Waterbury Outdoor Activities

The proprietor and chief guide behind Hilltown Wilderness Adventures, Marla BB, invites patrons to hitch their dreams of adventure onto the backs of her alaskan huskies for mushing, skijoring, and outdoor excursions in the Berkshires. Her hallmark attraction is mushing through both snowy hills and on dryland tracks—a unique offering for the region that has earned her attention from media outlets such as Mushing magazine and Animal Planet.

The skijoring and sled-dog school teaches novices how to captain a team of dogs either in a sled or on skis, which can give them give them a way to skip long ski-resort lift lines. Marla also leads day excursions through DAR State Forest, Chesterfield Gorge and Westfield River, and the Deerfield River Watershed, keeping bikers, hikers, kayakers, and bird watchers safe as she is a certified wilderness first responder and an expert in swift-water safety and rescue.

Having set up camp at The Mount Brace Outdoor Club and Flight Park, Let’s Go Paragliding sends its students skyward under the guidance of owner Benoit Bruneau. A certified instructor, Benoit was named the 2010 paragliding instructor of the year by the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. At his facility, Benoit oversees introductory paragliding lessons, and for more advanced students, tandem flights, personal training, and training programs. Let’s Go Paragliding also stocks high-quality paragliding equipment and gear.

Berkshire Bike and Board stables a crew of bicycle-savvy mechanics, who assemble shipped parts from brands such as Giant, Scott, and Felt into road-worthy cycles. Sales staff call on their own riding passions to help customers peruse the stock of hybrid, mountain, road, and children's bikes and select the vessel most suited to their needs. Patrons can then take their preferred model on a test ride to ensure that the bike is a good fit and harbors no ill feelings toward the family automobile. A lifetime of free tune-ups accompanies each of the shop’s cycles, and an array of aerodynamic gear can keep bikers safe and comfortable. Temporary cyclists can also borrow from an onsite rental fleet. Men’s and women’s snowboards and snowshoes round out the selection to help customers conquer the mountains in any season.

East Fishkill Golf Center's 26-acre, multisport facility awakens the sportsmanship of every visitor regardless of age or athletic prowess. The grounds cater to ball-strikers of all stripes, whether protecting the strike zone in 1 of the 11 batting-cage stalls, avoiding the waterfalls and elevation changes on the 19-hole miniature-golf course, or aiming for displaced UFOs on the 35-stall lighted driving range. A 12,000-square-foot indoor facility carpeted with astroturf houses a regulation softball infield complete with pitching mounds and a spectator viewing area.

The nine-hole course at Northampton Country Club was carved into the countryside in 1898. Four sets of tees make each time-honored hole manageable, whether a player can hit the long ball or prefers to throw the ball toward the green. A river comes into play on two holes, and the wide fairways cut through regions of dense forest that can ensnare errant balls.

After a round, players can head to the recently renovated clubhouse to dine at the 19th Hole bar and grill and regale fellow visitors with tall tales of booming drives and the 3-foot putt that got away.

Course at a Glance:

• Nine-hole, par 35 course
• Total length of 3,041 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 69 from the back tees
• Course slope of 119 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole

North Fork Bike Tours leads wine lovers on foot-powered excursions through the picturesque farms, gardens, and vineyards of local wine country. Tours traipse across the North Fork of Long Island and offer a rare, on-the ground view into local wine culture. Riders progress at a leisurely pace over predominantly flat terrain and well-surfaced roads while stopping to enjoy sips at local vineyards. All riders are provided with bicycles that feature baskets for carrying home souvenirs and bottles freshly plucked from the vineyards' wine trees.