Have you ever been to Bash Bish Falls? Bash Bish Falls is a beautiful waterfall in Massachusetts. It’s one of the most popular waterfalls and natural areas to visit in Massachusetts and it’s easy to see why!
The falls are surrounded by lush greenery, and there are plenty of spots for picnics or just relaxing on the rocks.
If you’re looking for an awesome day trip, I highly recommend checking out Bash Bish Falls! Keep reading to learn everything about visiting Bash Bish Falls!
About Bash Bish Falls
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Bash Bish Falls, located in Bash Bish Falls State Park is one of the most beautiful and tranquil places you can visit in southwestern Massachusetts. It’s perfect for getting out into nature and seeing the tallest waterfall in Massachusetts.
If you’re looking for a gorgeous waterfall to visit in Massachusetts, Bash Bish Falls is the one for you. The falls are tucked away in the Taconic Mountains and has an average of more than 80 feet of water plunging down from the top, making it a sight to see.
The falls are also the perfect place to take one of many hiking trails throughout southwestern Massachusetts. In fact, there’s an abundance of trails for almost all levels so you’re sure to find something right for you!
You can easily spend a day in Bash Bish Falls State Park doing a variety of outdoor activities. There’s a lot of wildlife in the park, particularly since it’s located close to the Appalachian Trail, so try your best to keep your distance from any animals you come across!
Things to Do at Bash Bish Falls
There are a number of fun things you can do while visiting Bash Bish Falls, such as fishing, picnicking, and hiking.
Fishing
The most popular activity at Bash Bish Falls is fishing since the stream flows through such a beautiful location.
Fishing at Bash Bish Falls is a popular activity here. There’s plenty of fish in the stream that flows through such beautiful scenery and it can be a lot of fun to cast your line into the water and wait. Also, make sure you purchase a fishing license before you head out to the water.
Picnicking
Although you cannot picnic in Bash Bish Falls Park, nearby, about a 4 minute drive away, at the Taconic State Park in New York State, you can head into the park to go picnicking. If you’re looking for a place to have a quiet picnic with family or friends, Taconic State Park is the perfect spot.
There are plenty of large tables where you can spread out your food and relax while taking in the scenery!
You’ll also find several spots along the trail that are great for picnicking as well, so make sure to bring your lunch!
Hiking
Bash Bish Falls is a very popular spot for hikers so you’ll likely see others enjoying different trails around the falls. There are several miles of hiking trails throughout the state park and in nearby Taconic State Park so there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy!
You can’t go wrong with the falls trail if you’re looking for a place to go hiking. Depending on where you start it will determine how long of a hike it is for you to get to the falls. The hike to the falls is for experienced hikers only, it’ll be on rugged and uneven terrain and will likely be a bit of a strenuous hike for most.
If you start from the Massachusetts parking lot it’s 0.6 miles round-trip.
If you start from the New York parking lot it will be a 1.5-mile round-trip hike that’s moderately difficult.
Or if you want to go on the Taconic Trail, that hike is on a 12.4-mile hiking trail that is moderately difficult that will allow you to access the Taconic State Park in New York nearby.
Swimming at Bash Bish Falls
Swimming at the Bash Bish Falls is not allowed. However, there is swimming available nearby at the Taconic State Park which is only about a 4-minute drive away. You can also hike over to the Taconic State Park from the falls.
The swimming area is located at the Ore Pit Pond that has a separate wading pool for small children. The swimming area is more for relaxing in the water and less for doing swimming laps. However, it is a great place to cool off after a long hike!
Camping
There’s also a campground with over 100 campsites available at the nearby Taconic State Park for overnight stays within the park, so plan ahead when looking into this option if you want to spend a few nights there!
Important Visitor Information
The park is open from dawn to dusk year-round, so you can go at any time that’s convenient for you. Just remember that it gets very busy during the summer months and when there are big events such as music festivals nearby!
Admission into Bash Bish Falls is free, it’s also free to walk into the Taconic State Park, however, the Taconic State Park may charge a vehicle fee if you park there which will vary on the location and season.
Other activities nearby
There’s a few other things you might want to do while you’re out visiting Bash Bish Falls State Park! It’s fairly close, about 40 minutes, to Tanglewood, home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra so if you’re looking for something fun to do on a hot summer afternoon, you can head over to the outdoor concert venue.
Each year in August they hold “Summer Nights at Tanglewood” featuring a fantastic selection of classical music and it’s free for everyone!
You’re also right by Great Barrington so be sure to check out some other nearby towns like Stockbridge and West Dover.
If you’re interested in a little bit of history, take a tour of the Stockbridge’s Church on the Hill Congregation from 1859. They also have some great shops and restaurants for you to check out!
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking for a waterfall or a beautiful hiking area to visit in Massachusetts, then Bash Bish Falls is the one for you. This beautiful site is tucked away in the Berkshire Mountains and has an average of more than 80 feet of water plunging down from the top, making it a sight to see!
There are a number of things you can do in the Bash Bish State Park and next door at the Taconic State Park, like hiking, fishing, paddle boating, camping, and more!
We hope you can make a trip to Bash Bish Falls soon and that our guide helps you plan your trip!
Click here to visit the Bash Bish Falls state park website!
Click here to visit the Taconic State Park website!
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