Each one has been catalogued by the Friends of Taconic State Park's Historic Preservation Committee. You dont hang and swim and litter and carry on in a disrespectful way. 2. Very much appreciated! Follow the blue blazes downhill, over a cool little bridge that spans a burbling creek. I don't know what "playing in the water" means to you. Gorgeous! Another story is about a tightrope walker. Be content to simply enjoy the beauty of the falls. From Bach Brandenburg to Appalachian Spring with Manhattan Chamber Players, Crescendo presents In Search of the Bridges, Website by Web Publisher PRO 2022 The Berkshire Edge, LLC. Bash Bish Falls State Park. Moderate to difficult ability. 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. Nice little double waterfall at the end. There is no rope blocking the steps down to the falls, but there are signs up saying they are closed. We will use this information to improve this page. I wonder if it would be as beautiful as it is in the winter. The steps down to approach the falls are quite steep and uneven so I wound not recommend for someone unsteady on their feet. Theres a wide trail with a huge informational display and map kiosk marking the trailhead. We did the 3/4 mile hike from the NY Side. We could see footprints indicating people are using that trail. Beautiful falls, never been there before. Hiking is required to get to the falls. This is part of a much larger park system, Taconic State Park. From Highway 344 in Copake Falls, Falls Road veers off, leading to the park's two parking areas. The closure took effect May 29, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and will be permanent. Do not swim, do not climb into areas closed to the public. We were only at Bash Bish falls. A swim test is required for children 12 and under to swim in the Copake Ore Pit. Bull's Bridge was reported as closed on July 9 (reconfirmed on October 5) Bash Bish Falls is a popular hiking destination in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Browse 70+ bash bish falls state park stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Join us safely this year to celebrate a legacy of park support and beautification thanks to the generosity of volunteers like YOU. Because of this, park officials are aiming to keep people away from the Falls for the summer. This is a short hike in and out area. 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. The path was well maintained and the grade was not challenging. I saw your picture and it looks doable. . Bash Bish Falls is a great short hiking trail to the highest waterfall in the state of Massachusetts. Dogs Allowed. 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. The final cascade is split into twin falls by a jutting rock, dropping in a 59-foot (18m) "V" over boulders to a serene pool below. Continue about one more mile as the road twists and climbs up to the MA trailhead, which is clearly marked on your right after a sharp right curve. The changes are permanent due to people leaving there trash and human waste. The "Ironworkers" cabins are equipped with private showers and flush toilets;campers in the "Bash Bish" cabins utilize a centrally located shower facility with flush toilets. Closures Bear Hill Preserve is closed ( reconfirmed on October 11) Bear Mountain State Park: Roads within the park are closed, including Perkins Memorial Drive up to the tower. were planning to do the hike with our 1 year old (with a hiking baby carrier). A series of small cascades along Bash Bish Brook. Bash Bish Falls State Park Easy (1206 Bash Bish Falls from Taconic State Park Taconic State Park Moderate (705 Alander Mountain Trail Mount Washington State Forest Moderate 574 Sunset Rock Trail Taconic State Park Hard (167 Alander Mountain Trail via South Taconic Trail Mount Washington State Forest Easy (362 Jug End Road 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 . Sounds like a more straightforward journey now you can skip to Step 7 below, since Steps 5 and 6 are now obsolete. You will feel the gentle spray of mist from the falls if you are close enough. Falls Rd. Bring a rake, broom or shovel if you have one! But thats just a guess.) First with my parents and now with my family. 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? To plan your hike refer to All Activities - Hiking below. Want to report conditions for this trail? It is not paved but flat with just a few places that are a little rough. Portable toilets available May through mid-October. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. 