I usually climb Camel Back Mountain in Arizona, but wanted to do something different. Theres rocks and lots of uneven terrain. below to park at the appropriate location for your hike. All Deer seasons; Spring and Fall Turkey seasons, bow until noon only. Parking is also available at Taconic State Park, off NY Route 344 in Copake Falls, NY. Follow the blue blazes downhill, over a cool little bridge that spans a burbling creek. No need to talk about the beauty of the falls, its just gorgeous. MT. We will return in late spring and repeat our walk to enjoy the flora. Access is open all the way down to the falls. Parking is also available at Taconic State Park, off NY Route 344 in Copake Falls, NY. 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). There are very clean(when we went) porta potties by the waterfall. 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. On the way back there is what looks like a street sign post pointing up for the MA lot and to the left for the NY lot. I dont recall of a death here ever, whereas there have been numerous deaths at Kaaterskill. Based on careful research, I approached the falls from the New York side, and the 3/4-mile hike, featuring riveting views of Bash Bish Brook and the deep canyon it has cut over the millennia, was . About a mile there and back from the NY parking lot. The group would be six adults and six children. Ive seen recent pictures and updates that the MA trailhead is open again, and that the barricades have been removed. Bash Bish Falls, Mount Washington: Address, Phone Number, Bash Bish Falls Reviews: 4.5/5. The stream was ice, and snow covered but has pools of water that were so clear you could see the riverbed through several feet of water from 50 ft. Browse 70+ bash bish falls state park stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Tripadvisor gives a Travelers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. Beautiful falls, never been there before. We pulled in to the Massachusetts Bash Bish Falls parking lot & started down to the falls. After taking in the view, head back down to the parking lot. I am preparing for my first trip to The Berkshires in September 2016. It is a relatively easy hike with a slight uphill incline as you approach the waterfall. Bring a rake, broom or shovel if you have one! The public can look at the Falls from the outlook point but is not able to go down the stairs to the base of the Falls. If you find this free trail guide useful, please provide payment by picking up at least one piece of litter on your hike. Our elementary age children walked the trail easily. Entering the water is prohibited. 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. * Copake Iron Works Museum and Heritage Trail, http://www.newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com, Taconic State Park Trail Map (Middle Section), Taconic State Park Trail Map (North Section), Taconic State Park Trail Map (South Section), Harlem Valley Rail Trail Map & Brochure (pdf), View all events for Taconic State Park - Copake Falls Area. Bull's Bridge was reported as closed on July 9 (reconfirmed on October 5) For more information see firewood restrictions. Nice little double waterfall at the end. Admission is free. Out is up hill and back down hill. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. Pets on leash always. Fees vary by location and season. Visit the expanded Copake Iron Works Museum (33 Valley View Road, Copake Falls, NY) in Taconic State Park, with tours on Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Saturdays and Sundays, May 28 through September 4, 2-4 PM, and on Monday, September 5, from 2-4 PM. My thanks to the owner of the local Subway shop for recommending it. The day use price is $50 and can accommodate up to 60 people. If you need assistance, please Learn About DCR| Mass.gov. According to Daves comment below, the barricades may be removed after Columbus Day. Please be aware that Taconic State Park property encompasses land in both Columbia and Dutchess Counties. He was also the first tightrope walker to make it across Niagara Falls. A lock icon ( I dont remember how wheelchair friendly the trail was, whether it was paved or rocky. Closed. Mr. Rickard said a permanent fence blocking off the falls will be constructed by Massachusetts officials in July. Perfect instructions as usual. Ive added a SUPER IMPORTANT FIVE-ALARM ATOMIC-WEDGIE UPDATE to the top of the Background section above, with a link down to your comment. Swimming at the base of the falls has never been permitted. The waterfall was stunning, with all of the snow and ice. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Turn right onto NY 344 (one of several roads also marked as Old Rt. Be content to simply enjoy the beauty of the falls. The dramatic final pitch of Bash Bish Brook drops about 80 feet into an emerald plunge pool. Short Hike. Rocks and roots, so watch out, but fun to follow river to the falls. No swimming, wading or picnicking will be allowed in MA or NY sides of Bash Bish Creek.. 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. Don't miss these popular destinations and attractions within or near the park: Pet Policy: A maximum of two pets are allowed in campsites and day use areas unless prohibited by sign or directive. and which is the best side to go in for the easiest hike? Washington State Forest, Mt. The stream is on your right all along the trail up to the falls. Thanks, Im by no means an expert on hunting rules and seasons, but this article give some good advice and links for being safe out there: http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2013/09/24/hiking-hunting-season-safety-tips/2854437/. Hooray! You will feel the gentle spray of mist from the falls if you are close enough. