June 29, 2013
Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Year to date miles: 156
Parking: See book. Route 344, Copake Falls, NY
Restrooms: Porta potties in parking area, and again at the falls.
Directions: See book. This hike crosses the NY/MA border.
Notes: This is a very popular place, so expect a lot of non-hikers. There were plenty of dogs (on leash) as well. There is a sign from the parking lot, saying .75 miles to the falls. We followed a wide gravel trail. There are signs everywhere saying no swimming. However, there were swimmers/waders everywhere. The trail parallels Bash Bish Brook. Most of the people there were in bathing suits. We were the only ones with backpacks! We arrived at the falls where 50 or so people were enjoying the falls. Many were swimming in the deep pool below the falls. Some were diving off of rocks (60 feet above the pool) into the pool. None of this is allowed of course (yes we looked it up, and people die here). Past the falls, we continued along the trail which climbed steeply to the upper parking lot. Apparently there is a view there, but we didn't realize it, so missed it. We turned around and retraced our steps. We did stop to swim the dogs in the brook (next to a no swimming sign). The area seemed safe (not near the falls), and the dogs were very happy to cool off.
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| Trail to the falls. From this parking lot, the hike is easy. |
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| Crossing the NY/MA border. |
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| I couldn't get a good photo of the falls, but it really is a spectacular waterfall. Lots of people at the bottom, some swimming in the pool below the falls. Others were swimming or soaking further down on the right. |
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| Sign at the upper parking lot, our turn around point. |
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| A tree frog we spotted. |
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| Ending the day with some swimming. Yeah! |
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