Hinsdale, MA Road Trips

The area that is now Hinsdale used to be Mohican land, bordering land that was Pocumtuc and Mohican. It was first colonized by Europeans in 1763. It was incorporated as "Partridgefield" in 1771, named for Oliver Partridge, one of the three purchasers of the town. The Western Parish of Partridgefield broke away from its eastern half and incorporated in 1804, renaming itself for the family of the reverend Theodore Hinsdale. Hinsdale owned an important woolen mill, which remained important to the economy of the town until it closed during the Great Depression. Hinsdale is bordered by Dalton to the west, Washington to the south, Peru to the east, and Windsor to the north. The Appalachian Trail runs through forest in the southeast of the town but has no designated trailheads or overnight sleeping areas in the Hinsdale section.

1 Lake Ashmere. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Hinsdale Town Library, 58 Maple St, ☏ +1 413-655-2303, [email protected]. M 9AM-1PM, Tu-F 2P-6PM, Sa 9AM-1PM. Erected 1866, the building is in French Tudor style, a rare style for New England (updated Dec 2025)

1 Bas Ridge Country Club, 151 Plunkett Ave, ☏ +1 413-655-2605. Daily 7AM-7PM. Golf course; accepts walk-ins (updated Dec 2025) 2 Ashmere Lake Boat Ramp, 121 Smith Rd/Hickingbotham Rd (take Creamery Rd off of MA Rt 143; at the junction with Middlefield Rd, continue straight onto Middlefield Rd/Skyline Trail; turn left onto Hickingbotham Rd/Smith Rd, look for the turnoff north to the lake; the turnoff is on the left just before the right turn of the road), ☏ +1 617-727-1843. Boat launch and small beach for Lake Ashmere. (updated Dec 2025) 3 Ashmere Island, Ashmere Lake (access by boat from the south, unless there is ice deep enough to safely travel over the lake on foot), ☏ +1 413-499-0596. An island in the northern part of the lake. Great for picnicking; if doing so, all traces of food must be picked up and taken with you! Only accessible by boat except in cases where the water has frozen deep enough to support going on foot over the ice. The boat launch in the far south of the lake is the only public access point for watercraft. (updated Dec 2025) 4 Cleveland Brook Reservoir, Frank Shnopp Rd (if coming from the south in Hinsdale, take New Windsor Rd from MA Rt 143; at the junction with Stonehouse Rd, bear left onto Stonehouse Rd; continue north to the junction with Frank Shopp Rd and turn left onto Frank Shnopp Rd; if coming from Dalton in the west, take Old Windsor Rd off of Main St; continue to the junction with Frank Shopp Rd and bear right onto Frank Shnopp Rd.). Reservoir popular for fishing and birdwatching.

1 Hinsdale Pizza House, 90 Main St (at the junction of Main St with River Rd (MA Rt 8)), ☏ +1 413-655-4019, [email protected]. Tu-W 3PM-8PM; Th-Sa noon-8PM. Pizza, Italian, and Greek food. Has dine-in, takeout, and delivery. $10-$20. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Krispy Krunchy Chicken, 371 Old Dalton Rd (just off MA Rt 8), ☏ +1 413-655-4039. M-Sa 11AM-6PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Hinsdale location of a national fried chicken restaurant chain. Inside the Hinsdale Food Mart (updated Dec 2025) 3 Ozzie's Steak and Eggs, 26 Maple St (just off of Main St, between Main St and MA Rt 8), ☏ +1 413-655-8309. Tu-Sa 8AM-1:30PM, Su 8AM-12:30noon. American cuisine, serves breakfast and lunch $10-$20. (updated Dec 2025) 4 Topsy's Treats, 258 Maple St (MA Rt 143), ☏ +1 413-655-4044, [email protected]. W-F 3PM-9PM, Sa-Su 1PM-9PM. Ice cream shop. Hard serve made in house, and soft serve. (updated Dec 2025)

If you want an indoor hotel experience, you will have to go nearby; Hinsdale only offers outdoor campsites as listed below. For hotels or other similar lodging, look in Peru, Windsor, Cummington, Dalton, and Pittsfield. 1 Fernwood Forest Campground, 350 Longview Ave (from Main St (MA Rt 8), turn onto Bridge St. Then turn left onto Commonwealth Ave, then right onto Goodrich St and then left onto Longview Ave. Continue on Longview Ave until the destination), ☏ +1 413-655-2292, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Campground with pop up tenting spaces, tents, camper rentals, and RV camping spaces. Includes WiFi, campfire spaces, a recreation hall, and an outdoor playground and lawn games area. Contact for season and rates information. Business hours 8AM-8PM daily. 2025 season was May 1 - October 15. Tent sites with no electricity – $35/night, $210 week; Tent sites, pop ups and RVs with under 20 ft (6 meters) – with 20 amps of electricity – $45/night, $300/week; RVs – with 50 and 30 amps of electricity – $50/night, $300/week; camper rentals – $85/night, $500 weekly. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Summit Hill Campground, 34 Old Middlefield Rd (take MA Rt 8 to the junction with Bullards Crossing Rd, then take Bullards Crossing Rd to the junction with E Washington Rd.

The best way into Hinsdale is MA Route 8, which runs northwest from Dalton, through Hinsdale, and then south into Washington. MA Route 143, whose eastern terminus originates off MA Route 9 in Williamsburg, terminates in Hinsdale and is the best route into the town from the east. While it is possible to travel to Hinsdale on foot from neighboring towns, the best means of travel in is by car.

The main roads of Hinsdale are traversable on foot, but going further afield on foot is more difficult and more time consuming. Car is the best means of transportation around town. Cycling is also possible.