Marjorie Turner Hollman helps authors self-publish their books. She is also a disability advocate, sharing information about Easy Walks (not too many roots or rocks, relatively level with firm footing, and something of interest along the way) in open space. Link to all Marjorie’s books.
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On a mild day in late December we headed to Hudson, Massachusetts to explore the area of Danforth Falls, a natural, not man-made cascade. Natural waterfalls are not a common feature in eastern Masschusetts.
Doanes Falls is another natural cascade northwest of Worcester. It’s lovely but a bit of a drive for us. Here’s what I wrote on our visit there.
The trail in Hudson was ice-free. Danforth Brook flows within sight of the path. We headed into the woods, following the clearly marked path, in search of the waterfall. The bright green Christmas ferns (Polystichum acrostichoides) alongside where we walked caught my eye. Surrounded by frost-frozen plants, the fronds drape over boulders along the way. They were a welcome sight, a reminder of summer, now past, and a promise of spring to come.
The brook and trail follow Rt. 85 quite closely, so while this is for the most part an Easy Walk, it is not what I would call a quiet walk. Tune out the traffic noise along the way if you can, and you can enjoy the sounds of the water once you reach the falls.
The gentle upward slope of the trail assured me that we were on the right path. The burbling brook flowed downward past us as we climbed. Large granite-type boulders are strewn throughout the area. We walked on what appeared to be a former cart path into the woods, with few roots or rocks.
A large swamp, sort of a pond, is right above the waterfall, and supplies the raw (wet!) material that creates the waterfall. Cascades flow through a jumble of rocks that become Danforth Brook. A large part of the joy I feel when visiting areas such as this is allowing the soundscape to fill my ears and my heart. How wondrous to experience the resonance of the brook colliding against rocks as it seeks a path through boulders and between cracks and crevices, on its way to the sea.
We followed the path along the edge of the pond to where the marked trail took a sharp turn uphill. A steep, narrow, rock-studded footpath headed away from the falls and the pond. The path is a loop, but for us the trip was an out and back.
While the way to the falls near the brook was, by and large, an Easy Walk, the loop back, away from the brook, offered more challenge than I can manage. A few spots were more difficult to navigate. They were low, muddy spots that will be icy after rain or snow in the winter. In places the trail leads up an incline that has roots and rocks, designed to help when trying to avoid muddy low spots. I had to watch my step, but otherwise, by using my hiking poles for balance, I maintained my footing the entire visit. My Sorels boots, waterproof footwear, came in very handy along the way. (I get no benefit from mentioning these wonderful boots.)
Each time I visit a place such as Danforth Falls, I am reminded, and feel so grateful, for the people who had (and continue to have) the imagination to preserve these special places for us to all enjoy. Happy trails!
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman 