Tannery Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated (Berkshire County, MA)

Tannery Falls is a waterfall in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, about 5.8 miles east of Adams. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Berkshire County, MA

Nearest town

Adams (5.8 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 4.8 from 31 reviews

Crowds

Quieter

Access

Short hike likely

Coordinates

42.62453, -73.00343

USGS topo

Windsor quad

Getting there

Tannery Falls sits about 5.8 miles east of Adams in Berkshire County. Google lists the address as Savoy, MA 01256. Visitors reach it on foot by trail. Check the current trail map for distance and elevation before you go.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Tannery Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Most Massachusetts waterfalls are on state land managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, including state parks and forests in the Berkshires, or on reservations owned by the Trustees, a statewide land conservation nonprofit that protects several falls in Royalston, Ashfield and Middlefield. Others sit on town conservation land or private property open to the public. Parking areas are often small and fill quickly on fall weekends; arriving early helps. Hazards include steep, wet rock on gorge rims, slippery stairs and roots, and sudden drop-offs at the top of falls. Swimming and climbing around falls have caused serious injuries, so follow posted rules. Ticks are common in warm months, and some trailheads in the hill towns have no cell coverage.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Tannery Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Massachusetts. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 42.62453, -73.00343 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

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. With 31 reviews, it sees fewer visitors than the region's headline falls, so you may have it to yourself on a weekday.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Tannery Falls holds a 4.8-star average across 31 Google reviews, and 84% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the number 4 waterfall by review count in Berkshire County. Visitors have shared 93 photos.

Moderate hiking trail leading to an 80-ft. series of waterfalls in serene forest surrounds.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

The federal gazetteer describes it this way: In the course of Tannery Brook, 5.6 mi E of the center of Adams; Town of Savoy.

Tannery Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on February 24, 1974, and it appears on the USGS Windsor 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Ross Brook (stream, under 0.1 mi), Tannery Pond (lake, 0.3 mi), Tannery Brook (stream, 0.4 mi), and Parker Brook (stream, 0.4 mi).

Berkshire Hills and Taconic Range. The Berkshires hold the state's most dramatic falls. Bash Bish Falls, in the southwest corner near the New York line, drops through a rugged gorge in two streams around a central boulder and is often described as the most impressive waterfall in Massachusetts. Nearby on the slopes of the Taconics, Race Brook Falls tumbles in several tiers, and Campbell Falls and Umpachene Falls lie in the quiet hills of New Marlborough. To the north, Money Brook Falls drops in a deep ravine on Mount Greylock, the state's highest peak. Tannery Falls and Wahconah Falls add forested cascades in state forest and park land.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Tannery Falls about 5.8 miles east of Adams is rated 4.8 out of 5 by 31 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Tannery Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.