Top 10 Waterfalls in Massachusetts
If you want the strongest all-around Massachusetts waterfall trips, start here. The list leans Berkshire-heavy because that is where the state gives you the most reliable day-trip options.
Use the list to compare stops, then open the full page for parking, walk time, seasonal flow, and whether the stop is better for a walk, a wade, or a swim. For swim-first planning, see Massachusetts swimming holes.
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: Race Brook Falls — Sheffield
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Multi-tiered Race Brook cascade in Mount Everett Reservation, Sheffield. Route 41 trailhead; ~0.5 mi to lower falls, ~2 mi…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 60 min
Rank 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 7: Doane's Falls — Royalston
Trustees' Doane's Falls in Royalston: dramatic drops on Lawrence Brook. Swimming prohibited — viewing 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