You have 2 trips in progress.   See all
Trip Planner:   USA  /  Massachusetts  /  Royalston  /  Doane's Falls

Doane's Falls, Royalston

4.8
#42 of 153 in Nature in Massachusetts
Waterfall · Nature / Park
Create an itinerary including Doane's Falls
Doane's Falls is a series of five waterfalls located in Royalston, Massachusetts along an 0.2-mile (0.32 km) section of Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Millers River that originates from Laurel Lake in Fitzwilliam. The falls are part of a 46-acre (19 ha) open space preserve acquired in 1959 by the land conservation non-profit organization The Trustees of Reservations. The 22-mile (35 km) Tully Trail passes through the property.

The preserve is open to fishing, walking, picnicking, and hiking only; swimming and wading were banned in 2002 following a series of diving injuries and deaths. Canoeing and kayaking are allowed upstream from the falls along Coddings Meadow, a flatwater section of Lawrence Brook.

Doane's Falls are part of a larger contiguous area of protected open space, connected by the Tully Trail and including the United States Army Corps of Engineers' Tully Lake flood control project, The Trustees of Reservations' Jacobs Hill and Royalston Falls properties, and Massachusetts state forest land. Tully Lake Campground, a 35-site walk-in and tent only facility jointly managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Trustees of Reservations, abuts the west side of the Falls property.
Plan your visit to Doane's Falls and a wealth of other attractions, well-known and undiscovered, using our Royalston trip planning website.
Source
Create a full itinerary - for free!

Doane's Falls reviews

Rate this attraction
TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
57 reviews
Google
4.8
TripAdvisor
  • My wife and I enjoyed a short walk from lower to upper Doane's Falls. We had a beautiful 65F degree day with a slight breeze. Parking is an issue at the upper falls, but there is a secondary... 
    My wife and I enjoyed a short walk from lower to upper Doane's Falls. We had a beautiful 65F degree day with a slight breeze. Parking is an issue at the upper falls, but there is a secondary...  more »
  • Big water fall, easy hike. Lots of good views of it ,but you can't get too close to it, and it lacks that perfect head on view opportunity. Otherwise nice area and a worthwhile visit. 
    Big water fall, easy hike. Lots of good views of it ,but you can't get too close to it, and it lacks that perfect head on view opportunity. Otherwise nice area and a worthwhile visit.  more »
Google
  • Absolutely stunning and fairly easy trails though they are not marked well. It can be difficult not to go off trail especially with the leaves falling in October but still not too bad. We did a little off trail especially when we reached the middle of the falls there is a way down to the falls but I would not recommend if you are not a decent climber. The trees are magnificent and the area during the week is almost completely free of people. We only ran into a few groups. It's only about a 1.25 one way. The end of the trail buts up to the road which if you follow it down comes to the river cut off for kayaks and a little further down you hit the ranger station and bathrooms. The parking at the top of the falls is very small but again on a weekday not a problem. Absolutely worth the hour and half drive from Peabody/Salem area.
  • This was my first tome coming to Doane's Falls, it won't be my last. It was definitely worth the trip from Pittsfield. The flow was impressive even in a drought. Besides my group of five, I saw only one other person, I would recommend spikes seeing it is very slik in spots due to the leaves.

Plan your trip to Royalston

  • Get a personalized trip
    A full day by day itinerary based on your preferences
  • Customize it
    Refine your trip. We'll find the
    best routes and schedules
  • Manage it
    Everything in one place. Everyone on the same page.