Along the western border, Berkshire County, M.A. has a population count of 129,026 and spans across 946 miles of the state. This county is home to larger cities like Pittsfield, which is the county seat, North Adams, and Great Barrington. This area also encompasses plenty of parks and reservations like October Mountain State Forest and Mt. Washington State Forest.

Hinsdale is located in the Berkshire Hills, with most of its population located in a valley along the east branch of the Housatonic river, whose headwaters are just south of the town line. Much of the land around the river south of the town center is part of the Hinsdale Flats Wildlife Management reserve. The town was first settled in 1763 and officially incorporated as "Partridgefield" in 1771. Hinsdale, along with neighboring Dalton, is home to two historic long-distance routes: the Appalachian Trail (a National Scenic Trail) and the Boston and Albany Railroad, on which operates the Lake Shore Limited passenger rail service that has run continuously from Boston to Chicago since 1897.