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. New York Trails South Taconic Trail - 21.3 . With a fully-equipped canvas wall tent all set up and ready for you, it really is a better way to camp. Subscribe:Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. People will be allowed down to Bash Bish Falls in October and throughout the winter months. From the MA trail head, it should take about 10 minutes down and 20-30 back up, depending on your level of fitness. Did not see any attempt to enforce the rule. I don't even know how to describe it. Moderate ability, about 1.5 miles round-trip. Thank you for posting this. One thing I am sure about is the Town of Mount Washington, Massachusetts takes care of it's visitors by having a great man out on the roads taking care of fools like me who get in trouble. Less than ten minutes into the hike, you come to a junction with the White Trail heading downhill to your left. Glad to hear it, Laura thank you! below to park at the appropriate location for your hike. Would like to take my dog on this hike. Recent pic, as others have commented, nice having it private. 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. It is not steep but it gradually climbs in elevation. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. I usually climb Camel Back Mountain in Arizona, but wanted to do something different. According to Daves comment below, the barricades may be removed after Columbus Day. I live locally, it was in the paper. If you plan to meet someone at Bash Bish Falls, you'd do well to choose which state you're going to meet in. There were quite a few other people there when I went and I went mid-day on a Friday so I imagine thats its pretty packed on a weekend, but totally worth it. Closed. You cross the river a few times when hiking Cedar Brook trail which leads to Sunset Rock trail. It has also been a dry summer, so officials have been especially worried about fires. https://youtu.be/Yy55liBcs7I. Mount Washington Visitors to Bash Bish Falls, a popular state park that has seen large unruly crowds in the last several weeks, will have to find some other place to park if they want to access the falls from the Massachusetts side. Thanks for sharing!! A popular spot for visitors, this scenic and dramatic 60-foot waterfall is located in Mount Washington State Forest. At first I thought I was out of luck because there was a sign part way up that said the trail was closed. It was awesome! Well marked throughout and easy to follow paths. Thank you for doing this!!! Sorry for not getting back to you sooner on this one Im afraid I dont have any recommendations. All the partying activity that went on last year is not what the area is designated for, he said. Bash Bish Falls doesn't look spooky or specter-infested. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Our dog, who can't read, took a dip anyway. We asked BestReviews cooking expert Andrea Boudewijn for her best recommendations for Mothers Day gifts. Be smart, and stay safe. This page is not available in other languages. 3. Google it. From the New York parking lot, the walk is an easy, flatter 1.5-mile roundtrip stroll. Useful 2. In season deer and bear hunting (rifle/shotgun/bow), turkey hunting (bow/shotgun), squirrel, fox and ruffed grouse huntingare permitted. Contact information here: http://nysparks.com/parks/83/details.aspx. There are very clean(when we went) porta potties by the waterfall. Other than that, great day! There's a short 2-mile hike to the falls, and the scenery along the way is equally beautiful. There are a few access points to the falls and more than one parking lot. He was also the first tightrope walker to make it across Niagara Falls. The day use price is $50 and can accommodate up to 60 people. Yes, it was. According to an interpretive sign, "adventurous" tourists began coming to the falls in the late 18th century. Park police from New York State and park rangers from Massachusetts joined in an effort to increase patrols, according to the story. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. If youd prefer a shorter creekside amble, fire up the journey from the NY trailhead. Swimming is not allowed in the pool. Two developed areas, Copake Falls and Rudd Pond, offer an extensive trail system with terrain that varies from easy to challenging, offering spectacular views. See the Bear Mountain State Park homepage for details. Washington State Forest, Mt. If youre shopping for top products on the market, here are the best 14 products the BestReviews Testing Lab loved in March. Enjoy a hike to experience the wonder and beauty of this deep, verdant gorge. They change diapers and just throw them in the stream. People need to be more thoughtful. Bash Bish Falls, Mount Washington: Address, Phone Number, Bash Bish Falls Reviews: 4.5/5. Obtain Permit (No Cost) from the Park Office to be displayed in vehicle dashboard while hunting. Proof of rabies inoculation shall be produced if requested by staff. [2], Bash Bish Falls State Park is located next to both Massachusetts' 4,000-acre (16km2) Mount Washington State Forest and New York's 5,000-acre (20km2) Taconic