| White Rock | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,550 ft (780 m) |
| Parent peak | 42° 43' 29"N, 73° 16' 34"W |
| Coordinates | High point: 42°45′14″N73°16′48″W / 42.75389°N 73.28000°W /42.75389; -73.28000 Ridgeline: 42°48′26″N73°19′11″W / 42.80722°N 73.31972°W /42.80722; -73.31972 to 42°43′29″N73°16′34″W / 42.72472°N 73.27611°W /42.72472; -73.27611 |
| Geography | |
| Location | Williamstown, Massachusetts,Pownal, Vermont, andPetersburgh, New York |
| Parent range | Taconic Mountains |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Ordovician |
| Mountain type(s) | Thrust fault;metamorphic rock andsedimentary rock |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Taconic Crest Trail |
White Rock, 2,550 feet (780 m), is the high point on a 7 mi (11 km) ridgeline in theTaconic Mountains. The ridge is located in the tri-state corner ofNew York,Massachusetts, andVermont in the towns ofPetersburgh,Williamstown, andPownal. The ridge has several distinct knobs; those with names are, from south to north:White Rocks, 2,365 feet (721 m);Smith Hill, 2,330 feet (710 m);White Rock, the high point 2,550 feet (780 m); andBald Mountain 2,485 feet (757 m).The Snow Hole, located along the ridgeline between Bald Mountain and the White Rock, is a crevasse in which snow can be found well into the summer.
The summit and west side of the ridge are located in New York, the east side in Vermont, and the southeast 2 miles (3.2 km) in Massachusetts. The summit ridge is part meadow and part wooded withred spruce,balsam fir, andnorthern hardwood tree species. It is notable for its views of theHoosic River valley andHudson River Valley. The 35 mi (56 km)Taconic Crest Trail traverses the mountain. Portions of the ridge are within protected conservation land, but much of it is privately owned.
The Taconic Mountains continue north from White Rock ridge across the Hoosic River valley asMount Anthony and south over Petersburgh Pass asMount Raimer. The White Rock ridge is flanked to the east across the Hoosic River Valley by the western escarpment of theGreen Mountains. The west side of the ridge drains into theLittle Hoosic River, thence into theHoosic River, theHudson River, andLong Island Sound. The east side drains into the Hoosic River.Petersburg Pass, located onNew York Route 2/Massachusetts Route 2, cuts over the gap between the southernmost knob of the ridge, White Rocks, and Mount Raimer, at an elevation of 1,650 feet (500 m).