA, take you from maple barns and mountain coasters to quiet forest paths and Shaker history. It’s a small Berkshire town, but there’s nothing small about the experiences. You can ski in winter, hike in summer, and sit down to farm breakfasts with syrup tapped just steps away. This place moves at a steady pace, where each season brings its reason to explore. Whether you’re here for outdoor fun or local culture, Hancock gives you space to slow down and get involved.
10 Best Things To Do In Hancock, MA
Discover simple, memorable things to do in Hancock MA, from wooded trails to historic farms.
1. Experience All-Season Adventures At Jiminy Peak
Photo: Jean-Paul Wettstein / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
The things to do in Hancock MA, are never short on variety, and Jiminy Peak proves that in every season. In winter, the slopes open for skiing and snowboarding with 45 trails suited to all skill levels. If you’re visiting during summer or early fall, the resort transforms into a highland playground. You can ride the mountain coaster, zip through forest canopies, or take the chairlift up for sweeping views of the Berkshires. Jiminy’s Segway tours offer a different pace, gliding through mountain trails while guides share insights on the area’s ecology.
Location: 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA
Timings: 9 AM – 8:30 PM
Cost: $15 – 75 / ₹1300 – 6500
Major Attractions: Ski slopes, mountain coaster, alpine slide, chairlift rides, zipline, Segway tours, outdoor movies
2. Enjoy Maple Breakfasts And Seasonal Farm Fun At Ioka Valley Farm
Photo: Pixabay / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Among the most beloved things to do in Hancock, spending a day at Ioka Valley Farm offers a real taste of New England agriculture across the seasons. The highlight for many is the maple sugaring season in early spring, when the on-site sugarhouse starts boiling sap and the whole place smells like warm syrup. You can order a full maple breakfast right next to where they make pancakes, sausages, and syrup tapped straight from the trees on the hillside. Later in the year, the landscape changes into a festive autumn scene with pumpkin patches, hayrides, and a corn maze that draws in families from nearby towns.
Location: 3475 Route 43, Hancock, MA
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Cost: $5 – 15 / ₹450 – 1300
Major Attractions: Maple sugaring barn, pancake breakfasts, pumpkin patch, corn maze, barnyard animals, farm store
3. Snowshoe Or Hike Through Hancock State Forest
Photo: Rachel Brooks / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
If you’re searching for outdoor-focused things to do in Hancock, MA, the quiet expanse of Hancock State Forest is ideal for both solitude and active time in nature. The forest trails are unpaved and unmarked in parts, which means you’ll want to come prepared with good shoes, a map, and a sense of direction. In winter, the area is perfect for snowshoeing through pine and hardwood stands where the only sounds are your footsteps and the wind moving through trees. Come spring or fall, the same paths open up for long, quiet walks under colourful canopies or early-budding branches.
Location: Access via Route 43 or Brodie Mountain Road
Major Attractions: Forest trails, wildlife viewing, scenic snow paths
4. Trek The Taconic Crest Trail From Hancock’s Ridge
Photo: Marek Piwnicki / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
One of the most scenic and physically rewarding things to do in Hancock is to walk a portion of the Taconic Crest Trail, accessible from Brodie Mountain Road. This long-distance ridge trail stretches across the New York-Massachusetts border, and Hancock holds one of its more peaceful entry points. The terrain includes steady inclines, dense tree cover, and occasional rocky patches, but the payoff comes when the canopy breaks, views roll out over the Taconic and Berkshire landscapes. Most casual hikers do an out-and-back loop, often turning around after a scenic plateau or the first high point.
Location: Trailhead via Brodie Mountain Road, Hancock, MA
Timings: 24*7
Major Attractions: Mountain ridge views, quiet forest paths, long-distance hiking segments
5. Tour The Living History Of Hancock Shaker Village
Photo: Bestbudbrian / Wikimedia Commons
If you’re interested in heritage-based things to see in Hancock MA, Hancock Shaker Village offers one of the most immersive experiences in the region. This is a working farm and restored Shaker settlement where everything from architecture to daily activities reflects 18th- and 19th-century life. You’ll walk through a circular stone barn, see heirloom vegetables growing in well-tended rows, and hear the sound of hand tools still in use. Blacksmiths, bakers, and textile artisans often run live demonstrations that show how everyday life was once rooted in craftsmanship and community labour.
