It took me three attempts over three days to make it all the way to the waterfall, but it was so…read moreworth it! I took this journey at the start of February, and there was tons of snow on the ground. On the first day, I arrived at the Massachusetts parking lot around 3 PM I figured I had a good two hours before sundown. I turned back after walking a short way down the trail because it was so steep, I thought I was going to tumble into the river. When I got back, I watched a video of someone hiking on the Massachusetts side, and I realized that the trail is normally full of stairs This makes sense because it's very steep and that's why it's so short but because of the snow, the stairs are covered up I would definitely not recommend using the Massachusetts side in the winter On the second day, I got to the New York parking lot around 2 PM. I made it about halfway down the much more gradual and scenic trail before I turned back. I turned back because the sun disappeared behind the mountain, and it was dark and windy On the third day, I got to the New York side at 11 AM. This time I realized that the top of the trail is just always dark and windy because it's in a corridor between two mountain peaks. So I pressed on. It took me about one hour to get to the end of the trail. I walked pretty slowly and stopped to look at nature a lot. If you are not someone who is super confident staying on the path in the forest, these are fairly easy trails because it's just a straight line the whole way there and you are following the river the whole time. I'm so glad I didn't give up because the falls are one of the most beautiful magical things I've ever seen Instead of water flowing down through the ice, it was snow and slush bursting through the sections of the frozen waterfall the water exploding into 1 million tiny snowflakes from the top to the bottom I plan to come back here in the summer with my kids and I think they will really love it.

Bash Bish Falls was just as beautiful as everyone says it is! The hike was worth every step, and…read moreseeing the waterfall in person was amazing. There's just something about being surrounded by nature that fills my cup. I LOVE to hike so this was my happy place. Even better, we got to share the experience with friends we've had for 24 years after meeting on a cruise. Good friends, beautiful scenery, and another memory made together. That's my kind of day. You can go I on the MA side which has lots of stairs but is a shorter walk or do the NY side with a short 3/4 mile hike to the falls.

fabulous. An hour wasn't enough. There is so much sculpture and art. Glass, mosaic, welded metal,…read moreand natural stone. Not to miss, but give yourself more than an hour. And PLEASE - honor system to pay admission- DO IT!

The sanctuary is really cool. Suggested donation of $20 and you walk the grounds at your own pace…read more There is some amazing art there and, I believe, it changes regularly with additions from artists. There is a labyrinth right by a beautiful little body of water, some really cool sculptures, glass works, and cool places to sit and/or wander around. The whole place has a really nice vibe, and I think it's just really cool that someone takes care of a space like that for everyone to enjoy. I would highly recommend it. Fun for the whole family.

This is a small, quiet park sitting just above the river, next to a covered bridge. During our…read morevisit the river was low and flowing gently. A sign in the dirt parking area, directly across from the park, says the river is polluted and no fishing is allowed. There is however a stairway, of sorts, there leading down to the river where you may be able to launch a kayak or canoe. An information sign at the entrance to parking states this covered bridge is the oldest in MA? There is a timeline from it's inception to the present day. It is now a pedestrian only bridge. Walking across this bridge brings you to a dirt road where people were walking and to the park. A small metal sculpture welcomes you. Several benches face the river here lining the bank. A sign under a shady tree from the State of MA announces the historical inclusion of a UFO event that occurred here as being factually accepted by the state. A big picnic table also resides in the shade here. The grassy lawn is mowed. New plantings have been protected from wild life. Lamp posts are located between the benches. Everything seems to be donated with plaques affixed. One of the benches includes cremeated remains so they are always there, where it happened. A bike rake, trash bin and dog waste bags are located in the parking area. Pups are allowed on leash. This is a small, quiet area. A place to enjoy solitude, take a walk, read a book or share a picnic. Visit for the history of the bridge and the event.

"We're dying to be invaded Waiting for the UFOs Waiting for…read morethe UFOs We are waiting for the UFOs We know that they're there" (Graham Parker) Did a series of UFO's appear in the skies over Sheffield, Massachusetts in 1969? Did over 250 people see a disc-shaped white orb bigger than a football field hover in the sky over Sheffield's covered bridge? Did the Reed family have their car engulfed in light as they were pulled into the UFO? Did the family take a polygraph test found to be 99.1% truthful? Could this have been one of the most-seen UFO incidents in history? The Great Barrington Historical Society, Massachusetts governor, and Massachusetts historians seem to agree that all this happened, and there is a park in Sheffield commemorating that event. The Thom Reed - UFO Monument Park was founded in 2015 on the banks of the Housatonic River by the town of Sheffield where Thom Reed's off-world incident was said to have occurred. A sign reads "On behalf of the citizens of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am pleased to confer upon you this Governor's citation in recognition of the off-world incident on September 1, 1969, which engaged the Reed family, which has been established. Your dedicated service to this incident was factually upheld, founded, and deemed historically significant and true by means of Massachusetts historians. The records highlighting the historic event are now officially part of the Great Barrington, MA Historical Society's collection and your recent induction into Massachusetts history." There are benches scattered along the park waterfront, and many have sponsorship plaques from the media sources (Netflix, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Discovery Science, International UFO Museum in Roswell) that have publicized the story on TV shows like Ancient Aliens and Unsolved Mysteries. What say you?

