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The Cascade
4.7 ★★★★★ 87 Google reviews · Running trail in North Adams, Massachusetts · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from The Cascade's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Park featuring short, easy trails leading to a picturesque waterfall for photo ops.
What runners say about The Cascade
“I was surprised that parking at a YMCA and walking through a neighborhood would lead to such a beautiful waterfall (The Cascade aka Notch Brook Cascade).”
“Gorgeous and generally easy hike, with a wonderful reward at the end!”
I was surprised that parking at a YMCA and walking through a neighborhood would lead to such a beautiful waterfall (The Cascade aka Notch Brook Cascade). Parking is at the Berkshire YMCA parking lot. Once in the woods, you'll likely be accompanied by families enjoying the trail/the pool below the falls!
Very pretty waterfall and an easy hike. Partly through a neighborhood as there is no parking in the neighborhood
Gorgeous and generally easy hike, with a wonderful reward at the end! There are blue markers to help guide you from the parking lot (at the Elementary School, not so much at the YMCA), but strangely no blue markers once in the woods.
A lot of descriptions say this trail is easy, so we attempted to bring the grandparents here. Don't do it. A chunk of the trail is washed out, you have to walk on the riverbed on unstable rocks to get there. It's easy for anyone sure footed. They had to turn around halfway and were disappointed to not see the cascades.
Trail conditions & character
“I was surprised that parking at a YMCA and walking through a neighborhood would lead to such a beautiful waterfall (The Cascade aka Notch Brook Cascade).”
“There are blue markers to help guide you from the parking lot (at the Elementary School, not so much at the YMCA), but strangely no blue markers once in the woods.”
“The trail is generally easy to follow, except for one section immediately adjacent to the water where you need to hug the rocks or climb up a bit then return down.”
“Great walk beautiful river and amazing falls was muddy from all the rain but worth the walk”
“Most of the time we’ll go on long nature park walks that are flat.”
“There are blue markers to help guide you from the parking lot (at the Elementary School, not so much at the YMCA), but strangely no blue markers once in the woods.”
Plan your run at The Cascade
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Phone(413) 663-3716
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–6 PM |
Running trails near North Adams
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Cascade Trail - Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 279 reviews
Family-friendly hiking trail through the woods to a waterfall.
Bellows Pipe Trail
5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews
Historic Valley Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 270 reviews
Campground surrounded by the Berkshire woods that offers lake access and numerous picnic tables.
Wilbur's Clearing Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 11 reviews
Natural Bridge State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 733 reviews
An abandoned marble quarry with a naturally formed arch & a man-made dam, both of white marble.