Race Brook Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Race Brook Falls is a waterfall in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, about 3.7 miles southwest of Sheffield. 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

Sheffield (3.7 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 4.6 from 30 reviews

Crowds

Quieter

Coordinates

42.08968, -73.42218

USGS topo

Bash Bish Falls quad

Getting there

Race Brook Falls sits about 3.7 miles southwest of Sheffield in Berkshire County. Google lists the address as Sheffield, MA 01257.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Race Brook 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 Race Brook 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 42.08968, -73.42218 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.
• Camera and a small tripod. Visitors have shared 206 photos of it; a tripod lets you shoot silky water in low light.
• 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 30 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

Race Brook Falls holds a 4.6-star average across 30 Google reviews, and 77% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the number 5 waterfall by review count in Berkshire County. Visitors have shared 206 photos.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

The federal gazetteer describes it this way: In course of Race Brook, 3.7 mi SW of Sheffield; Town of Sheffield.

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

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Mount Race (summit, 0.7 mi), Race Brook (stream, 0.8 mi), Mount Everett (summit, 1.0 mi), and Berkshire Trout Pond (reservoir, 1.2 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

Race Brook Falls about 3.7 miles southwest of Sheffield is rated 4.6 out of 5 by 30 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 Race Brook Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.