Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I should put this post under our adventures in New York State or created a heading for Massachusetts. Why was I confuzzled? Well, the parking lot we parked in and the first half of this hike are in New York, but the trail crosses the state line into Massachusetts just before the waterfall. Bash Bish Falls is Massachusetts’ highest waterfall, and it drops 80 feet into a deep pool before traversing a narrow gorge. It is a beautiful sight, and it is also a hike I have done many, many times. I wanted my children to have the opportunity to do a favorite childhood hike of mine as I knew they would love it as much as I do.
On a warm day, over spring break, I packed a lunch, loaded my family and my dad into the car, and we set off. Storms were predicted in the afternoon so we got an early start. We drove into Copake Falls, NY, a tiny hamlet of the town of Copake, following Route 344 away from the busier Route 22. We crossed the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, passed the entrance for Taconic State Park, and then steered left at a fork in the road. 344 continued upward with Bash Bish Brook to our right. Shortly after we passed a small clearing with a variety of cabins, I spotted a large, shaded parking lot on our right. It is a dirt and stone lot with a porta-potty available. When we stepped out of the car, we could hear the roar of Bash Bish Brook. Due to recent rains, the stream was moving fast!
I packed water bottles and snacks into a hiking backpack, and we set off for the trailhead. The trail was obvious as it has been worn down by years of hikers, and it seems to get wider every year. The Falls are 3/4 of a mile from the parking lot, so this wasn’t a strenuous hike. The girls stopped to look at the map, and to read a sign that asked hikers to refrain from rock stacking. Moving rocks in the stream, stacking them, is bad for the fish and animals that live in the water as it disturbs their homes and disrupts the stream’s ecosystem.
The trail went downhill from the parking lot, briefly paralleled the stream, and then slowly started to climb back uphill. Pebble was happy as a clam collecting as many rocks as her little hands could hold. Stormy walked with her grandfather soaking in his knowledge of the trail and the environment. Rainbow played a game of “The Floor is Lava,” and tried hopping from rock to rock. As we hiked onward, the stream fell away and below us. We could see it moving swiftly through the gorge.
About three quarters of the way to the Falls, we came to the state line. There is a large sign that says N.Y.S. – Mass. Border as well as another sign that welcomes hikers to Massachusetts and Bash Bish Falls State Park. In addition to the parking lot we used, there is a small lot that people can use to hike to the Falls from the Massachusetts side, but that hike is much steeper, and harder for little legs to traverse. The hike we did was much safer, plus we got to hike into Massachusetts.
Shortly after crossing the border, we reached the Falls. The hike ends at a viewing area where one can look down at the Falls. There are steps that lead down for a closer view. Be careful as the steps are stone and uneven. There is a handrail, and I held tight to Pebble’s hand, too. At the bottom of the steps, we had to watch our footing. The mist coming off the Falls was heavy, and many spots were slick. The girls found a dryish flat rock, and sat down to snack on the pretzels and peanut M&Ms I’d packed. While they munched, I clambered down a bit closer to the Falls and the roiling pool for a few more shots. Swimming beneath the Falls is forbidden and very dangerous. In the heat of summer, rangers are often stationed here to keep people from entering the water.
The girls thoroughly enjoyed their snack, bickering over who got the last M&M, and then I took them down a little closer to the Falls. They loved feeling the spray hit them on their faces. Stormy had a lot of questions for my dad about why people would be stupid enough to swim here. She was also curious about the gorge, and where the water came from. My dad patiently answered her questions the best he could, and then he took her back up the steps to take in the view from the top again. He wanted to show her the little streams that helped feed the larger Bash Bish Stream below. Stormy and Rainbow tried counting all of the little waterfalls that tumbled over rocks into the basin below. It is truly amazing the amount of information my dad has absorbed from all of his years hiking. He is also not afraid to pick up a garter snake to show the girls. Thank heavens he didn’t find one on this hike! I’m not a fan of snakes!
On our way back to the parking lot from the Falls, we crossed the border again. This time, Stormy and Rainbow tried putting a foot in each state. Then they started chanting, “New York, Massachusetts, New York, Massachusetts…” as they hopped back and forth over the invisible state line. Pebble couldn’t resist and jumped right in. It was something I’d done as child, and it made me grin watching them.
When the trail came down parallel to the stream, we stopped at a bench, and let the girls play along the water’s edge. Pebble was happy to toss rocks in, while Stormy and Rainbow used sticks and stones to dig out mini channels in the soft sandy soil for water to run through. I wouldn’t let any of the girls wade as the water was running too high for that. I won’t say, though, a foot or two didn’t get wet during playtime. I had the girls wear their Keens just in case…
Back at the car, we loaded the girls up, and drove the short distance down the road to Taconic State Park to picnic. Fees don’t get charged for admittance until Memorial Day and onward, so we drove in, and parked near a playground called Bear’s Den Playground. The playground was fairly new, and in direct sunlight, but that didn’t stop the girls. They were happy to explore every inch of it. It is a neat playground, and very nature oriented. There was a sign detailing a variety of animal tracks. Several of the tracks were circled, and kids were encouraged to find those circled tracks sprinkled around the playground, a scavenger hunt. Another informational board talked about black bears in New York State. All of the trash bins in the park are bear resistant, and took more than a moment to figure out how to open them. In the center of the playground is a clump of rocks shaped to resemble a bear. The playground provided a balanced blend of play while reminding one that we are in black bear territory.
There was a covered picnic area nearby overlooking a water filled quarry where one can swim in the summer. We ate lunch there, enjoying the view, before packing it in. Everyone had a great time, and I loved sharing a piece of my childhood with my girls. If you are ever in this neck of the woods and looking for things to do, this is a fun hike! The Harlem Valley Rail Trail also looks amazing, and I would love to check that someday! Happy trails!
