Bash Bish Falls
Encyclopedia
| Bash Bish Falls | |||
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| Location: | Mount Washington, Massachusetts Mount Washington, Massachusetts Mount Washington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 130 at the 2000 census, making it the smallest town in Berkshire County and, after Gosnold and Monroe, the third smallest in... , USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
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| Type: | Cascade | ||
| Total Height: | 60 feet (18 m) | ||
Bash Bish Falls, a waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
in Bash Bish Falls State Park
Bash Bish Falls State Park
Bash Bish Falls State Park is a Massachusetts state park located in Mount Washington which is named after Bash Bish Falls, Massachusetts' highest single-drop waterfall , which lies within its borders...
in the Taconic Mountains
Taconic Mountains
The Taconic Mountains or Taconic Range are a physiographic section of the larger New England province and part of the Appalachian Mountains, running along the eastern border of New York State and adjacent New England from northwest Connecticut to western Massachusetts, north to central western...
of southwestern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
(Berkshire County, Berkshire Hills, the Berkshires), is the highest waterfall in the state. The falls are made up of a series of cascades, nearly 200 feet (61 m) in total, with the final cascade being split into twin falls by a jutting rock, dropping in an 80 feet (24.4 m) "V" over boulders to a serene pool below.
The waters of Bash Bish Falls begin at a spring in Mount Washington
Mount Washington, Massachusetts
Mount Washington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 130 at the 2000 census, making it the smallest town in Berkshire County and, after Gosnold and Monroe, the third smallest in...
and after the falls, Bash Bish Brook continues on a gentler course through New York State until joining the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
and flows through Copake
Copake, New York
Copake is a town in Columbia County, United States. New York, United States. The population was 3,278 at the 2000 census. The town derives its name from a lake, which was known to the natives as Cook-pake, or Ack-kook-peek, meaning "Snake Pond." The town borders Taconic State Park.The Town of...
. The waterfall is at the mouth of a gorge formed during the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. At the rear of the gorge, opposite the waterfall, is a 194 feet (59.1 m) sheer rock wall.
There are two access points for viewing Bash Bish Falls and one additional via a hiking trail network, both of the two on Falls Road in Egremont, Massachusetts
Egremont, Massachusetts
Egremont is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,225 at the 2010 census. Egremont consists of two villages, North Egremont and South Egremont....
. Falls Road is the continuation in Massachusetts of New York State Route 344
New York State Route 344
New York State Route 344 is a state highway located in Columbia County, New York, United States. The route is in length and serves primarily as an access road to the Bash Bish Falls state parks on both sides of the New York – Massachusetts border. The western terminus of NY 344 is...
. There are both upper and lower access points with views of the falls on the road. The hiking trail access is a short steep trail (blue blazed) off of the South Taconic Trail, and unlike the other 2 accessed the falls from the south side.
From the top of the waterfalls, known as the "Summit," one has a clear view across Massachusetts into New York State. Recently the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
installed railings to prevent falls, which have been common from that location. More than 25 deaths have occurred at the Falls in the past century. Some were due to drowning, but most were due to rock climbing or rock jumping. This is a very dangerous area as pools are shallow, and swimming is not allowed. In October 2009, AOL Travel named Bash Bish Falls as one of the "Most Dangerous Tourist Attractions" in the U.S. and in 2010 AOL travel again named it one of the ten "most dangerous travel" destinations this time in the world http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/04/14/most-dangerous-tourist-attractions/?ncid=AOLCOMMtravdynlprim0938&icid=main|main|dl3|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.travel.aol.com%2F2010%2F04%2F14%2Fmost-dangerous-tourist-attractions%2F%3Fncid%3DAOLCOMMtravdynlprim0938.
Bash Bish Falls State Park is located next to both Massachusetts' 4000 acres (16.2 km²) Mount Washington State Forest
Mount Washington State Forest
Mount Washington State Forest is a scenic state forest in the southern Taconic Mountains of the southwestern Berkshire region of Massachusetts. It has 30 miles of trails for hiking, as well as offering wilderness camping, fishing, horseback riding trails, and cross-country skiing...
and New York's 5000 acres (20.2 km²) Taconic State Park
Taconic State Park
Taconic State Park is located in Columbia and Dutchess County, New York abutting Massachusetts and Connecticut within the Taconic Mountains. The state park is located off New York State Route 344 south of Interstate 90 and north of New York City...
.