Waterfalls in Massachusetts

Waterfalls in Massachusetts at a glance

Massachusetts has 48 named waterfalls on our map, 31st among the states. Most are small drops on creeks and rivers, and many run best in spring or after rain.

For bigger falls, the nearest waterfall country is New Hampshire and Vermont. New Hampshire's best-known falls include Arethusa Falls, The Flume, Diana's Baths. Search your town on the map above and set the radius to 100 or 200 miles to see which are within a day trip; the map crosses state lines.

Small falls like these are at their best in spring and in the day or two after heavy rain, when the creeks feeding them run high; in dry spells many shrink to a trickle. See the best time to see waterfalls.

Massachusetts by the numbers

The map shows 48 named falls in Massachusetts. 26 of them are in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, the federal register of official place names, and 22 more are named falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap. 6 have a height recorded by OpenStreetMap mappers, which is what the height filter above uses. BerkshireCounty has the most, with 12.

Tallest recorded waterfalls in Massachusetts

Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap, converted to feet. Guidebooks may list different figures, usually because they count every tier of a fall or only the biggest drop. Why heights differ.

Counties with the most waterfalls

From the USGS record, which gives each fall's county.

Every named waterfall in Massachusetts

Alphabetical within each county. Tap a name to centre the map above on it.

Berkshire County (12)

Bash Bish Falls, Bear Rock Falls (299 ft), Campbell Falls (49 ft), Lulu Cascade, Money Brook Falls, Otis Falls, Race Brook Falls, Tannery Falls, Twin Cascade, Umpachene Falls, Wahconah Falls, Windsor Jambs

Franklin County (3)

Chapel Falls, The Cascades, Turners Falls

Hampden County (2)

South Hadley Falls, Wallamanumps Falls

Hampshire County (1)

Glendale Falls

Middlesex County (3)

Danforth Falls, Pawtucket Falls, Wicassic Falls

Worcester County (5)

Doane Falls, Royalston Falls, Spirit Falls, Sutton Falls, The Cascade

County not recorded (22)

Bear's Den Falls, Cascade Falls, Cascade on South Brook (7 ft), Cascades, Deer Hill Falls, Doane's Falls, Emerson Falls, Goldmine Brook Falls, Haley Falls, Hobo Falls, Lower Falls, Lower Peck's Falls, March Cataract Falls, Marguerite Falls (13 ft), Newbury Falls, Peck's Falls, Rock Falls, Sages Ravine Falls, Silver Fox Falls (10 ft), Trap Falls (10 ft), Upper Falls, Wamesit Falls

Before you go

The map shows where falls are, not whether they are open or safe to reach. Check the land manager, usually a state park or national forest, for closures, fees and permits, and stay on the trail near the water. Our waterfall safety guide covers the hazards, and waterfall hikes near me explains how to pick a trail.

Waterfalls near cities in Massachusetts

Every named fall within driving range of the city, nearest first: waterfalls near Boston.

Waterfalls in nearby states: Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont. Or see waterfalls in every state.