The Ultimate Massachusetts Waterfalls Roadtrip
With all the snow melting, I decided to embark on the Ultimate Massachusetts Waterfalls Roadtrip in one weekend in April. It is a pretty insanely long road trip completely around Western Mass. at over 8 hours of just driving from the first waterfall, but they are all relatively easy hikes.
1.) Doane's Falls (Royalston) : Plenty of parking around the bridge, and really easy hike 5-10min to walk the whole thing. I would stop by here if I was going to kayaking around Tully lake which is beautiful in the Fall. It's really way out there though compared to the other falls. I'm not sure if I'll make an hour trip to go there, and then drive another hour to the next falls. Adventure, right?
2.)The Cascade (North Adams): Park on Marion Ave. next to a wooden fence for an easy 20 minute hike to these beautiful, quaint falls. It was really muddy and slippery especially near the base of the falls so be careful. Most of the mud I was covered in was from this hike. The trail isn't clearly marked, but just follow the path, and listen to the running water.
3.)Wahconah Falls (Dalton): Park on Back Dalton Rd on a little parking area pass the trailer homes and head down for another easy quick hike. These are small falls with a beautiful reservoir behind it if you hike up and over. A small picnic area for breakfast if you want to.
4.) March Cataract Falls (Adams, MA): When the main road opens to the summit of Mount Greylock. (Memorial Day in May to November 1) park next to the camping area on Sperry Rd off Rockwell Rd and follow the trail to the Falls. If the main road is closed, you can hike 2+ hours on the Roaring Brook Trail on Roaring Brook Rd in Williamstown, MA. There, you can hike up Mt. Greylock on the blue blazed trail for about 2 miles to the camping area on Sperry Rd and proceed to the falls. The last bridge is out on the trail but stay on the left of the brook towards Greylock and you'll hit the blue blazes again. There might be an easier way such as Hopper Rd trail, or others, but this was the shortest but strenuous hike to the falls. Make sure you have a map.
5.) Bash Bish Falls (Mt Washington): Easy hike to the falls on a wide developed trail. Park in the Taconic State Park in Copake Falls, NY and hike back over to Massachusetts for the falls. This is a must do, not because they're amazing, but because if you do a waterfalls trip, 10 people will ask you if you went to this one.
6.) Race Brook Falls (Sheffield): These are probably my favorite falls on this list. It's just amazing walking towards it. There is a little U parking area off of S Undermountain Rd, and a quick hike to the lower falls. There is also a trail up Mt Everett, just a really great place to explore and adventure around. Be aware, that these falls do dry up quick when water level becomes low, but when it is high... Wow.
7.) Umpachene Falls (New Marlborough): These are the lazy falls, and they are beautiful regardless. You can park on a little park area on the left after driving down a narrow dirt road. This would be a nice place for lunch since there are public grills, picnic tables, nice open grass to picnic (there's a cute bench tucked along the stream), though I'd probably lounge on the falls. It's a nice easy hike along these flat falls and a good way to relax and reflect, because there are two falls left.
8.) Campbell Falls (New Marlborough): You can take the easy way and park on the parking spot on Campbell Falls Rd or take a nice beautiful simple hike on the yellow blazed trail on Spaulding Rd. These falls are beautiful in the winter, but though not the largest, are probably the strongest. Definitely good times trying to climb around and enjoy the meadows around these falls. Time for a long hour drive to the last falls.
9.) Glendale Falls (Middlefield): Best for the last, maybe? These are spectacular when the water is running, and still beautiful even frozen over in winter. You can take the simple, easily accessible (stone stairs! how nice!) along the falls or like me and my friends, enjoy climbing up along the rocky cliffs of the falls. It's always sunny since it runs with the sun path, and a nice way to end the journey.
This trip is definitely nice, and there are other waterfalls around, but these are made for quick hikes and long drives. I'd definitely split it up for Doane's Falls by itself if you want to explore around Tully Lake, The Cascade, March Cataracts, and Wahconah if you're adventuring Mt. Greylock, and Bash Bish, Racing Brook, Umpachene, Campbell, and Glendale for a beautiful solid day of waterfalls.
So clean those lenses, have fun, and when the snow melts, you know it's waterfall season.
Inspired by (Thanks!):
Virtual Road Trip: Hollows
It's winter with no snow. That means one thing, MUD!
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Sit back and enjoy the ride!
A hollow (holler) is a small valley or dry stream bed. This term is commonly used in New England, Appalachia, Ozarks, Arkansas and Missouri to describe such geographic features. In rural areas, it may be pronounced as holler. Hollows may be formed by river valleys, or they may be relatively dry clefts with a notch-like characteristic in that they have a height of land and consequent water divide in their bases.