Located only twenty minutes away from one another, Bash Bish Falls and High Falls conservation area are two of the most impressive waterfalls in the Hudson Valley region.
Todays adventure took us a few hours away to the New York and Massachusetts border region of the Hudson Valley. Our first stop was High Falls conservation area. This preserve is less known than some of the others on my list but the waterfall is quite massive and the hike itself is a relatively quick stroll.
The trails are mostly gravel and fairly low incline. We didn't find anything to be too steep and there are bridges and stairs where necessary. The first stop is the main over look, simply follow the signs for waterfall way. This portion of the hike took a mere ten minutes to complete. On the way up you will discover a second large waterfall but we will visit both from below next.
The sun was glaring today and as you can see from the video the waterfall was reflecting that big time! Luckily my camera with the help of a filter and Lightroom was able to bring out the colors of this shot.
Be warned, this park may not be as well known since it isn't a state park, but it was PACKED with families when we visited. There wasn't a single second where we were actually alone without company (and I hate vlogging in front of people!) so be prepared to wait for a photo.
Next head down the trail to the side of the brook and hike back upstream. Here you'll find a bench to enjoy the second unnamed waterfall. If you want to see the main High Falls from up close you will need to hop along the boulders and debris further upstream. This section was a little hard to get to with the water level we experienced and was not dog friendly but may be much easier at other times of the year.
And that's about it for this park. It is an extremely compact and east to navigate area without a lot of extra features. Take the stairs back up and you'll find yourself at the bridge near the beginning towards the parking lot.
This park is only 20 minutes down the road from the super famous Bash Bish falls so we did both parks together and recommend you do the same. The are is mostly farm fields and trees and we found the gas to be about 30 cents more per gallon than back home so plan appropriately. You'll find Bash Bish falls in both New York and Mass, you'll have to choose your experience. From Mass you'll experience a steep climb with stairs, from New York's Taconic park a gentle gravel path that's a bit longer.
An advantage to coming from the New York side is a quick stop at the Historic Copake Iron Works that is on the way and only one minute from the Bash Bish Parking lot. This blast furnace, museum and walking path are being restored and is very similar to the Roxbury Mine Hill Preserve that we explored a few weeks ago. The onsite museum was closed during our visit!
Bash Bish Park itself is another easy gravel trail when you park in Taconic State Park. The trail follows along the stream the entire way with several good opportunities for your dogs to get wet. The water was incredibly clear and blue the entire way and I've seen photos of swimming but it was way to early for that!
The falls are technically in Massachusetts but shared between the states, much like Campbell falls in our home state of Connecticut. Near the last quarter of the New York trail you will find this wonderful border sign letting you know.
The falls are just a few minutes beyond this and we found there was some construction going on. An upper area was off limits at the time so your experience may vary. There was a nice observation area where you could take a photo from above and then stairs descending down to the base of the falls.
The base is not a developed area and you should be prepared to hope along some very large boulders to find the ideal spot to take a photo. This area might be used for swimming according to some photos but when we visited in spring this area was filled with sun bathers. There is also a set of mini mini waterfalls to the left of this area.
The falls themselves are really spectacular. Far large in person than they appear in photographs, I was surprised how much power they had and I was covered in the mist pouring off of them. From the base you can only see the final plunge but a view from the observation area above reveals several small drops above these. The iconic large boulder splitting the falls is the defining feature of this fall.
Don't forget, before you go, there is a wonderful vista point located above the Massachusetts-side parking lot. Make sure to hike up there, or better yet drive, and go take a look. It is very steep and covered in roots and sheer rock faces but it's less than a two minute climb. The view is well above the falls, in fact you can't even see them, and opens between two mountains to a wonderful valley view much like a junior version of Mount Willard in NH.
Bash Bish Falls in all it's glory
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