No access to the upper gorge from the Massachusetts parking lot it is dangerous. Saturday, May 6, 2023 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Easy trail, any age and ability I feel could handle if in generally good condition. Would highly recommend. Patrick Miller September 26, 2022 Hiking Beautiful. Ive been going here since I was a child. I saw rangers kicking people out of the streams as well. Fees vary by location and season. DEC rules and regs apply. You can only walk to the view at top of the trail above the falls now, as noted by many others, some of those rudely from a. Classist POV or simply containing an opinion not based on fact. Bash Bish Falls, Mount Washington: Address, Phone Number, Bash Bish Falls Reviews: 4.5/5. I will be staying for an entire week. (An easier hike can also be done from the NY trailhead.). The hike was nice & the falls were beautiful! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Advanced features of this website require that you enable JavaScript in your browser. Boom. Lately Ive visited on weekends and was absolutely appalled by the garbage strewn across the parking lots and grounds. 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. There is a majestic overlook view that you can enjoy the falls without going down to the base of the falls. No amphibians. To plan your hike refer to All Activities - Hiking below. The small but deep Ore Pit Pond is a popular destination due to its excellent water quality. No waterfowl. Moderate to difficult ability. Difficult ability, about 0.6 miles round-trip. COPAKE FALLSYou can still see it, but you cant touch it anymore. Visiting Bash Bish Falls is no longer fun. Please be aware that Taconic State Park property encompasses land in both Columbia and Dutchess Counties. Long haul from Western MA. The cabin areas vary in number of cabins, location and size. Tentrr is now at Taconic State Park in the Copake Falls area. 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/. 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. Explore this 1.5-mile out-and-back trail near Copake Falls, New York. This is part of a much larger park system, Taconic State Park. People who hike the trail to Bash Bish can still see the falls from an observation area, but thats as far as they can go. Park police from New York State and park rangers from Massachusetts joined in an effort to increase patrols, according to the story. A lock icon ( I don't even know how to describe it. Slight incline, not bad at all. It is easy to understand why. more. Is parking on the Mass side going to be an issue if there are 10-15 cars? Route 7 South joins Route 23 West, and where they diverge, continue on Route 23 West to . Guide wires keep you from tumbling off the edge of the trail. I live locally, it was in the paper. I think they may have changed the trail a bit leading from the MA parking lot to the falls. Please adhere to the appropriate regulations set forth by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Do not swim, do not climb into areas closed to the public. Still a nice hike but something had to be done. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The closure took effect May 29, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and will be permanent. Respect the dangers without taking risks. My thanks to the owner of the local Subway shop for recommending it. Pets are not permitted in playgrounds, buildings, golf courses, boardwalks, pools and spray-grounds or guarded beaches (this does not apply to service animals). 4. night, US diplomatic convoy attacked in Sudan amid new truce. Six walk-in Tentrr sites are located in a large field with easy access to swimming areas, Copake Iron Works Historic Site and the trailhead to Bash Bish Falls. All rights reserved. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}42647N 732943W / 42.11306N 73.49528W / 42.11306; -73.49528, Bash Bish Falls, a waterfall in Bash Bish Falls State Park in the Taconic Mountains of southwestern Massachusetts (Berkshire County), is the highest waterfall in the state. The upper trail down to the falls involves a steep stairway that is roughly the equivalent of a three story building. I dont think we would have found the NY trail today without it! Bash Bish can be rather unsafe, like many waterfalls there is significant risk, even in the non-restricted sections. 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. Luckily this plow truck with a mountain of man operator came by. Hope that helps! The closure comes after the overwhelming influx of thousands of sometimes unruly visitors last year, many of whom ignored all the rules and trashed the place. You used to be able to take the stairs down to the base of the falls and enjoy the beauty from that level. Man, was it this steep on the way down? Bash Bish Trailhead & Parking. Falls Rd. I just put an update into Step 5 above, linking down to your comment (also put a small update into Step 9). There's a short 2-mile hike to the falls, and the scenery along the way is equally beautiful. [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. Bash Bish Falls is a great short hiking trail to the highest waterfall in the state of Massachusetts. Nice, mostly flat trail, icy in a few spots. From Highway 344 in Copake Falls, Falls Road veers off, leading to the park's two parking areas. A parks official in Copake told The Edge that the lot at the trailhead to Bash Bish remains open. safety first. [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. All cabins have electricity, lights, hot and cold running water,a kitchen with a refrigerator and stove, a dining area, a picnic table, and outdoor camp fire ring with grill. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Our elementary age children walked the trail easily. From the upper parking area (on the Massachusetts side), the trail is shorter, but goes more steeply down to the falls. 