Bash Bish Falls

Bash Bish Falls is the tallest and most dramatic waterfall in Massachusetts, where Bash Bish Brook plunges nearly 200 feet in a series of cascades down a granite cliff face, with the final 59-foot drop split into twin falls by a jutting boulder. The twin streams of white water converge in a deep, dark pool at the base, surrounded by massive granite boulders and towering hemlock trees. The falls sit in a wild, rugged gorge on the Massachusetts-New York border, and the combination of height, power, and dramatic rock formations makes Bash Bish one of the finest waterfalls in all of New England.

Two trail options provide access from different states. The Massachusetts approach from Mount Washington is steeper and shorter — about 0.6 miles round trip with a challenging descent into the gorge. The New York approach from Taconic State Park is gentler — a 1.5-mile trail with about 255 feet of elevation gain through pleasant forest. Both trails converge at the viewing area near the base of the falls. Most visitors prefer the easier New York approach.

Spring snowmelt creates the most powerful display, and the falls are at their thundering best in April and May. Fall foliage in early October adds brilliant color to the gorge walls. Winter ice formations are spectacular but access can be treacherous. Swimming is strictly prohibited due to multiple fatalities over the years — the pool has dangerous underwater currents and the rocks are extremely slippery. The Massachusetts side is a state park; the New York side is within Taconic State Park.