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Fairfield Inn & Suites Great Barrington Lenox/Berkshires, View all hotels near Bash Bish Falls on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Bash Bish Falls on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Bash Bish Falls on Tripadvisor, Hotels near Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Motels near Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston Seafood Lovers Food & History Walking Tour, Cotswolds Villages and Oxford Full Day Tour from London, Franciacorta Outlet Village Shopping Day Trip from Bergamo, Skip the Line: Springs Preserve in Las Vegas Admission Ticket, Pompeii, Herculaneum And Vesuvius - Group Tour, Tiki Boat - St. Pete Pier - The Only Authentic Floating Tiki Bar, El Yunque Rainforest Guided Hiking with Waterfall Tour, Downtown Los Angeles Architecture Walking Tour. Picnic Pavilion available year-round. Your email address will not be published. At the peak you will see the waterfalls and there are steps to descend to the bottom of the falls. Picnicking: Year-round. To plan your hike refer to All Activities - Hiking below. A New York State hunting license is required. 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. Download a trail map Recommended hikes Visit Massachusetts State Parks. 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. Respect the dangers without taking risks. That way, morons like me who didnt read the map at the kiosk wont get lost.). If youd prefer a shorter creekside amble, fire up the journey from the NY trailhead. It is not unsafe if youre obedient and use your noggin. Bash Bish Falls is a great short hiking trail to the highest waterfall in the state of Massachusetts. There's a short 2-mile hike to the falls, and the scenery along the way is equally beautiful. You soon approach the border between NY and MA which is clearly marked. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. Please leave a comment! No amphibians. A 12.4-mile hiking trail. to me and many locals, its very special to us for its sheer beauty and majestic presence. Enjoy a hike to experience the wonder and beauty of this deep, verdant gorge. It is steep and the snow and ice was too risky for us older (60) folks. Click. But the fact is that he did Bash Bish first, said Blue. This is part of a much larger park system, Taconic State Park. The area down by the falls are prohibited now. According to Bash Bish Falls State Park in Mt. Some page levels are currently hidden. The closure is part of an effort to manage park capacity but the park itself remains open to visitors, added Dorrance, who said she wanted to remind visitors of the park rules, which include: These rules have been flouted in recent days. Thank you for your website feedback! I have my 80yr old parents with me.. they are in great shape, I just can't have them walking on rock scrambles or anything like that. For this hike, simply look for the information boards on the eastern side of the lot, and begin your hike down to the Bash Bish Falls viewing area. Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device. In a few minutes, youll arrive at the top of a big staircase that leads down to the falls. Lately Ive visited on weekends and was absolutely appalled by the garbage strewn across the parking lots and grounds. Very much appreciated! You dont hang and swim and litter and carry on in a disrespectful way. If you plan to meet someone at Bash Bish Falls, you'd do well to choose which state you're going to meet in. We ask all visitors to only use designated trails and areas open to the public. Phone. Bash Bish Falls doesn't look spooky or specter-infested. There are 45 tent sites, 25 tent platforms,36 trailer sites and three cabin areas for a total of 106 campsites and 18 cabins. 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. Thank you for doing this!!! Park is open year round, sunrise to sunset, weather and conditions permitting. Located on the border of New York and Massachusetts in the Taconic Mountains, Bash Bish Falls is a frequent destination for Hudson Valley residents and visitors. There were reports of injuries, with one person taken to Fairview Hospital. From the New York parking lot, the walk is an easy, flatter 1.5-mile roundtrip stroll. [7][8], As a result both the Massachusetts and New York conservation park officers increased patrolling, closed or limited use of the parking area to the falls, and even closed the park for a time. **UPDATE posted August 2022**The stairs to the falls have been barricaded to keep people out of the water at Bash Bish Falls. There were many people at the base of the falls sitting on chosen rock areas enjoying a snack, fishing, napping. From the upper parking area (on the Massachusetts side), the trail is shorter, but goes more steeply down to the falls. Pets are not permitted in playgrounds, buildings, golf courses, boardwalks, pools and spray-grounds or guarded beaches (this does not apply to service animals). I was feeling a little less than hardcore (I worked the night before) so, I took the easy way from the New York parking lot, which is a pleasant walk through the woods right along the creek. This unique waterfall is split at the top by an enormous boulder . There were small patches of mud on the trail but otherwise in very good condition. Youre now looking straight down Bash Bish Gorge. I have a 3 year old and he often walks the shorter hikes or does a combo of walking and on my back. Took some pictures at the top then went down the stairs to the falls and took some more and just enjoyed the scenery. A few tips: There are two parking areas, one in NY and one in MA. No youth hunts. [10] This is a very dangerous area as rocks are slick, the gorge is deep, and pools are shallow. The fun doesn't end in wintertime. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Hi! The main lot's most followed trail is temporarily closed due to fallen . The feedback will only be used for improving the website. 8. 4. Beautiful fall day. The snow on the trail was mostly packed down from hikers and footing was good. 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. Add photo or video. Write a review. NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS. Recommended. took maybe 20 mins and it was fairly easy. (An easier hike can also be done from the NY trailhead.). I saw your picture and it looks doable. My wife and I drove from a local mountain top hike to Bash Bish Falls - via Taconic State Park. Its a fond childhood memory for me.. There wasn't anybody else out today except for this one hardy young couple - we kept our distance, covid you know. They take over every square inch and spend the day. Dogs Allowed. Required fields are marked *. The falls themselves are in the town of Mount Washington but much of the surrounding area is in New York. Bash Bish Falls is a Massachusetts park maintained by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. 