Bash Bish Falls, in the Taconic Mountains near the Massachusetts-New York border, is Massachusetts’ highest waterfall, dropping nearly 200 feet in a series of cascades. Its most famous feature is a 59-foot final plunge split into twin streams by a projecting rock. Fed by a spring on Mount Washington, Bash Bish Brook cuts a steep gorge between Bash Bish Mountain and Cedar Mountain before flowing into New York. Long a popular destination since the 1800s, the falls have drawn notable visitors and large modern crowds. Their dramatic beauty is paired with serious danger, leading officials to restrict access, increase patrols, and add safety measures.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain