247 State Route 344. Turkey, archery and shotgun: Fall season: 10/17 to 11/1 Spring season: 5/1 to 5/31. It is a very pretty hike with all the fall foliage around you. Another story is about a tightrope walker. The walk from the Massachusetts parking lot is much shorter and steeper, and its the one Ill write up below. Cha-ching! This is part of a much larger park system, Taconic State Park. There is no rope blocking the steps down to the falls, but there are signs up saying they are closed. Did not see any attempt to enforce the rule. Alcohol, coolers, and glass containers are prohibited. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information. That way, morons like me who didnt read the map at the kiosk wont get lost.). Parked at the lot and it was a fairly easy 3/4 mile hike to the falls. The waterfall was mostly frozen but had a few ice windows where the water could be seen cascading down. The situation in 2021 was a disgrace. Luckily this plow truck with a mountain of man operator came by. [3], Although Bash Bish Falls are located in Mt. [11], In addition to the falls themselves, other recreation attractions in the immediate area include Taconic State Park (camping, cabin rentals, fishing, swimming, hiking, cross country skiing, and hunting),[12] a network of hiking trails including the South Taconic Trail (day hiking and overnight hiking),[13] and the Hudson Valley Rail Trail (walking, bicycling).[14]. From the upper parking area (on the Massachusetts side), the trail is shorter, but goes more steeply down to the falls. [6], In 2020, fueled by social media photographs and the COVID-19 pandemic (which increased use of outdoor spaces, especially those close to metropolitan areas), visitation to the falls increased exponentially, with published reports and photographs of crowds numbering an estimated 1000 to 1500 people at a time. The closure took effect May 29, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and will be permanent. It started snowing heavily. eventually this may lead to shutting down the grounds for us all,depending on the action of the state. This was a great, easy trek to test some cold weather gear. In about a mile, youll see the Taconic State Park on your right, which is the NY trailhead for Bash Bish Falls (there are often orange cones on the center line here). Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We both enjoyed the hike from that spot, so its the one Im recommending here, plus it has an extra little view that the New York lot doesnt have. According to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the access point is closed from Memorial Day to Columbus Day every year since July 2020. Dress in layers to be able to regulate your comfort level. Perhaps it would all depend on our definition of unsafe, as there are quite a few rocks and cliffs here to fall from, beyond the falls themselves. No target practice. Long haul from Western MA. Where you park determines your hike to the falls. One story includes a 15-year-old who, several decades ago, almost fell off the Falls, but was caught by the wrists and pulled to safety. The Great Blondin stated that because of the boulders in the chasm he found Bash Bish more frightening than Niagara. Bash Bish Falls is located in Bash Bish Falls State Park. Now because of his death people are claiming Bash Bish is unsafe. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Bash Bish Falls State Park, is. If you find this free trail guide useful, please provide payment by picking up at least one piece of litter on your hike. You can do the round trip in about 30 minutes from the NY trail head, but youll want to spend some time at the falls. You soon approach the border between NY and MA which is clearly marked. From Copake Falls, follow Route 344 into the hollow, passing the Iron Works Museum on the right, and then pull into the large parking area, also on the right. But the fact is that he did Bash Bish first, said Blue. Hi! In its heyday, a total of 5,000 tons of iron ore were wheeled into Copake Falls each year from surrounding towns such as Pawling and Amenia. Enchanted seems like a better adjective, and it wouldn't be surprising to see fairies or nymphs lounging on the mossy rocks jutting out below it. also, do you have to go down or up the stairs that I see in the pic to actually see the falls? I cant wait to visit the Bash Bish Falls. Proof of rabies inoculation shall be produced if requested by staff. If you have doubts as to whether the trail is closed due to insufficient upkeep or whether there were too many slips and falls, just take a look at the . People will be allowed down to Bash Bish Falls in October and throughout the winter months. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. No trash cans. Entering the water is prohibited. There is a good trail map near the parking lot to show you where you are headed. I dont remember how wheelchair friendly the trail was, whether it was paved or rocky. It is not unsafe if youre obedient and use your noggin. No migratory birds. Our elementary age children walked the trail easily. Respect the dangers without taking risks. Thanks for sharing!! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He gave me some good advice about traveling in the area in this kind of weather. The falls are made up of a series of cascades, nearly 200 feet (61m) in total. Slight incline, not bad at all. Youre now looking straight down Bash Bish Gorge. Photo courtesy Wikipedia The small but deep Ore Pit Pond is a popular destination due to its excellent water quality. Stopped by Bash Bish Bicycle after a hike at the falls. Once you reach the falls, you can walk down the stairs (which are steep and awkward) to get close, however, you do not have to walk down the stairs to see the falls. Its a steady incline, not steep, but certainly a slight uphill all the way. No alcohol, or glass containers. On-road parking along Falls Road or Route 344 is not permitted at any time. Directions to the trailhead: From Millerton, NY, head north on Route 22 for 12 miles. Office hours vary - call ahead. It is not paved but flat with just a few places that are a little rough. The only time Ive ever seen anyone slip was in the winter when the steps were icy. The falls are located in Southwestern Massachusetts in the Taconic Mountains of Berkshire County, which neighbors Mount Washington State Forest in Massachusetts and Taconic State Park in New York. