Bash Bish Falls Trail

Bash Bish Falls Trail leads to the most spectacular waterfall in Massachusetts, a dramatic 80-foot cascade where Bash Bish Brook splits around a central granite monolith and plunges into a crystal-clear plunge pool set within a narrow Taconic gorge. The trail begins at the lower parking lot on West Road and follows the brook upstream through a hemlock-lined ravine, crossing a series of wooden footbridges before arriving at the falls overlook. The twin curtains of water converge below the central rock formation, creating a scene so photogenic that the falls have been painted, photographed, and described by travelers since the 19th century. The gorge walls are draped in liverworts, mosses, and ferns kept perpetually moist by the falls' mist. Swimming in the plunge pool is strictly prohibited due to dangerous currents and submerged rocks, though the temptation is understandable on hot summer days. The surrounding forest of hemlock, yellow birch, and red maple is particularly stunning during the October foliage season when the orange and red canopy frames the white cascades. A second, upper parking lot provides an alternate steeper approach from New York state via a connecting trail. Arrive early on summer weekends to secure parking.