Waterfalls & Swimming Holes From North Adams & Williamstown
North Adams and Williamstown make a strong northern Berkshire base when you want waterfalls, ponds, and park-style swim stops in one outing. The best picks here are close enough to combine without turning the day into a long drive.
Use the map to see how the stops group together, then open each guide for parking, footing, and whether the water is better for a real swim or a shorter cool-off. For a broader Berkshire roundup, see Massachusetts swimming holes.
Rank 1: The Cascade (North Adams) — North Adams
Viewing only, not a swim stop
~30-foot drop on Notch Brook in a hemlock ravine. Short rocky walk from Marion Avenue in North Adams.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 25 min
Rank 2: Windsor Jambs — Windsor
80-foot granite slot canyon in Windsor State Forest. No swimming, no climbing; Jambs Trail along the rim from the….
- Walk
- 15 min
Rank 3: Clarksburg State Park - Mauserts Pond — Clarksburg
Small sandy beach at Mauserts Pond in far-north Berkshires. Lifeguarded in season, loop trail, campground nearby.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 5 min
Rank 4: Hudson Brook Chasm — North Adams
Viewing only, not a swim stop
White-marble chasm carved by Hudson Brook at DCR's Natural Bridge State Park, North Adams.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 15 min
Rank 5: Mount Hope Park — North Adams
Small Williamstown park at the Green River / Roaring Brook confluence. Shallow unofficial swim under a cascade; fishing and… (Williamstown, Massachusetts).
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 5 min
Rank 6: 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