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The day use price is $50 and can accommodate up to 60 people. 5. From the New York parking lot, the walk is an easy, flatter 1.5-mile roundtrip stroll. Very cool place that I wouldnt have known existed without this website. There are a few access points to the falls and more than one parking lot. The trail is 3/4 mile to the waterfall. Some signs and a kiosk mark the entrance, along with a warning that if youre looking for a flat stroll, you should drive down to the NY trailhead. The easy-to-use Empire Pass card is $80- and your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. Nearby, Taconic State Park in New York state offers more visitor amenities, picnicking, and camping. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner on this one Im afraid I dont have any recommendations. Short Hike. We made a video in an attempt to convey how great this place is: Im thinking of take a group of people to do this hike on a Friday in October. Check out her best picks before buying anything. I suppose that would depend on how able the person in question is. My thanks to the owner of the local Subway shop for recommending it. Falls Rd. Because of this, park officials are aiming to keep people away from the Falls for the summer. I find it very depressing to witness these sacred falls being treated like a state funded playground, please have respect for this land. This is a lovely area but it is not a trash dump nor a place for doing whatever you want. Despite repeated attempts over three days by phone and email to get answers to questions regarding the new policy and closure, the press secretary for the Massachusetts DCR did not provide any information by press deadline. Mt. Columbia County Sheriffs Office Lieutenant Louis Bray, who was public information officer at the time, said in the story, the overcrowding had a ripple effect. It led to traffic congestion and complaints of trespassing, loitering, public urination and blocked driveways. Thank you for your website feedback! GPS coordinates of MA parking area: 42.115, -73.49157 (Clicking will open in Google Maps or the Apple Maps app, depending on your browser/device. We were only at Bash Bish falls. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Be smart, and stay safe. No handguns. 92% of travelers recommend this experience. MA. The walk is less than a mile. Easy to slip but trail is wide enough on NY side. The only negative is they took away the ability to go to the bottom of the falls. Along the way, there are several beautiful photo opportunities along the stream. With the snow and ice, the walk down to the falls from the MA side was just to treacherous to walk for us. (WWLP)- The Falls Road parking lot at the popular hiking spot Bash Bish Falls will be closing for reconstruction. The fun doesn't end in wintertime. Perfect conditionsa few inches of snow cover, no other hikers, lots of critter footprints. Anyway, I would love to see this waterfall again say in the autumn. Your friend that will bring you to the falls in about five more minutes. Please leave a comment! Blue shared some stories about the Falls, which can show how dangerous they can be in some cases. Jeff was coming from Massachusetts, I was coming from New York, and we were going to meet at Bash Bish Falls on the state line before tackling nearby Mt. Leaves heavily covering the trail right now which cause steep decline from MA parking lot to be VERY slippery. Super-cool (and somewhat wriggly) Google Earth flyover of hike route: (Also somewhat wriggly) Google Terrain Map of hike route: Related resources: If youre looking for actual facts and/or useful information, visit these resources: Want to support trails in the Hudson Valley? OK, awesome beauty in the winter - I snapped my pics and headed back to the car. I am excited! To contact Diane Valden email document.getElementById("wpmt-671600-62565").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%64%76%61%6c%64%65%6e%40%63%6f%6c%75%6d%62%69%61%70%61%70%65%72%2e%63%6f%6d%27"))*protected email*, Rasmussen returns to New Lebanon Town Board, Hearing helps pick what rises when Bliss falls, www.mass.gov/locations/bash-bish-falls-state-park. There is a large pool at the base of the falls which on a warm summer day, has a lot of people in it. If youd prefer a shorter creekside amble, fire up the journey from the NY trailhead. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Download a trail map Recommended hikes Visit Massachusetts State Parks. 7. Easyish incline for about 3/4 mile to the pretty falls viewing area. Fresh water fishing enthusiasts will delight in hooking brown trout and other fish in the Bash Bish Brook or rainbow trout in the old iron ore mine pit. Firewood source maps show a 50-mile radius from which untreated firewood may be moved to this campground. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Advanced features of this website require that you enable JavaScript in your browser. Is there a house or hotel on the property or near by that you would recommend? Thank you! And you get to say you hiked from NY to MA! We arrived and parked at the NY side of the park. Well marked throughout and easy to follow paths. Excellent Trail thoroughly marked! Improve this listing All photos (240) Mr. Rickard said a permanent fence blocking off the falls will be constructed by Massachusetts officials in July. Practice social distancing of at least 6 feet between individuals and wear a facial mask or covering in public, participate in only noncontact recreational activities, and practice healthy personal hygiene, such as handwashing, for at least 20 seconds. Swimming at the base of the falls has never been permitted. Respect the dangers without taking risks. Very nice owners and cool little shop. i would definitely say that it is not handicap friendly~ my husband wears a brace and walks with a cane and it was fairly difficult for him. Bash Bish Falls is a great short hiking trail to the highest waterfall in the state of Massachusetts. At first I thought I was out of luck because there was a sign part way up that said the trail was closed. BTW, I saw earlier posts saying this trail is wheelchair accessible. From Highway 344 in Copake Falls, Falls Road veers off, leading to the park's two parking areas. Explore this 1.5-mile out-and-back trail near Copake Falls, New York. I hope things improve and not just here. Useful 2. Recommended. This trail also meanders along Bash Bish Creek, which makes for a pleasant little hike. As it turned out, Bash Bish has two parking lots, one in Massachusetts and one in New York, separated by about a mile. From the lower car park there is an uphill path to follow that is quite rough in places. Recommended. Is parking on the Mass side going to be an issue if there are 10-15 cars? In a few minutes, youll arrive at the top of a big staircase that leads down to the falls. Editors note: This article now includes an email later received from Christopher D. Rickard, a manager of the Taconic State Park in Copake Falls, concerning parking on the New York side of Bash Bish Falls. The falls are located in Southwestern Massachusetts in the Taconic Mountains of Berkshire County, which neighbors Mount Washington State Forest in Massachusetts and Taconic State Park in New York. The changes are permanent due to people leaving there trash and human waste. A 12.4-mile hiking trail. This page is not available in other languages. According to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the access point is closed from Memorial Day to Columbus Day every year since July 2020. Such a beautiful hike. The hike was nice & the falls were beautiful! People will be allowed down to. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I appreciate your help in identifying a place to stay at. If you plan to meet someone at Bash Bish Falls, youd do well to choose which state youre going to meet in. DEC rules and regs apply. Springtime is when the snow and ice melts so the falls are usually that much nicer. I visited on 18 Oct 2014 and went from the MA side. An incredible reward after the somewhat tough little hike (at least for a 60 year OLD man). I imagine it must get crowded in the warmer months but there were only a few others on the trail and it was very peaceful. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Some cabins in the Greenwich Cabin Area are wheelchair accessible and offer extra amenities such as a microwave, sofa, shower, dishwasher and cable television hookup. The NY trail is far easier than the MA trail! 95% of travelers recommend this experience. Allison Richards / Flickr While this waterfall is amazing any time of year, it's especially breathtaking when frozen over. From the New York parking lot, the walk is an easy, flatter 1.5-mile roundtrip stroll. People need to be more thoughtful. I ended up picking up a cool bash bish t-shirt.gotta support the little shops! The visitors were not only parking on private property, but unloading their grills and lawn chairs, having picnics and settling increating quality of life issues for residents, he said. I dont recall of a death here ever, whereas there have been numerous deaths at Kaaterskill. It is much easier walk (about 3/4 mile) along the stream to the falls. Boom. Washington, MA, they are more easily accessed from Copake Falls, NY. They take over every square inch and spend the day. We parked on the New York parking lot and used that trail to get to the falls. Click. Parking is also available at Taconic State Park, off NY Route 344 in Copake Falls, NY. [5] Famed visitors include writers Herman Melville, Henry Longfellow, and Henry David Thoreau, Hudson River School artist John Frederick Kensett, and baseball legend, Babe Ruth. Enjoy the hike and the falls. Hiking is required to get to the falls. I saw your picture and it looks doable. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. Thank you for doing this!!! On that route you will pass a State Border sign (photo op). Sounds like a more straightforward journey now you can skip to Step 7 below, since Steps 5 and 6 are now obsolete. Rules exist for a reason. Bash Bish Falls is a great short hiking trail to the highest waterfall in the state of Massachusetts. No reptiles. The stone stairs down to the falls are barricade as well with park rangers stationed there, so you cant swim but you can put your feet in close to the beginning of the NYS trail head. Sorta nearby address for your GPS: The Copake Falls Post Office is about two miles from the MA trailhead, and a mile from the NY trailhead. were planning to do the hike with our 1 year old (with a hiking baby carrier). There were small patches of mud on the trail but otherwise in very good condition. Accessible portable toilets available at Massachusetts parking lot and at falls viewing deck. Good reminders on being conscientious while youre out there, too. 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