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. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. Washington, Massachusetts", "Hordes of people breaking every single rule pack Bash Bish Falls", "DCR closes Bash Bish Falls parking to manage crowds", "The beauty and sometimes danger of Bash Bish Falls, where man's body still lies", "Here Are The 7 Most Dangerous, Deadly Places In Massachusetts", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bash_Bish_Falls&oldid=1112247008, This page was last edited on 25 September 2022, at 11:12. 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. Be aware of changing trail conditions. No alcohol, or glass containers. Remember. These steps are often compact, practical and easy to move. He gave me some good advice about traveling in the area in this kind of weather. State blocks swimming access at Bash Bish Falls in Mt Washington, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference homepage, http://nysparks.com/parks/83/details.aspx, http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2013/09/24/hiking-hunting-season-safety-tips/2854437/. 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. Share. There are 45 tent sites, 25 tent platforms,36 trailer sites and three cabin areas for a total of 106 campsites and 18 cabins. 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 . I headed back to Great Barrington and checked into a hotel for the night. What attractions are near Bash Bish Falls? Another story is about a tightrope walker. We will stick with the lower trail. Very much appreciated! Stop at the newly created Copake Iron Works Museum to learn about the iron industry at the former site of Copake Iron Works, established in 1845. Awareness and common sense go a long way to keep people safe while hiking but sadly common sense is like deodorant and those who need it the most dont use it. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. An incredible reward after the somewhat tough little hike (at least for a 60 year OLD man). 9. Washington, theyve been having issues with people partying and leaving trash at the Falls. Our dog, who can't read, took a dip anyway. How easy of a hike is it? (413) 528-0330. and which is the best side to go in for the easiest hike? ** UPDATE November 5, 2014 ** According to Jocelyns very helpful comment, the trail has been re-routed here since my last visit, and you simply follow the blue blazes all the way down to the falls, without visiting the little footbridge or trail junction pictured below. You have two options: Bash Bish Falls is a natural area with inherent dangers. Check availability at ReserveAmerica.com. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Glad to hear it, Laura thank you! Pretty amazing to see a mostly completely frozen over waterfall. Alander Mountain Trail via South Taconic Trail, Guilder Pond and Mount Washington Lookout Trail, Appalachian Trail: Jug End Road to Mount Bushnell, Appalachian Trail from Jug End to Bear Mountain, Alander Mountain via Robert Brook and South Taconic Trail, Mount Everett, Bear Mountain, and Alander Loop, Brace and Alander Mountain via Robert Brook and South Taconic Trail, Mount Frissell via Robert Brook and South Taconic Trail. 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. Did not see any attempt to enforce the rule. The White Trail is your friend. If youd prefer a shorter creekside amble, fire up the journey from the NY trailhead. Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. Your postings and replies are very helpful. 247 State Route 344. Trails and rocks may be slippery, wear sturdy shoes. Restrooms. You cross the river a few times when hiking Cedar Brook trail which leads to Sunset Rock trail. 7. The falls are beautiful, well worth this short little walk in to see them. I don't know what "playing in the water" means to you. It started snowing heavily. Bash Bish Falls is a Massachusetts park maintained by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. Each I know of were because of human judgment or lack there of. Washington, MA But there is also a parking area in NY off of route 22. Hooray! I am excited! This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Man was it snowing heavily by now, and the road got slick quick. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Parking is free at the parking lot on Falls Road in Mount Washington, MA, limited to 24 cars. The area is posted No Swimming, which is universally ignored. It looks like you can only visit the base of Bash Bish after Columbus Day. While the hike to the falls. Typically only on weekends though. All Deer seasons; Spring and Fall Turkey seasons, bow until noon only. But thats just a guess.) No youth hunts. We came from NY and it was a short easy hike via Taconic State Park that has nice facilities compared to MA. Clean up after your pet and remove waste off site. Really appreciate your help to keep this trail guide as accurate as possible! can we manage to do the steeper one? I visited on 18 Oct 2014 and went from the MA side. You feel nestled in a cozy rock out cove and its quite beautiful there. You probably wont be alone at this viewing spot, but who cares? Note: Columbia County allows rifles - Dutchess County is shotgun only (Rudd Pond). Enjoy the hike and the falls. ), GPS coordinates of NY parking area: 42.11711, -73.50776 (Clicking will open in Google Maps or the Apple Maps app, depending on your browser/device.). Please leave a comment! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. My little one stayed on my back for the entire trek, but he could have handled most of it just fine. Came here over the weekend 6/26/21 and yes the falls are barricaded with rangers so no one is allowed anywhere close to the falls. Bash Bish Falls is a great short hiking trail to the highest waterfall in the state of Massachusetts. 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