10 Easiest Waterfalls in Massachusetts
These picks skew toward shorter walks and simpler parking setups. Easy access is not the same as safe swimming: cold water, slick rock, and posted closures still matter.
Compare stops on the map, then open each page for the real walk time, footing notes, and whether the place is better for a walk, a wade, or a swim. Want the bigger-hit list first? Start with Top 10 waterfalls in Massachusetts.
Rank 1: Bash Bish Falls — Great Barrington / Copake Falls area
State's signature twin waterfall on the MA / NY line in Mount Washington. DCR Bash Bish Falls State Park; no swimming, no… (Mount Washington,…
- Walk
- 20 min down, 30 min up
Rank 2: Wahconah Falls — Dalton
Viewing only, not a swim stop
DCR day-use park in Dalton with a strong single-drop cascade. Short walk from the lot to the overlook and base pool —…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 5 min
Rank 3: Umpachene Falls — New Marlborough
Town-owned falls park in New Marlborough with a river-pool swim above the tiered cascade. Day-use hours; non-resident fee in…
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 2 min
Rank 4: Chapel Falls (Chapel Brook Reservation) — Ashfield
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Short Trustees trail in Ashfield to a tiered hemlock-shaded cascade. Half-mile round trip; no swim.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 10 min
Rank 5: Tannery Falls — Savoy
Viewing only, not a swim stop
~50-foot ribbon drop on Ross Brook in Savoy Mountain State Forest. Short steep trail from Tannery Road; paired with Parker….
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 25 min
Rank 6: Doane's Falls — Royalston
Trustees' Doane's Falls in Royalston: dramatic drops on Lawrence Brook. Swimming prohibited — viewing only.
- Walk
- 15 min
Rank 7: Royalston Falls Pool — Royalston
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Plunge pool at the base of the 45-ft Royalston Falls gorge on Falls Brook. Steep, slippery descent from the Tully Trail;…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 10 min
Rank 8: Glendale Falls — Pittsfield area
Viewing only, not a swim stop
~160-ft multi-tier cascade on Glendale Brook in Middlefield. Trustees reservation, ~7-car lot on Clark Wright Road (Middlefield, Massachusetts).
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 15 min
Rank 9: Shelburne Falls (Deerfield River falls cluster) — Shelburne
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Village-and-dam scene on the Deerfield River in Shelburne/Buckland. Salmon Falls, the Glacial Potholes, Bridge of Flowers;…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 5 min
Rank 10: Trap Falls — Ashby
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Small rocky cascade on Trapfall Brook, off Route 119 in Willard Brook State Forest. Short walk from the DCR lot.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 5 min