We took a long weekend to spend some quality time with our adult children and their spouses plus…read moregrandparents. This was the perfect place! The measures taken for Covid Compliance were impeccable. All staff practiced social distancing and wore appropriate PPE's which made the guests feel safe, relaxed and confident in the team working hard for our safety and theirs. The restroom facilities were great! They were very clean and the showers had a strong flow of hot water. The trash receptacles were never over full confirming that the staff were monitoring the facilities regularly for cleanliness. As an added bonus, there are numerous water stations throughout the camping area making it quick and easy to refill water jugs to bring back to the campsites. The lake is not very big, but offers kayaking, canoeing, fishing and swimming in a contained area. The beach had clean sand and multiple trash receptacles. If you plan to swim, we recommend wearing water shoes when you go in as, with any lake, the bottom can be a bit rocky and slimy. LOL Management made rounds at dusk to ensure the guests were all set for the night. His parter, a beautiful Newfoundland (I think) lies in the bed of the pickup and is so well trained and mild mannered you wouldn't even know he was there. The respect and care shown to the guests is impeccable. The only downside was the total number of kayaks available to rent if you have a larger group. Having said that, the number of kayaks and canoes combined is certainly in ratio with the size of the lake. Overall, we found the entire weekend a huge success! The team of workers were respectful, informative, accommodating and so very friendly. Their interactions with each other as well as the guests put everyone at ease and made you feel so at home and welcome. We would highly recommend this as an excellent place to visit without hesitation. We will be back!!

Clearly past its prime. In brief - if you are looking for a place to chill by the water or swim, I…read morewould skip Rudd Pond and head for the nearby falls. This park is clearly past its prime. Although from the look of things, they might be doing some renovation. The changing rooms were boarded up and the sand was infested with ground bees that the kids dodged to get to the water. Once they got in, we advised them to just keep moving because not only were the blue gill interested, they were aggressive. I am not talking about gentle dermabrasion on your legs by fish, I mean hard bites on the thighs and toes if we paused in the water for too long. I know they are usually hungry and curious but wow. It seems like plenty of people have thought it wise to throw them bread over the years and now they just assume you are the bread.

This is an extremely good walk/hike. "Easy" in terms of difficulty, this trail starts off on an…read moreeasy 1/4-mile walk down a meandering crushed-gravel path to a wooden gazebo, then down some grassy hills to the Hudson River "lookout" point. From there, you can venture into the woods for a 3/4 to a mile "easy hike" surrounded by trees, trickling stream & a few furry animals, like squirrels & chipmunks, collecting acorns. Kid friendly, this is a great walk/hike for the whole family.

Dreamy any walk you choose to start on during any season. Beginner's level. Nice view of the Hudson.read more

I truly enjoy Whitlock Preserve because it was easy to find, and looked maintained. The map was…read moreprovided at the entrance, in pinpointing where the trails go. Two separate trails (orange and blue, which were in fact signed well) go through various hills, with some muddy spots along the way. A minor improvement would be to add signage (blue) in the clockwise direction. Sadly, no viewpoints at this location. Each of the trails has a turnoff which does a loop and reconnects at the same spot. Beware, I experienced a lot of gnats flying around. Extremely peaceful and enjoyable.

This park was a staple for my family and I growing up in the area! It's a playground and dog park…read morecombined by a large field that stretches the entire street. The street parking nearby is free, and there are bike racks for anyone that needs them. The neighbors in that area were always very kind to me, but it's also important to be aware of their families and privacy. It's not a place for large group gatherings or non-residents to host events. There are water fountains, waste disposal, and lots of seating, but there are not picnic tables or public restrooms. It's a beautiful park and I always make it a stop on my walks!

Ahhhh.. Umpachene - how do I bottle you and bring you home?…read more Delightful 18 minute ride from where we were staying in Sheffield. Suggest loading GPS or navigation app before losing signal in the mountains. Of note, and quite a surprise after a score of years closed, the bridge on Umpachene Falls Road has been rebuilt and is open. Yesterday, the falls were rushing abs bracingly cold! While I didn't fully submerge or hide behind the water curtain, I sat in the flow and was transfixed and refreshed for an hour. Remains a Berkshire treasure!

Beautiful place. Nice picnic area. Very relaxing. Great place to go to unwind and enjoy nature…read more Highly recommended!

This park is gorgeous. The previous review is from 2012 and negative because of a $5 entrance fee…read morewhich no longer exists. The Park is super clean, great for families and dogs, swimming in a clean pond during summer, camping, boating, it is gorgeous!!! They even have grill sites for family bbq's! A perfect place for a lovely wake or hike as trails are available. It's a MUST!

Despite the new $5 admission fee for county residents($8 for nonresidents), I was there this…read moreweekend. But there didn't seem to be many(if any) changes that had gone on since I was there last summer. It did get a little dirtier though up on the hill by the benches(I found several cigarette butts as well as several pieces of trash on the ground). The tables area just shortly after the parking lot had some problems: although one light was removed, it was for good reason(a bird had created a birds nest above the light and they didn't want to electrocute the darn bird). However, it was a beautiful day otherwise. Try to plan your trip so you can get here after the worker heads home. They do only have a worker there for a portion of the time.

Woah what an experience. The trees were dead and the field was stunning . The water was super cool…read moreand totally worth the trip. I attached some photos of my experience.

Woah, a big open field with very few woods, this is it. The other noteworthy thing that sticks out…read moreis a bench viewing Wappingers Creek. There are four trails while two run the perimeter and one in the middle in the midst of the tall grass (see photos), with also a connector trail. It is well maintained, looking clean and spotless all around, even though there are a number of bugs found. Not too big of a park making the journey go by quickly. This is great for a quick experience along with the paths being easy, in terms of difficulty. With that in mind, enjoy the scenery all around!