Waterfalls and Other Adventures in Western MA
Western Massachusetts has many organizations dedicated to outdoor adventure and conservation. Some of them charge money but others are free. If you want to do some of these things and aren’t sure where to start, contact Eagle Eye to help you!
Organizations that Offer Outdoor Experiences:
Fishing Friends – Youth-friendly fishing experiences
Adventure East – Guided outdoor experiences
Holyoke Rows – Offers free rowing and kayaking for Holyoke youth (and learn-to-row for any age)
Next Level Adventures partners with schools and offers summer camp and afterschool programs in the outdoors
Organizations that have land with trails (you’d need a car for most of these):
Kestrel Land Trust manages lots of wild areas in western MA and has trail maps on this link
Mass Audubon has beautiful wildlife sanctuaries all over the state. The closest to Holyoke and Springfield is Arcadia in Easthampton. The closest to Pittsfield is Tracy Brook or Canoe Meadows.
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has parks and forests all over MA that are owned by YOU, as a resident of the state
U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Service has lots of activities you can do. Conte Wildlife Refuge in Hadley, MA is one of their properties.
Norcross Wildlife has a 75-acre sanctuary about a half hour drive from Springfield
Trustees of Reservations has many beautiful properties including some with waterfalls.
Waterfalls!!
Since so many of our participants really love the waterfall at MountainStar, here are some places you can see waterfalls with no hike or only a short hike.
- Chesterfield Gorge in Chesterfield, MA
- Chapel Brook Falls in Ashfield, MA
- Bash Bish Falls in Mt. Washington, MA
- Lulu Cascade in Pittsfield, MA
- Scantic River Falls in Enfield, CT
A cool list of some of the best waterfalls is at https://www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/massachusetts.php
