Blackstone Gorge

First class beautiful water falls and rapids, with small river side trails enabling picture taking at different vantage points. It is a gorgeous spot to stop and relax; sit by the river and recharge your negative ions. There is a boat launch area just above the falls for small boats, canoes or kayaks.

Falls
rocks
and
industry
The Blackstone Gorge is part of the much larger Blackstone River Valley. This whole area was carved out by the massive glaciers that oozed down here and then treated about fifteen thousands year ago.
There is a nice parking area and a scenic waterfall with about two miles of trials that go along the river from the top of the gorge. Plenty of side trails to explore so you can spend quite a while poking around the woods and river.
The hiking isn’t very difficult but there are lots and lots of rocks and boulders of all sizes. These get slippery in the wet weather and really slippery in the ice and snow. Some lovely views of the stratigraphy of the gorge and the river below but you just have to careful if you get really close to the edge to take photos. Easy to slip off the rocks and fall to your death on the rocks below.
The Blackstone Valley has been called the birthplace of American industry but the poor river has paid the price for all that industry. The mills and factories pour all kinds of horrible and toxic stuff right in the river. It was just so polluted that it was very unwise to even stick a foot in that water.
However over the years strict regulations has really cleaned up the once filthy and festering river so that that in a few years it might be clean enough to swim in again. How nice.
A lovely area for a nice hike, cool views and some geology and history. It will be even nicer when the Blackstone River is once again pristine and pure.