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   Massachusetts: Berkshire East Mountain Resort: Expansions
Ski Area Expansions
 
Little Beaver at Berkshire East Mountain Resort
Little Beaver Details
Little Beaver
Status:Abandoned
First Season of Operation:1977-78
Lifts:1 chairlift
Terrain:Novice terrain
Return to Berkshire East Mountain Resort Profile
After repairing the infrastructure upon taking over Berkshire East in 1976, the new ownership opted to build a new novice area, as to better serve thousands of beginner skiers visiting via urban bus trips. While an open slope on the east side of the base area was considered (the Deerfield River Club condo development would later be built at the base of the slope), three trails were instead cut at the far western end.

A new-used SLI double chairlift was purchased from a defunct ski area on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Advertised as 1,000 feet long, the Little Beaver chairlift served three trails - Little Beaver, Snowdance, and Running Brook.

By the time the early 1990s rolled around, the area was seldom used, as the urban bus trips seized. In addition, the relatively remote location of the area (the bottom terminal of the chairlift was below the West Lodge and a very long walk), as well as a lack of snowmaking led to the decline in use. The chairlift was sold to a mid-Atlantic ski area and the trails removed from the 1995-96 trail map.

The upper portion of the Running Brook trail would later become the bottom of the Roundabout ski trail. In addition, the lower portion of the Running Brook Trail would become the snow tubing area in 2007.


Aerial shot of the Little Beaver complex from the 1980s
Aerial shot of the Little Beaver complex from the 1980s

The last trail map to show the Little Beaver complex (1994-95)
The last trail map to show the Little Beaver complex (1994-95)

The Running Brook trail during Wilderness Peak work in 1999
The Running Brook trail during Wilderness Peak work in 1999

The Running Brook trail during Wilderness Peak work in 1999
The Running Brook trail during Wilderness Peak work in 1999

Looking up the Little Beaver trail at the new Wilderness Peak trail in 2002
Looking up the Little Beaver trail at the new Wilderness Peak trail in 2002

Looking down the Little Beaver in spring 2007
Looking down the Little Beaver in spring 2007

Looking down the Wilderness Peak trail at Little Beaver in 2007 during construction of the snow tubing area
Looking down the Wilderness Peak trail at Little Beaver in 2007 during construction of the snow tubing area

Looking down the Snowdance trail in 2007 during construction of the snow tubing area
Looking down the Snowdance trail in 2007 during construction of the snow tubing area

Looking down former Running Brook trail location at the new snow tubing area (2007)
Looking down former Running Brook trail location at the new snow tubing area (2007)

Berkshire East Mountain Resort Expansion History
Project NameSeasonStatus
1972 Expansion1972-73Cancelled
Little Beaver1977-78Abandoned
North Face2017-18Construction
Outback1994-95Open
Summit Area1961-62Open
West Area1962-63Open
Wilderness Peak2002-03Open
Return to Berkshire East Mountain Resort Ski History

Last updated: November 12, 2014

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