Bash Bish Falls

So many ppl think of visiting places like this only in the summer, but in fall & winter, you see an all-different landscape. Plus, no crowds 😁 Short but fairly strenuous hike to gorgeous falls.

If you want to take a beautiful fall ride then take a ride in the southern Berkshire’s of Western Massachusetts to Bash Bish Falls. The hike to the falls, (from the Massachusetts parking area), is only 1/3 of a mile but the grade is VERY steep. The path is dirt, gravel, stone and wooden steps which helps with the difficulty of navigating up and down. Once you hike down you will be treated with a nice view of a small but beautiful waterfall. In years past you were allowed to get to the base of the falls but no longer.

Bath Bish Falls. The best waterfalls in Massachusetts located almost on the farthest west part of Massachusetts. You can go. There’s parking up top, but I do not believe that this waterfall is wheelchair accessible if you lived in Massachusetts your whole life you need to head over to Bath Bish. There is definitely no swimming here if you can head to it in the fall when the leaves are changing color that would be the best time. Enjoy one of those secret Massachusetts spots.

Beautiful waterfall. You see the main part where it forks into 2 falls, not the higher section. Access down stairs to the pool at the bottom of the wall is blocked off. The trail has a lot of jagged rocks on it and goes uphill. You just need to pace yourself and watch your step.

A moderate hike with a beautiful falls! We had great weather on the day we hiked this one and were happy to spend some time relaxing and reflecting at the falls.

Winter is really fun! Some parts of the trail from the parking lot to the waterfall are icy, making it a bit slippery but very exciting. The frozen waterfall looks beautiful under the sunlight. There are very few people around, and everyone we meet—whether on the trail or in passing cars—greets each other warmly.

9.15.24 Our 1st visit here. Followed gps to the parking area to the trail head. FYI, there's a porta potty there plus closer to the falls. The hike down is easy but very rocky, so be smart and wear hiking boots or sneakers. We actually saw people in flip-flops. Don't be those people. There are lots of photo opportunities as the falls are visible from afar and close by. It's quite beautiful in the fall, but also at any time I'd presume. Free to explore.

Beautiful views both on the way to the falls and at the falls. The stairs closer by the falls are fenced off to protect the sensitive nature of the falls. We still got beautiful from afar!

Must see if you are in the area! Two parking lots -- one in NY and one in MA. We did the NY one which leads up up a gradual, pretty easy hill about 20min until you reach the falls. Looks like the MA lot -- you go down a steep, shorter hill to reach the falls. Along the way you'll pass by a stream and an array of Fall leaves. When you reach the falls, there were many people who climbed the little railing and took the rocky steps down to the falls. It's worth it -- as it's beautiful and a great picture spot. Dog friendly too!

We parked in the NY Parking Lot and took the .75 mile trail to the Falls. Saw the NY/MA broader line along the hike. The hike was relatively easy for us even though it had some elevation, but it was still manageable by my 6 years old boy. The path was a bit rocky and lots of uphill, but it was worth the walk at the end of the day. The falls view was very nice. There was another short-cut to view the falls, which was to park to the MA parking lot, but you would miss the broader line sign if parking in the MA parking lot. The trail head was easy to locate and clearly marked. Definitely recommend this trail if you are in the area.

Beautiful falls and well maintained trails. We parked at the NYS lot and walked about 3/4 of a mile up hill to the Falls. Nice benches and views of the water along the way. In late November, there were few people on the trail. It appears they are attempting to restrict access to the falls but folks had removed cones and were walking down to the falls. I have heard from friends that in the summer there are rangers restricting access to just a fenced in viewing area. A couple bits of litter but nothing major. Nice spot for a short hike of you're in the area.

This is one of the most scenic areas in all of Massachusetts. I visited here during a trip to MA and I loved it.. we took an afternoon to hang out and relax. The waterfalls are stunning and so beautiful, a perfect backdrop to take photos etc. It's no secret I truly love and adore waterfalls and take pics every time I visit any waterfall, though this one will always rank very high, in my opinion.. The water is clean and the perfect place to swim. The waterfalls are beautiful and quiet. You can hang out here all day and never be disrupted by throngs of tourists. It's lovely and while a tourist attraction, it's definitely in no way a tourist trap! Nice place to take a walk or hike. The trails are nice and the area is very clean, dog friendly and very family friendly. If you want a scenic sojourn to soak up Mother Nature, this works. Five stars all the way..

