Holy Mount facts for kids

Holy Mount is a special mountain in the Taconic Mountains of western Massachusetts. It stands about 1,968 feet (600 m) tall. Long ago, a religious group called the Shakers used this mountain for their important ceremonies. It's a place with both interesting history and beautiful nature.

Exploring Holy Mount

Where is Holy Mount?

Holy Mount is located inside the Pittsfield State Forest. You can explore the mountain by walking on the Shaker Trail. This trail is a loop that is about 5 mi (8.0 km) long. It starts at a historic place called Hancock Shaker Village. The mountain is covered with many types of trees, like maple and birch. These are known as northern hardwood trees.

Besides the main top, Holy Mount has two other peaks. One is to the west and is called Mount Lebanon. It is about 1,750 feet (530 m) high. There is also an unnamed peak to the north, which is about 1,920 feet (590 m) high.

Mountain Borders and Waterways

Most of Holy Mount is in a town called Hancock, Massachusetts. However, the lower western parts are in New Lebanon, New York. The Taconic mountain range continues from Holy Mount. To the north is Doll Mountain, and to the east is Shaker Mountain.

Water flows off Holy Mount in different directions. The west side of the mountain drains into Wyomanock Creek. This creek then flows into Kinderhook Creek, which eventually reaches the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. The east side of the mountain drains into Shaker Brook. This brook flows into the Housatonic River, which also reaches Long Island Sound.

There are also two ponds on the mountain's southwest side. These are called Twin Ponds and Cranberry Pond. Hikers can visit these ponds using the Taconic Skyline Trail and the Taconic Crest Trail.