Massachusetts has over 400 waterfalls for visitors and locals to enjoy.
They cascade, break around boulders, and fall in long streams of water.
Several of the falls are in Franklin and Berkshire Counties, making it easy to see them – especially with the short distances it takes to hike to the various falls.
There are diverse types of falls, such as fans, cascades, and plunging falls, with varying heights; some are an impressive 850 and others a mere 15 feet.
1. Bash Bish Falls
Source: Colin D. Young / shutterstockBash Bish Falls in the state park of the same name lies outside of Mount Washington, Massachusetts and Berkshire County.
The waterfall plunges 80 feet, running through rocky terrain from Bash Bish Brook.
The trailhead in Massachusetts is 0.4 miles one way.
It is also possible to reach the falls from New York, going 0.75 miles from the trailhead in that state.
The trail is easier to walk if you’re coming from New York, but even in Massachusetts, it is a moderate hike.
When taking the Massachusetts side, hikers will go 300 feet down to the waterfalls, and only go up 125 feet from New York before descending 50 feet to the bottom.
Hikers should travel between April and November to see the falls.
2. Doane’s Falls
Source: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism / FlickrDoane’s Falls in Doane’s Falls Reservation is near Royalston, Massachusetts, in Worcester County.
Doane’s Falls plunge, cascade, and even have a block style look as the water falls from Lawrence Brook into the river below.
The height is about 175 feet total drop, despite some “shelving” made by rocks.
The path is easy to moderate and takes 0.3 miles one way to see the lower portion of the falls.
Visitors can bring their dogs to hike the area from April to November.
3. March Cataract Falls
Source: Bob P. B. / FlickrNear Williamstown, Massachusetts – in Berkshire County – are March Cataract Falls.
The waterfall is in Mt. Greylock State Reservation.
The height is only 30 feet, making it one of the shortest waterfalls in the state, but it also gives the falls a fan-like appearance, spreading out over the rocks rather than being a single plunge of water from Hopper Brook.
Hikers will go 1.4 miles one way to March Cataract Falls or can add another short hike to Deer Hill Falls, making the entire trip 3.8 miles.
The trail level is moderate difficulty for both falls.
Dogs are allowed with proper tags.
Hikers should visit between late May and June, although it is possible to visit all summer long.
4. Royalston Falls
Source: brooklynnmarin / shutterstockRoyalston Falls is part of the Royalston Falls Reservation in Royalston, Massachusetts, located in Worcester County.
The height of the falls is 45 feet, with a straight plunge from the top to the bottom.
The water comes from Falls Brook.
Hiking the path will take 0.8 miles into the falls and another 0.8 miles back.
The hiking time is usually around 30 minutes one way for experienced hikers on the moderate trail.
It is best to visit the falls between April and November.
Dogs are allowed, but swimming is not possible.
5. Twin Cascades
Source: Dougtone / FlickrThe Twin Cascades waterfall is near Florida, Massachusetts, in Berkshire County.
The waterfall is not part of any park, instead, lying on private property.
The property owners have allowed visitors to their falls, without charge, as long as tourists continue to be respectful of the area.
Twin Cascades plunges 80 feet and 60 feet and is part of Cascade Brook.
The trail length is 0.6 miles both ways, with a moderate difficulty level.
The hike is uphill to the waterfall.
Visitors should come in late April through November.
Dogs have been allowed on the trail, as long as owners are respectful of the property and pick up after them.
6. Bear’s Den Falls
Source: Dougtone / FlickrBear’s Den Falls is in Bear’s Den Reservation in New Salem, Massachusetts, which is in Franklin County.
The height of the falls is 12-feet, making it one of the smallest in the state.
Feeding the falls is the Swift River’s middle branch.
Hikers will find a pleasant walk of 0.4 miles or a ten-minute round-trip walk.
The trail is considered easy, with only a 50-foot elevation gain.
The reservation area does allow dogs.
Hikers should plan to visit between April and November for the best water flow and weather.
7. Chapel Brook Falls
Source: Dougtone / FlickrIf you are planning on taking a trip to various falls while in Massachusetts, Franklin County is one of the best places to go.
The county has several waterfalls, including Chapel Brook Falls, which is near Ashfield in the Chapel Brook Reservation.
