The best waterfalls near Boston, Massachusetts are Pawtucket Falls, Doane Falls, The Cascade and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Pawtucket Falls, about 24 miles northwest of Boston.
For more waterfalls around Boston, browse the nearest towns: Lowell, Hudson, Tyngsboro, Haverhill, Worcester, Sutton, Royalston, Ludlow. You can also see every waterfall on the Massachusetts waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 11 publicly accessible Massachusetts waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Boston that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Pawtucket Falls
24 miles northwest of Boston. Our top pick near the city 4.8 out of 5 from 17 reviews.
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Pawtucket Falls is about 24 miles northwest of Boston, near Lowell. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 17 Google reviews. In short: "Merrimack River waterfall & an important Pennacook Indian fishing ground in the pre-colonial period." Reviews most often mention memories. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: On the Merrimack River 0.7 mi NW of Lowell C.H.; City of Lowell. The falls have a vertical drop of 32 feet.
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2. Doane Falls
62 miles west of Boston. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 191 reviews.
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Doane Falls is about 62 miles west of Boston, near Royalston. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 191 Google reviews, and 83% of them give it five stars. In short: "Cascading series of 5 waterfalls situated on 46 acres of a forested preserve with hiking trails." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: In the course of Lawrence Brook 2 mi SSW of Royalston; Town of Royalston.
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3. The Cascade
41 miles west of Boston. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 12 reviews.
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The Cascade is about 41 miles west of Boston, near Worcester. Visitors rate it 4.4 stars across 12 Google reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: On an unnamed stream 0.2 mi W of Cook Pond and 0.6 mi NE of West Tatnuck; City of Worcester.
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4. Glendale Falls
97 miles west of Boston. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 56 reviews.
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Glendale Falls is about 97 miles west of Boston, near Becket. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 56 Google reviews, and 86% of them give it five stars. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: On Glendale Brook 2.7 mi NW of North Chester; Town of Middlefield.
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5. Spirit Falls
62 miles west of Boston. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 13 reviews.
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Spirit Falls is about 62 miles west of Boston, near Royalston. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 13 Google reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: On the W slope of Jacob Hill in the course of the stream draining Little Pond 0.9 mi SW of Royalston; Town of Royalston.
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6. Chapel Falls
87 miles west of Boston. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 84 reviews.
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Chapel Falls is about 87 miles west of Boston, near Ashfield. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 84 Google reviews, and 79% of them give it five stars. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: On Chapel Brook 2.1 mi SE of South Ashfield; Town of Ashfield.
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7. Sutton Falls
41 miles southwest of Boston. Rated 4.0 out of 5 from 8 reviews.
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Sutton Falls is about 41 miles southwest of Boston, near Sutton. Visitors rate it 4.0 stars across 8 Google reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Just SE of an unnamed lake 1 mi SE of West Sutton; Town of Sutton.
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8. Royalston Falls
65 miles northwest of Boston. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 60 reviews.
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Royalston Falls is about 65 miles northwest of Boston, near Royalston. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 60 Google reviews, and 72% of them give it five stars. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Located on Falls Brook, 3.6 mi NW of Royalston.
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9. Danforth Falls
27 miles west of Boston. Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 38 reviews.
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Danforth Falls is about 27 miles west of Boston, near Hudson. Visitors rate it 4.1 stars across 38 Google reviews, and 55% of them give it five stars. In short: "Small cascading waterfall located in quaint forest surrounds & near hiking trails." Reviews most often mention easy walk, serene, and peaceful. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: In Danforth Brook 1 mi NW of Hudson; Town of Hudson.
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10. Windsor Jambs
99 miles west of Boston. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 8 reviews.
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Windsor Jambs is about 99 miles west of Boston, near Hinsdale. Visitors rate it 4.4 stars across 8 Google reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Along course of Windsor Jambs Brook, 3.8 mi WNW of Plainfield; Town of Windsor.
Waterfall Day Trips From Boston
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawtucket Falls | 24 mi northwest | Lowell | 4.8 |
| Danforth Falls | 27 mi west | Hudson | 4.1 |
| Sutton Falls | 41 mi southwest | Sutton | 4.0 |
| The Cascade | 41 mi west | Worcester | 4.4 |
| Doane Falls | 62 mi west | Royalston | 4.8 |
| Spirit Falls | 62 mi west | Royalston | 4.5 |
| Royalston Falls | 65 mi northwest | Royalston | 4.5 |
| Chapel Falls | 87 mi west | Ashfield | 4.7 |
| Glendale Falls | 97 mi west | Becket | 4.8 |
| Windsor Jambs | 99 mi west | Hinsdale | 4.4 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Boston. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Boston?
Pawtucket Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 24 miles northwest of Boston and rated 4.8 stars from 17 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Boston?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Pawtucket Falls is the closest, about 24 straight-line miles northwest of the city, near Lowell.
How many waterfalls are near Boston?
We track 11 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Massachusetts within 100 miles of Boston, 4 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Massachusetts waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 11 publicly accessible Massachusetts waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Boston that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Where are the most waterfalls in Massachusetts?
Berkshire County in the far west holds 12 of the 27 falls in our directory. The steep slopes of the Taconic Range and Berkshire Hills create far more drops than the gentler terrain to the east.
Summary
Pawtucket Falls is our top waterfall pick near Boston, rated 4.8 out of 5 and about 24 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Spring is the prime waterfall season in Massachusetts. Snowmelt and rain typically push flows highest from late March through May, with the Berkshires and hilltowns melting out a bit later than the lowlands. Summer usually brings lower water, and by August many smaller brooks, including some ravine falls, can thin to a trickle in dry years, though thunderstorms can temporarily revive them. Fall foliage, usually peaking in the Berkshires in early to mid October, draws heavy weekend traffic, especially around Bash Bish Falls and Mount Greylock. Autumn rains sometimes restore good flows by late October or November. Winter brings ice formations, but trails into ravines can be icy and some access roads are not plowed.
For more Massachusetts waterfalls, see the full Massachusetts waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Massachusetts, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Massachusetts and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Massachusetts.