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. Taconic State Park is located along 16 miles of the Taconic Mountain Range, sharing a border with Massachusetts and Connecticut. Springtime is when the snow and ice melts so the falls are usually that much nicer. I imagine this is because people were breaking the the rules that this became a safety issue. Save. Still a nice hike but something had to be done. 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. Firewood source maps show a 50-mile radius from which untreated firewood may be moved to this campground. The smallest cabins accommodate up to 4 people and the largest 6 people. We asked BestReviews cooking expert Andrea Boudewijn for her best recommendations for Mothers Day gifts. more. This page is not available in other languages. Share. As it turned out, Bash Bish has two parking lots, one in Massachusetts and one in New York, separated by about a mile. Hiking is risky, life is risky, accidents happen, awareness reduces the risk. Jean Gazis / Flickr Please visit the Tentrr website for additional information about camping in Taconic State Park with Tentrr, or to check availability and make reservations. The N Leaves heavily covering the trail right now which cause steep decline from MA parking lot to be VERY slippery. 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. I was in admiration of his good nature and natural disposition to be of help to others. So sad to hear about the trash. Bring a water bottle and work gloves. It has also been a dry summer, so officials have been especially worried about fires. Is parking on the Mass side going to be an issue if there are 10-15 cars? The gorgeous sight hides in the Berkshire Hills' forest, near the state limit with New York. Bash Bish Falls State Park. Jug End State Reservation & Wildlife Management Area. Restrooms. Check out her best picks before buying anything. There is beautiful scenery along the way with clear babbling waters along the path. Too muddy around this time since we didn't have much snow and we just had rain. They change diapers and just throw them in the stream. BTW, I saw earlier posts saying this trail is wheelchair accessible. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. We overheard the rangers saying that Bash Bish will be barricaded until they can fix it up so that it wont be trashed like last year by people. Bring hydration regardless of what time of year it is. Check your sources, there have been many deaths here over the years. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Washington State Forest, Mount Washington, MA 01258, $ Specialty Food Market American Deli. Great directions! You actually cross the MA/NY border on your hike to the main falls. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. I just put an update into Step 5 above, linking down to your comment (also put a small update into Step 9). Portable toilets available May through mid-October. Tentrr Camping: Furnished Canvas Wall Tents. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. Really nice video, Eddie! The falls are right on the MA and NY border. Access to Bash Bish Falls, the highest waterfall in Massachusetts, where the Bash Bish Brook drops about 80 feet into an emerald plunge pool has been barricaded by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Contact information here: http://nysparks.com/parks/83/details.aspx. Glad to hear it, Laura thank you! My little Kia Forte (that I got cheap from Hertz when they were going bankrupt) with the crappy tires just couldn't make it up the gently sloped hills. Thank goodness the rangers and police are taking control. Visiting Bash Bish Falls is no longer fun. Bike or stroll along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, hike to Bash Bish Falls, just over the Massachusetts border or up Brace Mountain, the highest point in Dutchess County. WASHINGTON, Mass. Planning on going back in June. Just head uphill for a couple of minutes and youll get to the end of the trail, corralled on all sides by the guide wires. Add photo. For more information visit http://www.friendsoftsp.org. Our dog, who can't read, took a dip anyway. The steps are blocked and will be removed because of some careless individuals, Bash Bish Falls (Mount Washington) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Tentrr is now at Taconic State Park in the Copake Falls area. The trail on the NY side is a beautiful walk on a well-maintained wide trail. 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. These steps are often compact, practical and easy to move. I am excited! Nice, mostly flat trail, icy in a few spots. Location & Hours. 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. 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. Less than ten minutes into the hike, you come to a junction with the White Trail heading downhill to your left. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 41 min to complete. You can find more details in this Berkshire Eagle article:State blocks swimming access at Bash Bish Falls in Mt Washington. I have seen sheer stupidity of people swimming, and people climbing onto high rocks they shouldnt be on and jumping, but Ive never seen anything else that would put anyone in danger. Such a beautiful hike. People will be allowed down to Bash Bish Falls in October and throughout the winter months. Your friend that will bring you to the falls in about five more minutes. From Highway 344 in Copake Falls, Falls Road veers off, leading to the parks two parking areas. He gave me some good advice about traveling in the area in this kind of weather. Turkey, archery and shotgun: Fall season: 10/17 to 11/1 Spring season: 5/1 to 5/31. 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