The falls are the type with slides, cascades, and rocks creating little blocks of water to run down, instead of a continuous drop.
It creates three different heights, beginning at 20 feet, going to 15 feet, and then a 10-foot drop.
To get to the lower falls, hikers will go 0.2 miles one way on an easy path.
Swimming is possible at the lower falls from April through summer but is definitely not recommended into November.
8. Gunn Brook Falls
Source: Tom Walsh / WikimediaGunn Brook Falls is actually two waterfalls along the same river, which are about 15 feet each.
They spread roughly 6 to 8 feet in width, depending on the time of year and water flow.
It is just 0.2 miles to hike to the first falls and back to one’s car.
9. Umpachene Falls
Source: Dougtone / FlickrUmpachene Falls in Berkshire County, New Marlborough is found in the Umpachene Falls Park.
The waterfall is 40-feet in height and part of the Umpachene River.
The trail is less than a 0.2-mile round-trip.
The trail is easy, especially during May through October.
10. Slatestone Brook Falls
Source: Dougtone / FlickrSlatestone Brook Falls in Sunderland, Massachusetts is part of the Franklin County tour of waterfalls.
However, these falls are located on private property so you cannot hike directly to them.
The waterfall is visible from the roadside, though.
A 40-foot drop will show you the fan of water flowing from the river down the rocky mountainside.
The water is highest during April through June.
11. Wahconah Falls
Source: jdwfoto / shutterstockWahconah Falls lie near Dalton, Massachusetts, in Berkshire County.
Hikers can visit Wahconah Falls State Park to enjoy the cascading falls, with a 40-foot drop.
The waterfall is fed by Wahconah Falls Brook.
The trail to Wahconah Falls is 0.1 miles one way.
The best time to visit is between April and November.
Swimming is prohibited due to the rushing water posing a danger.
12. Tannery Falls
Source: Paula Stephens / shutterstockTannery Falls in Berkshire county – near Savoy, Massachusetts – can be found in Savoy Mountain State Forest.
The falls have different levels cascading, plunging, and sliding down the mountain.
At some points, the falls are 60 feet, before becoming an 80-foot fall, with some shorter areas that are 5 to 20 feet in length.
Overall, the elevation gain is 200 feet for the entire falls.
The trail is 0.8 miles to walk to the falls and back; it is an easy to moderate hike.
Hikers should visit during May through October for the best weather.
Dogs are allowed on the trail as long as they have vaccination tags and are well controlled by their guardians.
13. Race Brook Falls
Source: Dougtone / FlickrRace Brook Falls in Sheffield, Massachusetts, has a 300-foot drop, making them one of the longest and heights waterfalls in the state.
The waterfall is inside Mt. Everett State Reservation in Berkshire County.
The cascade and horsetails of the waterfall make it distinctive and beautiful.
The trail is 0.7 miles one-way, which will get the hiker to the lower falls area.
Hikers with experience can continue on the more difficult path to the upper falls by going another mile.
There are five falls as part of the Race Brook system that is 1.3 miles one-way.
The lower fall area is a moderate hike.
Elevation gain – depending on how far one hikes – can range from 500 feet to 850 feet.
The best time to visit the falls is from May to October, due to the path condition and changes in weather.
14. Goldmine Brook Falls
Source: DarZel / shutterstockIn Chester-Blandford State Forest, hikers can visit Goldmine Brook Falls.
The state forest is outside Chester, in Hampden County.
Goldmine Brook falls is 45-feet high, with horsetails and plunges of water coming from Goldmine Brook.
The trail is less than 0.1 miles one-way, with a moderate to difficult hike, given the rocky path.
It takes about five minutes to reach the falls, with an elevation gain of 100 feet.
Dogs are welcome, and swimming, while available, is not so enjoyable.
Hikers should plan their visit between April and November.
15. Campbell Falls
Source: Dougtone / FlickrCampbell Falls in Campbell Falls State Park Reserve – near New Marlborough, Massachusetts – is a 50-foot waterfall.
Visitors to Berkshire County have plenty of waterfalls to visit, including a few that are taller, but the plunging and cascading falls on the Whiting River are magnificent.
Hikers can walk just 0.2 miles on an easy path to see the lower falls and enjoy the 125-foot elevation gain.
Given the winters in the area, April to November is the best time to visit Campbell Falls.