Bash Bish Falls — Attraction in Mount Washington

The Bishbash Waterfalls, situated in their deep forest sanctuary, offered an enchanting escape into the heart of nature. The journey to reach them was a serene walk through the lush woods, with the gentle whisper of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds creating an atmosphere of anticipation.

As we approached the falls, the distant sound of rushing water grew louder, like a melodious invitation to nature's spectacle. Emerging from the forest's embrace, we were greeted by a breathtaking view. The cascading waters of the Bishbash Waterfalls tumbled gracefully over the rugged rocks, creating a delicate veil of mist that danced in the dappling sunlight.

The falls were not just a sight to behold; they beckoned us to explore further. We couldn't resist the temptation to swim in the crystal-clear pools beneath the falls. The water, pristine and cool, embraced us with its refreshing touch. It was as if the very essence of the forest had converged here, offering a natural sanctuary for those who sought its embrace.

It was during our swim that we discovered something remarkable – a sealed container gently floating in the pool. Our curiosity led us to find an iPhone inside, and as we powered it on, it began ringing with the caller ID displaying "Damon." The voice on the other end was none other than Matt Damon himself.

The iPhone belonged to his daughter, lost during a previous visit to these falls, and its recovery brought immeasurable joy to their family. Grateful beyond words, they insisted on meeting us that evening and expressed their immense happiness. Over a warm dinner, they not only shared their stories but also presented us with a generous reward of 5,000 dollars as a token of their appreciation.

Amid the enchantment of the Bishbash Waterfalls, our encounter with the Damons had an unexpected twist – their incredible sense of humor. As we shared stories over dinner that evening, it became evident that the Damons had a knack for comedy.

Matt Damon, known for his acting prowess, had us in stitches with his witty anecdotes and self-deprecating humor. His wife and daughter joined in, regaling us with funny tales of their adventures, both on and off-screen. It was like being part of an impromptu comedy show in the heart of nature.

Their humor wasn't just about entertaining us; it created an atmosphere of genuine warmth and camaraderie. It bridged the gap between our worlds, making us feel like old friends catching up, rather than strangers who had stumbled upon their lost iPhone.

Their laughter was infectious, and their ability to find humor in everyday situations was truly refreshing. It was as if the enchantment of the Bishbash Waterfalls had extended to their spirits, infusing the evening with an extra layer of joy.

By the time we parted ways, we not only had a heartwarming story of their lost iPhone but also a collection of unforgettable moments filled with laughter and mirth. The Damons had not only rewarded us with their generosity but also with the gift of their infectious humor, turning our visit to the falls into an enchanting memory that blended nature's beauty with the magic...

Great Scenery, Lousy Humans

First, the falls themselves are incredible. There are a number of pools to explore further up the falls, and the main falls itself is a beauty easily accessible from multiple parking lots (in NY and MA).

I visited the a week before Labor Day, and despite it being a Monday, the parking lot was packed but I managed to find a spot. The main sort of plaza under the falls was lousy with local youths, the occasional bottle of this or that, and whoever wanted to come out and cool off on a hot day.

As I approached the main pool, I could hear a woman screaming at the top of her lungs, clearly upset, angry and nervous at the same time. She was trying to persuade any of the people lounging around to help a woman at the top of the falls, standing there in a bathing suit with her arms folded, maybe 19 or 20, possibly too scared to jump. The irate woman threatened to call the cops if no one did anything. I've got some legs on me, so I scaled the side-ish trail/scrambled to reach her. She said she was fine, she just wanted some time to work up the courage to jump, and she refused my help.

By then it was too late. The woman, mid 50s and clearly willing to get involved with people's business more than most locals, continued to be inconsolable, and called the cops. In the meanwhile, I knew that despite my good looks and hot Hawaiian shirt I couldn't convince the woman to jump, and I had decamped to a few trees atop a cliff overlooking the falls to sling my hammock and have a recreational cigarette while the whole thing played out.

The Mass State Trooper that hiked up wasn't very amused. He didn't notice any recreation, but apparently in the scramble up the hill to the woman, I had crossed a fence and entered a restricted area, and anyway, the cops didn't like what they'd seen when they arrived (2 SUVs... her screaming must have scared them) and they kindly asked me to leave. I was there for an hour. It's an hour each way from my house.

In an era where funding for parks will only continue to shrink, managing places like Bash Bish will get more and more difficult. People want to and should visit this wonderful spot, but the actions of a few make it difficult for all to enjoy. How can we limit risks (a bad jump from the falls could be dangerous, especially if drugs or alcohol were involed) while still allowing access, on limited resources? Bash Bish is one of those places where figuring out the answer to that question can leave the user experience a little rough around the edges. The troopers were respectful, polite, and totally within their rights to clear the park.

But still... seriously, New...

Rangers, employees, and anyone who makes the rules for this park, please read. In summary please consider implementing a swimming permit program. After my personal experience at Bash Bish weeks ago I logged on here to read recent reviews and other reviews from years past. It’s clear from old reviews 2 years ago that the falls had been heavily disrespected by swimmers in the past, and ever since the rule change of not allowing swimming- new reviews share strong disappointment from not being able to swim at Bash Bish. I understand this catch22 is hard for the state to handle. I think a swimming permit system, similar to how state/national parks have a hiking permit system, with limited numbers per day, and a safety course with waiver is a way to allow for responsible swimming. These funds can even be reinvested into the park. I wish I read these reviews before I drove up a few hours for my birthday and camped nearby with the intentions of swimming just to see that swimming wasn’t allowed and this rule was strongly enforced by patrolling and stationary park rangers. Also it looks like a lot of money has been invested into constructing a trail and concrete steps with railings leading right there to the pool of the falls, but cones, signs, and fencing prohibit this. I was disappointed but became heartbroken on the flip side of my hike when I walked towards the falls and a kid probably 10yrs old approached me with his dry towel in hand to notify me that the park ranger wasn’t allowing swimming. He was ahead of his family and I soon passed them and they shared the same info. The notion then came to me that kids can swim in a beautiful video game but not at a beautiful park in real life, and people wonder why youth aren’t going outside anymore. Anyways, the ranger is already hanging out there- so constructing a small booth for them to check swimming permits and coolers at (for glass and alcohol) will probably be more fulfilling than having them sit in the Gator cart telling people they can only look. I don’t think swimming /not swimming at Bash Bish has to be so absolute and permanent in either regard, and I think making swimming permits available is the best middle ground. Please consider this and thanks...