When the weather is fine and you’re itching to lace up your hiking boots, you can’t do much better than a trip to this lesser-known Massachusetts waterfall. It’s the perfect little hike for beginner explorers, kids, or anyone who wants a big scenic payoff without too much work. Here’s what you need to know.
Google/dan Curdy A hike to this splendid Massachusetts waterfall is the perfect afternoon adventure. Bear’s Den Falls in New Salem looks like something out of a storybook. And best of all, it’s easily accessible by anyone who doesn’t mind a few minutes of easy hiking through the woods.
Google/Harv Campbell Bear’s Den Falls is easy to find. Simply park your car on the right side of Neilson Road in New Salem and walk to the trail entrance. From there, the waterfall is just an easy 0.25-mile walk through the forest at the bottom of a quiet gorge. Kids and novice hikers will love this path, though a steep drop on the rim of the trail means you should watch your step and monitor smaller children.
Flickr/Doug Kerr Once you reach the falls, you’ll be in awe of its beauty. This enchanting waterfall tumbles around hulking boulders and winds its way past the site of a former mill. According to a local legend, the native chief Metacomet (also known as King Phillip) held a 1675 meeting at the waterfall with other local tribal leaders to discuss a raid on the towns of Hadley, Deerfield, and Northampton.
Google/Harv Campbell Visiting Bear’s Den Falls is free. The area is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Even though the hike is a quick one, be sure to wear appropriate footwear with some grip, as stone near the waterfall may be slippery.
You can find directions to this incredible waterfall by clicking here. For more of the best short and sweet waterfall trips in Massachusetts, check out some of our faves here.
Google/dan Curdy
A hike to this splendid Massachusetts waterfall is the perfect afternoon adventure. Bear’s Den Falls in New Salem looks like something out of a storybook. And best of all, it’s easily accessible by anyone who doesn’t mind a few minutes of easy hiking through the woods.
Google/Harv Campbell
Bear’s Den Falls is easy to find. Simply park your car on the right side of Neilson Road in New Salem and walk to the trail entrance. From there, the waterfall is just an easy 0.25-mile walk through the forest at the bottom of a quiet gorge. Kids and novice hikers will love this path, though a steep drop on the rim of the trail means you should watch your step and monitor smaller children.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
Once you reach the falls, you’ll be in awe of its beauty. This enchanting waterfall tumbles around hulking boulders and winds its way past the site of a former mill. According to a local legend, the native chief Metacomet (also known as King Phillip) held a 1675 meeting at the waterfall with other local tribal leaders to discuss a raid on the towns of Hadley, Deerfield, and Northampton.
Visiting Bear’s Den Falls is free. The area is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Even though the hike is a quick one, be sure to wear appropriate footwear with some grip, as stone near the waterfall may be slippery.
Address: 18 Neilson Road, New Salem, MA, 01355
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