AMAZING!!! We went on the MA side first, and holy hell, that's not a beginners trail. Then went to the NY side: wide trail with a slight incline. I'll be going back because it was a great way to spend the morning.

.beautiful reward after an easy one mile hike. Peaceful and usually not crowded I lived less than a mile away and visited daily

Absolutely beautiful! A small hike from the parking lot on the NY side. I went on a very hot day so there were a lot people there. Also try to go early so you dont have to wait on line to go inside the parking lot.

It's a great place but when we were expecting to touch the water or at least come more than a meter to it. Instead we found orange tape starting from the top and ending at the bottom, on top of a state control, and a ranger car, and big orange boulders. Otherwise it's an easy 0.3 mile long hike down.

You can no longer picnic along the water leading to the falls. In fact you can no longer get close to the falls because they put up a big fence. People ruined it for everyone during Covid because they left huge amounts of trash behind and charcoal grills too. Shameful!

What a beautiful visit in the spring time so much has changed over the last 40 years since my last visit there but it's still nice to see if you visit always go early in the day has a very small parking lot and fills up very quickly.

Beautiful sights to see. Dog friendly. Hiking from the MA side is moderately challenging. Swimming is prohibited... that is, if you get caught. Going off trail is prohibited as well. If you see any trash pick it up!

Per Wikipedia, Bash Bish Falls is the highest Falls in Massachusetts. It is so close to the NYS / Mass border that there are two parking lots. Yes, you guessed it....the NY lot and the Mass lot. Our gang of three parked in the NY lot where we picked up a pamphlet titled "Taconic State Park Hiking Trails". From the parking area, it was an easy 3/4 mile hike to the Falls. Even through we went midweek, we saw and passed numerous groups. The falls themselves were very beautiful, consisting of upper and lower sections...ending in a relatively deep pool at the bottom. We even saw one youngun dive off a rock into the pool! Oh, to be young and poolish. Worth a trip.

I was aimlessly riding my motorcycle along NY Route 22 on a fine and sunny Labor Day when I came across a sign for a waterfall. Naturally, I had to stop and see it, so I followed the signs for Bash Bish Falls. I parked in the free parking lot, and the sign said the waterfall was a 0.75 mile hike from the parking lot. It's a pretty easy hike, just slightly uphill. It's more fun and more difficult if you follow the stream instead of the trail though. It turns out, Bash Bish Falls is actually in Massachusetts, and it's the biggest waterfall in Massachusetts. You'll see a sign for the state border as you walk along the trail. I also found out that the Massachusetts side has a parking lot closer to falls, good to know for the extra lazy. Bash Bish Falls is actually one of the most picturesque waterfalls I have ever seen. It collects into a clear, cold, and blue pool of water before emptying into the stream. I would have loved to take a swim, but there was a park ranger nearby. It was a lot of fun to climb the rocks and take pictures. Not bad for a fun and free Monday afternoon.

Recently visited in October. I drove out from Boston to check out the waterfall after hearing some good things. The waterfall itself was cool, but not as breathtaking as I thought it would be. Not worth the 3-hour drive from Boston, but if you're in the area or near the Berkshires, it's worth stopping by to checkout or to get a nice picture. The hike from the parking lot is very short and easy. I'd recommend checking out some nearby trails. There are some mountains nearby that you can hike up to get some good views.

This was my first visit to the falls since getting a dog. It's a wonderful designation if you want some fresh air and a nice walk. We usually park at the bottom and walk up hill to the falls. Along the way the pooch enjoyed the stream which happily is very clear and clean. Families also enjoy the lower shallow end with little kids. Path is wide enough for 3-4 people to walk side by side and accessible for those in a wheelchair. The falls area is now patrolled by rangers keeping dangerous play to a minimum. (No jumping off the falls) The trail is beautifully maintained and happily people do take out what they have brought in with them. It is a beautiful place to take off to on a hot summer's day.

If you want the perfect hike to the loveliest falls - Head over and park your car in the lot and walk fifteen minutes alongside the raging stream up to the falls. Gorgeous!

Not what it used to be. I have been in 2019 before the craziness post pandemic & I am so thankful I went when I did. Now, to combat the excessive crowds they have ruined the park with too many regulations, blocked off the trails near the water (the best part), don't even let you down the stairs to see the falls (why have them then??) & is overall a very disappointing experience.

