When You Gotta Go

By Patricia Racine

June 2025

I have hiked all over the Berkshires and have seen some incredibly beautiful sights, but for me, the most beautiful sight is finding an outhouse on the trail or coming out to a trail head with a porta-potty. I am not afraid to admit that I have never gone to the bathroom in the woods, even though I carry a Shewee and a full toilet kit in my hiking bag. Don’t judge me. In my opinion there should be facilities at every trail head, and I’m sure I’m not the only person who would greatly appreciate them. There are plenty of trails that have them though, and surprisingly they are all in good condition, at least when I have used them.

There are plenty of nice clean facilities at the bigger Mass Dept. of Conservation and Recreation State Park trail heads. Beartown State Forest has some right at the parking lot in addition to an outhouse at their CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) shelter and two at the Appalachian Trail shelters that are located in the park. Granville State Forest had some in the parking lot the last time I was there, and they have two more noted on their maps partway down the trails. Unfortunately, those have been locked since COVID and may or may not have a nasty note scribbled on their closed sign by someone who may or may not be writing this article.

Greylock State Forest has by far the best facilities. There are proper bathrooms in their beautiful visitor center at the bottom of the mountain and a plethora of porta-potties at the top in the parking lot below the Veterans Tower. 

There are also five shelter outhouses located on the mountain, two along the Appalachian Trail, the north and south sections, and the others on the east and west sides.

October Mountain State Forest has just two facilities, even though it is the largest State Forest in Massachusetts. One is located at the headquarters/campground and the other at the Appalachian Trail shelter. There used to be a proper bathroom in the parking lot at the top of the mountain, but after it was vandalized it was closed and replaced with a porta-potty, only to have that blown up with firecrackers by some vandals. And rounding our bathroom tour of the state parks is Sanderson Brook Falls in the Chester-Blandford State Forest. This is where the Tricia Racine Memorial porta-potty is located; I lobbied for an entire winter to have it placed there after 2020 when I noticed an increase of visitors to this park. Thankfully it hasn’t been vandalized, but it also hasn’t had a plaque with my name on it erected … curious.

The only non-state run trail head that I have found with facilities is the Becket Historic Quarry. And honestly, I am surprised that this one hasn’t been destroyed by vandals because they sure do leave a ton of beer and White Claw cans up by the quarry hole that they also use illegally as a swimming hole. It’s not like there aren’t trash and recycling cans in the parking lot and tons of signs saying no swimming. There is a history of accidents that have occurred from kids getting hurt jumping into the water. Guess the visitors to the quarry have not heard about “Leave no Trace.” No wonder there is a parking fee during the season just to cover the cleanup costs.

I know that porta-potties and outhouses have a very bad reputation but when you gotta go, you gotta go, and I am grateful that these places have them for hikers. Personally, I think that they really aren’t too bad because most people refuse to use them, so they are generally in good condition. And, just a tip, they get cleaned on Wednesdays.