Best Waterfall Hikes in Massachusetts
This list rewards a real walk: gorge footing, elevation change, and seasonal mud are part of the deal. Pick a row that matches your fitness and daylight, not just the prettiest photo.
If you want shorter approaches first, jump to easiest Massachusetts waterfalls before you commit to a hike-in fall.
Rank 1: 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 2: Bash Bish Falls — Mount Washington / 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…
- Walk
- 20 min down, 30 min up
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: 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
Rank 5: Money Brook Falls — North Adams
Viewing only, not a swim stop
80-ft cascade on Mount Greylock's back side. Shortest approach 1 mi from Notch Road; gated late fall to mid-spring.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 45 min
Rank 6: 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 7: Tannery Falls Trail — 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 8: Chapel Falls Trail (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 9: Doane's Falls — Royalston
Trustees' Doane's Falls in Royalston: dramatic drops on Lawrence Brook. Swimming prohibited — viewing only.
- Walk
- 15 min
Rank 10: Sages Ravine (Upper Falls) — Mount Washington
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A cascade on Sages Ravine Brook along the Appalachian Trail on the MA/CT line. Multi-mile walk-in; viewing stop, not a…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 90-120 min one-way