Deep in the forest of Central Massachusetts, in the small town of Royalston, 45-foot Royalston Falls rewards majestic views and tranquil surroundings to whomever is willing to make the hike out to visit it.
Royalston Falls had been on my bucket list of places to visit for a few months. In fact, we had plans to visit the waterfall on the same day that we visited Doane’s Falls earlier that spring. Unfortunately, the ice and snow which still blanketed the ground in mid-March made for a treacherous adventure, and we had to postpone our trip to Royalston Falls for another time.
Finally, months later, we returned to Royalston to finish what we started.
Benny was really excited to be joining us on our adventure, but he wasn’t feeling well. He woke up with a cough and a slight fever. We didn’t think it was anything more serious than a severe cold, but to be on the safe side, Benny told us to go on without him. So, unfortunately, Benny wasn’t able to join us on this trip.
However, we took pictures AND VIDEOS for him! The videos are at the end.
Finding the Parking Lot
If you’re planning a trip to Royalston Falls, you won’t want to miss reading this!
There are two things you need to do to ensure that you arrive at the trailhead:
- Before leaving, download a map of the area on your phone. Cell coverage is spotty to non-existent in this town.
- Don’t, I repeat, don’t rely on Google for directions. I know that sounds like blasphemy, but Google itself doesn’t have the correct point for the trailhead. You’d end up following an isolated road that abruptly turns into a dirt road that may or may not be closed depending on the season. Granted, it makes for a nice drive, but it won’t lead you to the trailhead. To make sure you’re heading to the right place, make sure you tap on the nearby hiking icon set by the Trustees of the Reservations.
The trailhead is on Athol-Richmond Road, and it’s also a stone’s throw away from the New Hampshire line.
The parking lot is near an old cemetery. Take some time to walk by the graves and read the inscriptions. There are a few veterans buried here also.
On the Way
To get to the falls, follow Tully Trail. We found the way to be really well marked.
The path itself was muddy and rocky. Make sure you wear good boots! Even though the hike itself isn’t long, the terrain upgrades the difficulty level from easy to moderate.
We hiked for about 30 minutes. The journey in was mostly uneventful, with the exception of chipmunks running around. It was almost like our adventure to Monument Mountain.
Soon, we heard water rushing from Falls Brook, and I found a house!
Okay, so it’s not really a house. It’s an Adirondack Shelter. From the shelter, you can hear the stream. That must make for a nice, relaxing night’s sleep.
There’s a small bridge to get over. We went over slowly. It was stable, and I promised my wife that I wouldn’t jump up and down on it when I was in the middle. Did I keep my promise? Yes, because I would have been in big trouble if I hadn’t.
Approaching the Falls
The last .3 miles to Royalston Falls isn’t as well-worn as the other sections, so we relied a lot on the yellow trail blazes to guide us.
We traveled by a couple of cascades. Because it was slow-going, we thought that we had walked too far and missed something. Had we somehow missed Royalston Falls? We hoped not, and so we continued.
I’m glad we did. After another ten minutes, we found the main attraction.
Photos can’t quite capture how amazing the waterfall is. It’s a beautiful, peaceful spot. I took a couple of videos, but there’s nothing like actually being there, in the middle of the woods, away from everything, listening to the water. We admired the falls for about 30 minutes before heading back.
For more information about Royalston Falls, check out The Trustees of the Reservations website.
Join us as we explore New England and beyond!
Check out our map of places we’ve been in New England!
Find New England Travel Guides and Books. This is an affiliate link, and we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Leave a Reply