State Park. Thanks for this write up. Thanks for sharing! It is a moderate hike, with an elevation gain of approximately 200-500 feet, depending on where you start your walk. Dress in layers to be able to regulate your comfort level. No youth hunts. I appreciate your help in identifying a place to stay at. On that route you will pass a State Border sign (photo op). I am preparing for my first trip to The Berkshires in September 2016. Easy enough for my 2.5 year old to walk the full trail himself! Short Hike. Bash Bish Falls is a natural area with inherent dangers. With no signage indicating which way to the falls, we guessed that we should stay on the Blue Trail (as did some other hikers there that day), and we were all wrong. (My guess is that the barricades will appear whenever the weather is warm enough for swimming, since people seem to have a hard time obeying the No Swimming signs here. You used to be able to take the stairs down to the base of the falls and enjoy the beauty from that level. There is beautiful scenery along the way with clear babbling waters along the path. Ive been going here since I was a child. 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. Jean Gazis / Flickr No youth hunts. View From the summit atop Bash Bish Falls on the Mount Washington side. Id have to disagree. But the fact is that he did Bash Bish first, said Blue. Either way, youll be glad you paid Bash Bish Falls a visit. Most visitors to Bash Bish Park access the park not from the Mount Washington side but from Copake Falls, New York, where there is a much larger parking lot in the Taconic State Park. No rock climbing. Thanks for the nice pic and the update, Dave! These are the two main access points for viewing Bash Bish Falls. Note that the last bit of the trail is closed off. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Very nice owners and cool little shop. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. Perhaps its because none of them were blasted over the media like this one was and thats exactly why people dont know that. Bash Bish Falls is the highest waterfall in Massachusetts and a popular scenic destination. New! Nice spot. For more information visit http://www.friendsoftsp.org. There are pics of a swimming beach at Rudd Pond. Stay within solitary or small groups, and avoid gatherings of 10 or more people. Taconic State Park Manager Rickard told The Columbia Paper this week the purpose is to keep the falls and surrounding area strictly a place for hikingno swimming, no chairs, no cooking, no picnicking. Proof of rabies inoculation shall be produced if requested by staff. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Advanced features of this website require that you enable JavaScript in your browser. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Turn right onto NY 344 (one of several roads also marked as Old Rt. We will return in late spring and repeat our walk to enjoy the flora. NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS. They were bringing everything but the kitchen sink to the falls, Mr. Rickard said in the story. Copake Falls, NY 12517. I am interested in coming up for a weekend with my family. Download a trail map Recommended hikes Visit Massachusetts State Parks. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly. That way, morons like me who didnt read the map at the kiosk wont get lost.). The message Mr. Rickard wants visitors to get is: stay on the trails, dont go in the stream, dont bring chairs or coolers. 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 waterfall was stunning, with all of the snow and ice. It is steep and the snow and ice was too risky for us older (60) folks. Take the hassle out of camping and spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Hordes of people breaking every single rule. Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise from Albany, Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise from Kingston, Central Troy Historic District Walking Food Tour, Hartford Scavenger Hunt: The Riches Of Hartford, Hike/Wineries/Walkway Over the Hudson/1 night Hotel/Hudson Valley, LEGOLAND New York Resort Admission Ticket, Guided Shared Group Forest Bathing Session in Serene Woodland Park, Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Hartford by Operation City Quest, Museum of the City of New York General Admission Ticket, Copake Iron Works Historic Site at Taconic State Park. I ended up picking up a cool bash bish t-shirt.gotta support the little shops! I hadnt heard that info about Columbus Day thank you for sharing. After a 30-minute drive in light snowy weather, I got to see this spectacular frozen waterfall. Please report any accident or incident immediately to park police. There is a large pool at the base of the falls which on a warm summer day, has a lot of people in it.