Cascade Trail in the Middlesex Fells Reservation

One of the closest natural waterfalls to the city of Boston: Cascade Falls (seen on Nov. 14, 2021)

The Cascade Trail is a short trail to a horsetail-type waterfall in the southeast corner of the Middlesex Fells Reservation north of Boston, Massachusetts. This trail shares its trailhead with the east-side trailhead of the Cross Fells Trail at the end of Goodyear Ave in Melrose, Middlesex County. The Cascade Trail gently winds among hillside oaks to the base of the falls.

The Cascade Trail marker is the upright yellow rectangle, which you will see fixed on trees. The hike from the trailhead to the cascade rocks (0.15 mile one-way) takes no longer than ten minutes. 

The waterfall—called Cascade Falls or simply Cascade—is a combination of horsetails and plunges. The water source is the Shilly Shally Brook [1].

Getting to the trailhead

From Boston, take a train of the Orange Line to Oak Grove, which is the last stop on its northbound route. Walk north on Washington Street. After less than half a mile—at the Melrose Garden Triangle—turn left on Goodyear Ave [2]. This short road ends where the Cross Fells Trail and the Cascade Trail begin. 

See the Friends of the Fells map for the Fells trail network [3]: find the Shilly Shally Brook and the Cascade in the lower left section above the Legend table.

 A horsetail-type waterfall: Cascade Falls with two bottom horsetails on the day I was visiting (Nov. 14, 2021 - after a rainy night)

References and more to explore

[1] The Cascade, Melrose, Massachusetts.  New England Waterfalls. URL: https://newenglandwaterfalls.com/ma-thecascade-melrose.html.

[2] Best of Boston. The Cascade at Middlesex Fells Reservation. Boston Magazine. URL: https://www.bostonmagazine.com/best-of-boston-archive/2015/the-cascade-at-middlesex-fells-reservation/.

[3] Middlesex Fells Reservation Map: https://www.friendsofthefells.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Fells_Reservation_Map.pdf.