From Great Barrington (12 mi): Take US-7 S briefly, then MA-23 W toward Hillsdale; continue onto MA-344 S, follow signs for Bash Bish Falls, and park at the designated Massachusetts or New York trailhead.
Overview
Bash Bish Falls State Park is a Massachusetts state park located in the town of Mount Washington named after Bash Bish Falls, Massachusetts' highest single-drop waterfall (60 feet (18 m)), which lies within its borders. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and is one of several nature preserves in the extreme southwestern corner of Massachusetts noted for their scenery. It is adjacent to the 4,000-acre (1,600 ha) Mount Washington State Forest, as well as New York's 5,000-acre (2,000 ha) Taconic State Park.
Bash Bish State Park consists of numerous gorges and an eastern hemlock ravine forest. The slopes around the waterfall are covered by forests of trees such as maple, oak, and beech. Wildlife includes the timber rattlesnake, the peregrine falcon, bobcats, black bears, and porcupines.
Activities and amenities
The park's recreational opportunities include scenic viewing, hiking, and fishing. To ensure public safety entering the water, swimming and rock climbing are prohibited. The falls can be reached via a moderately strenuous, half-mile, downhill trail. In all, there are three parking areas with trails of different lengths that provide access to the falls.
