Waterfall Record

This is a portion of a waterfall with a rainbow.

The Waterfall Record

Spirit Falls, Massachusetts

This is one portion of Spirit Falls in Massachusetts. This cascade is about 10 feet / 3 meters tall.
One portion of Spirit Falls in July 2015
This is one portion of Spirit Falls in Massachusetts. This cascade is about 15 feet / 5 meters tall.
Another portion of Spirit Falls in July 2015

Quick Facts

Accessibility: 7/10 (easy/moderate)
Height: Multiple drops of 10′-15′ / 3-5 m
Length of Hike: 2 miles / 3.2 km round-trip

Directions

I don’t have distinct memories of Spirit Falls. In July 2015, I flew into Boston and took a road trip to visit some Massachusetts waterfalls (and a few other states, most likely). Along a 6-mile stretch near Royalston, you’ll find three waterfalls: Royalston Falls (furthest north), Spirit Falls in the middle, and Doane’s Falls (Lower, Middle, and Upper), closest to Athol. Royalston and Doane’s are perceived to be the better attractions, and I would agree.

I’m updating some posts now that there is more information about falls across the world, and I can often get a better height estimate than my poor judgment. With Spirit Falls, I’ve seen a range from 10 to 200 feet tall…so here’s my interpretation and how that connects to the appeal of the falls. The total drop along this creek seems to be 150 feet. But the total drop is stretched out so that you can view 10-to 15-foot drops at any stop along the way. You can’t see the whole 150-foot drop, so that might make it less appealing. But this also means that if you reach the first drop, there are more uphill/upstream.

Spirit Falls is seasonal, from what I understand. The photographs I took in July show a much smaller waterfall than you’d see in spring. The falls are accessible year-round, though I would recommend caution in spring if there is still snow and ice along the trail.

Directions

  1. Royalston is a small village in north-central Massachusetts. The nearest larger town/city is Athol to the south. In Athol, you can take Chestnut Hill Ave north. The road changes names a few times along the way.
  2. Another name for the road is Athol Road. Athol Road intersects or connects with MA-68 in Royalston.
  3. Veer right or turn left to continue onto MA-68 (heading west instead of north).
  4. After half a mile, you’ll find the Jacobs Hill trailhead parking on your left. There aren’t many spots, but there probably won’t be many people.

Where in the World is Spirit Falls?

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