Great little hike, awesome waterfall.... but at the moment you can't go down to the bottom and get the best view. Still worth the time to see it. Would've liked to get closer however.

We parked at Massachusetts side. The water fall is very close by from this parking. To get to the fall is quick from here but if you are injured or handicapped, it might be tough to get to the fall and much easier from NY side. The water energy is so powerful and loved feeling the mist. The drive to the fall is also incredible- I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The hike is mild overall and if you are with your kids you can experience crossing the MA - NY state within the trail.

I love this place! So many good memories! Ive driven all the way from Attleboro MA and RI just to go here. The farmers and people are great on along the way with fresh food. Going one last time before I move to the west. Can't wait

This place was amazing. We sat on the rocks near the falls and let the mist hit our faces. We also trekked along the water and found good spots to view the lower falls.

I read about the crowds over the weekend so I went on a Wednesday. At 1pm the parking was overly full. We came back by 4. Bring repellent, so many mosquitos...once we were at the fall neither one of us wanted to stay and swimming as planned, drinking, drugs, loud music, packed, I could even find a place to leave our backpack. My kids want to go back (11 and 13y) It felt like carnaval opposed as a relaxing waterfall. Maybe at 10, 11am will be quieter There are little pounds along the trail that are much quieter and seems more suitable for kids

It is hard to give a place this beautiful 3 stars but it is because it is all blocked off! We were excited to go explore the falls as a homeschool field trip. We parked at the upper lot in MA and hiked down for the falls only to find they were all blocked off by ugly plastic barriers. Beyond the barrier there are stone stairways with railings to get right down to the bottom off the falls so it is clear that it used to be accessible. There are signs everywhere that day "access prohibited". It was frustrating. "Proceed with caution at your own risk" would have been much better. I'm not a fan of the state making decisions for me. It's probably not a huge deal in the scheme of things but it felt like an unnecessary overreach to close it off completely. That said, if you can mentally get past the ugly barriers, the falls are beautiful. The short hike up to the scenic view from the MA parking lot is 100% worth the effort. It was an incredible view. We brought our dog and she loved the hike as well.

I loved it here. Took a trip to this park just to see the waterfall and I was not disappointed. Decent sized lot and a short walk uphill through a path to get to the falls. Once you're there it's really a breathtaking view. Inhale the clean fresh air at the top! I climbed down the stairs and rocks to the water. There is a railing for the stairs. You can take your shoes off and put them aside where they won't get wet. I started walking in slowly because the water was freezing and be careful because the rocks can be a bit slippery. Once I got in all the way and started swimming it was awesome! It was so refreshing I didn't want to leave. Technically, there are signs that say no swimming but everybody was. When I got out I put my shoes back on and started to make my way back up but stopped when I realized there was a small wedding going on. How beautiful to get married right in front of the falls! The only disappointment I had was my phone got zero service in the area. Damn you Sprint! I can't wait to go back and take a few days to camp here.

I'm obsessed with waterfalls so I figured I would find a couple for us to check out on our way home to MD from Maine so I turned to trusty Google and Bish Bash was at the top of the list. We got there around 2:30 and the lower parking lot was pretty empty. I had read different reviews saying that the route to the falls from the MA side was shorter but more difficult while the NY side was longer and easier but there were no signs telling us where or what side we were starting on, the only indicator was the 3/4 mile marker. The trail was rocky but not difficult although some spots were a little slick due to the heavy rains yesterday and there were several downed trees we had to climb over. It didn't take us too long before I could hear the roar of the falls and once we turned the corner I was awestruck at how magnificent they were. Hubby & I have visited well over 50 waterfalls this past year and this one ranks right at the top. The water was flowing really strong thanks to the storms and I loved feeling the most from the bottom of the stone stairs, our golden retriever, on the other hand, was more concerned about figuring out a way to swim in the large pool the falls poured into. I can only imagine how crowded this place could get on a nicer day, we only saw about 30 people in our travels and were the only ones at the top for quite a bit. There were several areas on the trek up/down for my golden to get his swim fix so we all left happy.

Lots of great memories from here but now overly regulated. Way to many no this, and no that. Still a beautiful spot. Just as nice as 50 years ago. I suppose with all the use they had to do something.

