The Berkshire Mountains, or Berkshires for short, were formed hundreds of millions of years ago with the Appalachian Mountains, and have been eroded down into the beautiful mountains and hills we know today. The area is popular for all kinds of outdoor activities both in summer and winter, and receives a burst of fall tourism thanks to its extraordinary fall color displays. In addition to many farms and a vibrant art scene, the area boasts a healthy amount of public lands for outdoor recreation, such as Beartown and Tolland State Forests and Bash Bish Falls State Park just to name a few.