Location: 1843 West Housatonic Street, Hancock, MA
Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM
Cost: $20 / ₹1800 per adult
Major Attractions: 18th-century Shaker buildings, workshops, heirloom gardens, working barns, craft demos
6. Explore Art And Nature At The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home
Photo: Midnightdreary / Wikimedia Commons
Just under half an hour from Hancock, one of the most engaging things to do near Hancock, MA is to walk through the former estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton. Located in Lenox, The Mount is a blend of literature, architecture, and landscape design, all imagined by Wharton herself. You can take a guided or self-paced tour of the mansion’s restored rooms, browse original manuscripts, or walk through the Italianate gardens that mirror her sense of order and symmetry.
Location: 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Cost: $20 / ₹1800 per adult
Major Attractions: Historic mansion tours, formal gardens, literary exhibits, sculpture trail, seasonal performances
7. Hike Or Drive To The Summit Of Mount Greylock
Photo: John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons
One of the most iconic answers to what to do in Hancock MA is visiting Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. Just 30 minutes away, it offers hiking and scenic drives to its summit. Adventurers can trek via marked trails, including the Appalachian Trail, while others can enjoy a peaceful drive along the auto road. At the top, explore the Veterans War Memorial Tower, enjoy sweeping views into New York and Vermont, and relax at Bascom Lodge with simple meals. Parking and resting spots are available near the summit.
Location: Mount Greylock State Reservation, Lanesborough/North Adams, MA
Major Attractions: Highest point in Massachusetts, Veterans War Memorial Tower, summit lodge, panoramic views, Appalachian Trail
8. Visit The Berkshire Botanical Garden
Photo: Miguel Hermoso Cuesta / Wikimedia Commons
About 25 minutes from Hancock, the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge features over 20 acres of cultivated grounds with native and ornamental plants arranged by season. It’s a small but well-maintained property that’s easy to explore in under two hours. From the moment you enter, you’re surrounded by structured beds, shaded woodland trails, and speciality areas like the Herb Garden and Pond Garden. There’s a strong educational focus here too, with plant labels, classes, and exhibitions often hosted in the Leonhardt Galleries. The grounds are walkable and flat, with benches throughout, making it easy for families or older visitors to enjoy at their own pace.
Location: 5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge, MA
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Cost: $18 / ₹1600 per adult
Major Attractions: Themed plant collections, education centre, seasonal garden events, pollinator and woodland trails
9. Tour Naumkeag’s Historic Estate And Gardens
Photo: Magicpiano / Wikimedia Commons
Naumkeag sits about 25 minutes from Hancock and offers one of the most distinctive architectural sites near the town. The former summer estate of the Choate family, this property includes a 44-room Gilded Age mansion and expansive hillside gardens designed by landscape architect Fletcher Steele. The house is preserved with its original furnishings, and you can either take a guided tour or move through at your own pace. Outside, you’ll find features like the Blue Steps, a cascading marble staircase framed by birch trees, and several terraces with sculpted hedges and seasonal plantings.
Location: 5 Prospect Hill Road, Stockbridge, MA
Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM
Cost: $20 / ₹1800 per adult
Major Attractions: Gilded Age mansion, Blue Steps, art installations, hilltop garden terraces
10. Attend A Summer Concert At Tanglewood
Photo: Ivor Forrest / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Around 20 minutes from Hancock, Tanglewood is the seasonal performance venue for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Concerts run from late June to August and include evening symphonies, jazz programs, and weekend chamber ensembles. You can book seats under the open-air shed or bring a blanket for the lawn, which allows for a relaxed picnic-style evening. Food stalls and wine stations are available inside, but many guests bring their own setup, like coolers, folding chairs, and even candles. The grounds open hours before the concert, so it’s common for people to arrive early and settle in slowly.
Location: 297 West Street, Lenox, MA
Cost: $25 / ₹2200 (varies by event)
Major Attractions: Boston Symphony Orchestra, classical and contemporary concerts, open lawn seating, summer music festivals
The things to do in Hancock, MA combine hands-on experiences with the kind of calm that’s hard to find in bigger towns. You’re not rushing between crowds or standing in lines here. You’re walking forest trails, tasting fresh maple syrup, and stepping into history that still moves. Even nearby towns add depth without pulling you too far from the Berkshire rhythm. Plan your trip to Hancock with TripXL.
Cover Photo: Ericshawwhite / Wikimedia Commons
