Best Roadside Waterfalls in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is unusually strong at waterfall scenery without committing to a full mountain day. These picks favor shorter approaches and straightforward parking, not zero risk.
Use the map to stack a day, then read each page for parking, respect for neighbors and landowners, and where a “roadside” stop still means slick stone or cold shock. For a Berkshire-heavy loop, see waterfalls in the Berkshires.
Rank 1: 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 2: 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 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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
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: 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 8: 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 9: Royalston Falls — Royalston area
Viewing only, not a swim stop
45-ft plunge on Falls Brook in Trustees' Royalston Falls Reservation. Reached via the Tully Trail / New England Trail.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 10 min
Rank 10: Sanderson Brook Falls — Chester
Viewing only, not a swim stop
~80-foot tiered falls in Chester-Blandford State Forest. ~1-mile walk in on the gated Sanderson Brook Road off Route 20.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 25 min