Riding the Wave in Williamstown

IMBA’s Trail Accelerator Grant Makes Ripples in Massachusetts

by Liz Chrisman

Nestled in the scenic Berkshires where Massachusetts meets New York, a new chapter in outdoor recreation is unfolding.

Thanks to an IMBA Trail Accelerator Grant, Purple Valley Trails, a dedicated chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), is turning a vision into reality: a purpose-built, multi-use trail system designed to connect people with nature and each other.

Spark to Traction

The Williamstown area, home to Williams College, boasts a rich history of outdoor recreation, particularly hiking, with hundreds of miles of trails, including the famed Appalachian Trail. However, dedicated mountain biking opportunities were conspicuously absent. As IMBA Trail Solutions Project Manager Liz Grades observed, "it is pretty much a mountain bike trail desert in that area." This gap was also recognized by residents like Bill MacEwen, Purple Valley Trails' President, upon moving to Williamstown from British Columbia.