This review is way over due. We came here in August. It was a nice drive for us and a good way to end summer. The hike up to falls is not bad, we wore sneakers. The water was so cold!! But it was refreshing. This place is very crowded. However you can still find a spot to soak your feet or just enjoy the scenery. Your not allowed to swim out to the falls or close to the falls given the incident that happened this past summer. I enjoyed the day here. Btw we came in from the NY side, parking in the parking lot is a wait especially in the summer.

A gorgeous location that's a short 1 mile hike over easy terrain from the NYS Taconic state park bash bish parking lot. There are no swimming signs but plenty of people were talking a quick dip in the refreshing pools

Very nice place for a short walk. It is pretty crowded, so expect to see a lot of people. Park rangers were nice. I cut my finger and they helped out right away.

OMG! Amazing. 1) The falls is one of the best I have seen in the Northeast. 2) The wind and water vapor hitting your face is so refreshing. 3) Visit Race Brook Falls nearby. It has two falls: Upper falls and Lower falls. This place is a must visit.

I would recommend coming here on a weekday if you can. It's much more enjoyable with less people . "No swimming allowed" but in the summer I'm pretty sure everyone i saw including myself came with a bathing suit under clothes I am a waterfall chaser and I have to say that normally I always like to try new places but this is one of the few places I return to as much as I can and never get bored of it because it's simply breathtaking. I have photos of recently this fall and also in the summer .

This place is such a hidden gem, we came by it totally by accident the first time and have since made several trips back here from CT, it's that great. There is really no other waterfall in New England that I've been to that's like it. It's like a perfect snapshot from a Jurassic Park movie, the massive rock sticking out at the top of the waterfall and the water rushing from each side of it is so picturesque. Another thing I love about Bash Bish is that depending on what time of year you go, you can experience basically two totally different waterfalls. For example when I went in August, the waterfall itself was less impressive, but the water wasn't so high so you could jump in lower pools, nestled in between massive boulders, and enjoy yourself in the absolutely crystal clear water. But in May the falls were torrential, extremely loud, and a fine mist just blasts you in the face no matter where you are because of the sheer amount and speed of water flowing. It's not so much somewhere to relax and float around in this part of the season, but holy hell is it impressive. This place is a must see!

We tacked on a visit to Massachusett's highest single-drop waterfall (whatever that means) after a visit to MASS MoCA, so we didn't get to explore the adjacent state parks and hiking trails. It was a very quick (less than 10 minutes) but steep descent from the parking lot to the viewing area. The falls themselves were very pretty, as was the whole area in general. Just gorgeous in the summer - leafy, green, airy and unspoilt. These aren't the most majestic falls you'll ever see but it's a very peaceful spot. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. The practicalities: --There's a designated parking lot; on-street parking is not allowed --There are no services - pee before you go and carry out all your trash --Fishing and pets are allowed; swimming, diving and rock climbing are not

Bash Bish was awesome! My girlfriend and I went out there on a lovely Sunday, not a cloud in the sky. We parked at the lower parking lot; the trail from there to the falls is longer, but the climb is less drastic than from the upper lot, where it's 1/4 mile to the falls, descending 300ft over the course of it. Not for the faint of heart by the looks of things. The long trail, by contrast, is uphill for 3/4 miles, we were told. It wasn't too bad a walk. And the falls themselves are beautiful! On a nice day, wonderfully picturesque. Swimming is apparently not allowed, but you wouldn't know it from looking around. The pool under the falls was off-limits, but everywhere else in the river around it was full of happy people enjoying the cool, clear water and warm weather. So I'd say this is a great park to get away to and go for a dip in. Privacy is out of the question, and you'll want to watch kids around the rocks; we saw one youngster slip and fall and nearly knock his head against one. Yikes.

Pretty much an amazing waterfall. My parents used to bring me here as a small child, and gasp, allowed us to swim. I'm not sure if swimming was actually allowed 80s, but it isn't now. We stopped by on the beginning of the July 4th weekend, and it was packed. People everywhere. We illegally parked to run down quickly to show my son, but I would suggest parking in one the lots so you aren't worried about getting your car towed or hit. There were a bunch of people swimming and having picnics on the rocks. The falls are beautiful and an awesome place to take pictures. I would suggest trying a weekday that isn't during a holiday weekend, at least if you want a more serene atmosphere. They really are worth the drive if you're in the Berkshires, though.

