Bash Bish Falls State Park

{{Short description|State park in Massachusetts, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox park

| name = Bash Bish Falls State Park

| photo = Bashbish 002.jpg

| photo_caption =

| photo_alt = Waterfalls

| photo_width = 280

| map = USA Massachusetts#USA

| map_caption = Location in Massachusetts

| map_width = 280

| relief = 1

| label = Bash Bish Falls State Park

| location = Mount Washington, Massachusetts, United States

| nearest_city =

| coordinates = {{coord|42|06|53|N|73|29|34|W|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref =

| area = {{convert|424|acre|abbr=on}}

| elevation = {{convert|1132|ft|m|abbr=on}}{{cite gnis|607293|Bash Bish Falls}}

| established = 1924

| free_label =

| free_data =

| administrator = Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| visitation_ref =

| website = {{Official website}}

| embedded =

}}

Bash Bish Falls State Park is a Massachusetts state park located in the town of Mount Washington. The park is named after Bash Bish Falls, Massachusetts' highest single-drop waterfall ({{convert|60|ft}}), 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 {{convert|4000|acre|adj=on}} Mount Washington State Forest, as well as New York's {{convert|5000|acre|adj=on}} 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. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail and at the falls. 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. The park is open from dawn to dusk.

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/final-landscape-designations-list/download |title=2012 Acreage Listing |publisher=Department of Conservation and Recreation |date=April 2012 |access-date=April 16, 2025}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.mass.gov/locations/bash-bish-falls-state-park |title=Bash Bish Falls State Park |publisher=Department of Conservation and Recreation |date=2017-07-11 |access-date=April 16, 2025}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshireweb.com/sports/parks/bash.html |title=Bash Bish Falls State Park |publisher=The BerkshireWeb |access-date=January 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115034813/http://www.berkshireweb.com/sports/parks/bash.html |archive-date=January 15, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web|url=http://www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/waterfall.php?name=Bash%20Bish%20Falls |title=Bash Bish Falls |publisher=NewEnglandWaterfalls.com |access-date=January 12, 2014}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Bash-Bish-Falls-7359/ |title=Bash Bish Falls |publisher=World Waterfall Database |access-date=January 12, 2014}}

}}