Q: What do summer sleepaway camp counselors do on their days off? A: Pick up a case and head over to Bash Bish. This place is gorgeous. We parked up the trail so we had to hike down to the falls. The hike back up isn't fun when you're buzzed. And it's definitely quite a hike. There's a trail but some of it entails climbing around huge rocks. I'd recommend parking in the lower lot if you want to get to the falls faster; in the upper lot if you're more into hiking. There are signs everywhere saying you can't swim but from my experiences and what I've heard from others, people do it all the time. The key is to look out for the park ranger who, fortunately, didn't catch us jumping from the cliffs into the deeper end. They say the water is very cold but I found it to be cool and refreshing, especially in the middle of July. Best of all, it's free. Definitely a great place to go when you want to slow down and relax for a bit.

Nice waterfall for Massachusetts. I liked the mini hike it wasn't too short and wasn't too long for someone who doesn't work out. You can't swim in the waterfall but if you go down further you can take a dip. There is a ranger who calls you out of you swim so beware of the screeching buzzer when you do something wrong! The water is pretty cold too.

Beautiful!!! Park and start off on trail on NY side if you want an easy walking path to get to falls!!!

No swimming allowed but it is an easy hike, and it's worth it to hike into the boulders and see the Bash Bish Falls - beautiful spot, gets crowded and one girl decided to exhibit her bikini bod for IG, lol I am assuming,

Sorry, but I was unimpressed. Drove two hours each direction and did not think the falls was worth the time. Easy walk/hike from the parking lot. On a positive note, the other hiking trails in the park are good--not too hard but moderately difficult trails--and the view from the top was really nice.

Really pretty waterfall. It is definitely very easy to access (short, non-strenuous walk to the falls). You can have a picnic by the falls. Swimming is not permitted; however, that didn't stop people from doing it. I didn't see anyone policing the falls either while I was there. I went on a Friday morning, and parking was available. I could see parking being difficult during peak times, but there are two parking areas available. The closest one to the falls is on the Massachusetts side (I parked on the NY side).

The waterfall is amazing and a nice cool place to swim. Wear water shoes because of the rocks. The hike is not complicated , pretty easy and short. The hike is child friendly. We also brought our dog, and she loved it as well.

My daughter asked me if we could go here today after hearing it was a beautiful place from her friends. What a beautiful day we had here today it is truly a gem. I can't believe I hadn't heard of this place earlier we will definitely be here again. Easy hike from where you park. We brought some wedges with us and enjoy the waterfall water. It was a nice warm day today

The falls itself are beautiful however as of June 2021 the falls are blocked off by railings and barricades so you can no longer go right up to the falls.

Arrived about 15 minutes before sunset and was told by the ranger that the park was closed despite the website listing the hours as till "1/2 hour after sunset." Ranger got grumpy when it was brought up to him that he was closing 45 minutes early. Spent 4 hours driving only to see nothing. Either their website has the wrong hours or the ranger is a stick in the mud. Do not recommend going here unless you can go early to avoid this!

Excellent public shower. Water pressure is fantastic. Even more challenging than the hiking trails leading to summit of Mount Alander is remembering to pronounce the name Bash Bish. It is not, as your brain will insist on, Bish Bash.

Hike was easy and enjoyable for the entire family. Falls were beautiful to behold... from a far. While we are likely to return it will definitely be when covid is over. Here are some of the drawbacks from our visit: Grounds were not well kept- there was food and garbage along the trail (solo cups and a giant pile of pasta). The portapotties were DISGUSTING and unusable - one literally had a giant sh*t on the floor. There was absolutely no regulation/enforcement of camp rules for social distancing or the use of fires. When we reached the falls, there were large groups (10-20 people) gathered around the water and camped out for the day. It was impossible to get close to the falls because of the density of people and some groups were playing music loudly. As we were leaving more groups of 20 or more were heading to the falls with coolers. One man, not wearing a mask, yelled to his friend and spit in my face. Many people just had a complete disregard for others- very DISAPPOINTING!

Beautiful place but wouldn't recommend going on a weekend. I would like to go back when there's less people. When we got to the falls there was people in the front splashing people and very loud didn't seem like they were going anywhere to let others get a chance to see so we left. Overall stunning but disappointed.

The best waterfall in Massachusetts when the water is flowing real well (best in April & May and after a rainstorm) Visit nearby Race Brook Falls and Campbell Falls to hit up 3 waterfalls in one day. And then eat lunch in nearby Great Barrington = perfect day trip.