LiDAR terrain view · USGS 3DEP
The Cascade
Massachusetts • 60 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainDifficulty
Easy
Trail Length
0.4 miles
Trail Type
Out And Back
About The Cascade
The Cascade is a series of horsetails and cascades on Cascades Brook in city-owned Cascades Park on the west side of Worcester, Massachusetts. The brook drops about 60 feet in total, can be seen from the Cataract Street bridge, and flows down into Cook Pond. Blazed trails continue into the adjoining Greater Worcester Land Trust conservation land.
The Setting
The Cascade sits at 699 feet within Cascade Park, in the foothills of Massachusetts. The falls drop 60 feet.
Height: 60 feet
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
The falls are visible from the road at the Cataract Street bridge. The blue-blazed Cascades Trail climbs about 0.2 mile from the land trust lot off Olean Street to the top of the falls, and other blazed trails continue into the Cascades conservation land. Do not scramble up the sides of the falls; the right side is steep and eroded and the left has loose rock.
What to Expect
The falls drop 60 feet.
Accessibility
The trail is short and relatively flat, but the surface may be uneven. Contact the managing agency for accessibility details.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at The Cascade?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
A Worcester city ordinance bars dogs from city parks except those the Parks and Recreation Commission designates for on-leash use, so check with Worcester Parks before bringing a dog.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at The Cascade?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, as the water flow is typically strongest during these seasons.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
Water temperature is currently 48°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.
The trail may be slippery after rain, so exercise caution. Stay on marked paths to avoid damaging the environment or getting lost.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Quinapoxet River, 6.3 miles away, not on The Cascade's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
19 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 29 years of record
6.68 ft
Water depth at gauge
48°F
Very coldExpect numbness within minutes
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year. Water temperature is very cold at 48 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes. Mineral content is typical.
Water Quality
Conductance
Dissolved minerals in the water
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge QUINAPOXET RIVER AT CANADA MILLS NEAR HOLDEN, MA (10 km away).
Today
Moderate
21 cfs
5/10Tomorrow
Moderate
21 cfs
5/10Sat
Moderate
21 cfs
5/10Sun
Moderate
20 cfs
8/10Mon
Moderate
24 cfs
8/10Tue
Moderate
25 cfs
8/10Wed
Moderate
21 cfs
8/10Best window: Sun — moderate flow, mostly sunny (trip score 8/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early March to mid May, peaking in April.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Worcester hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is The Cascade Frozen?
Updated about 17 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
The Cascade is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 53°F to 40°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 20 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Massachusetts.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
Through the falls the surface drops roughly 124 feet over a short, steep run of tiers. Only part of that is the waterfall, which is listed at 60 feet; the rest is the canyon carrying on downstream. Elevation at the pin is about 705 feet.
The whole reach is steep: about 65 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the falls and another 64 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face east and catch soft morning light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 705 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 124 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- East
- Catches soft morning light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading east).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
From Tatnuck Square in Worcester, continue west on Mower Street for 0.4 mile (bear left after 0.2 mile), then turn right onto Cataract Street and drive 0.4 mile north to the bridge over Cascades Brook. The Greater Worcester Land Trust lot off Olean Street is downstream of the falls.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Park off either side of Cataract Street just past the bridge over Cascades Brook, or use the Greater Worcester Land Trust lot off Olean Street. Boynton Park's lot is another access point to the trail network.
Elevation
699 feet above sea level
Coordinates
42.285926° N, -71.863406° W
Land Management
Managed by UNK
Visitor Tips & Gear
Visit after recent rainfall for the best waterfall flow. Wear sturdy shoes as the trail may be muddy in some sections. Arrive early to secure parking, as it is limited.
Where to Stay
Hampton Inn & Suites-Worcester, MA
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Auburn by IHG
Courtyard Worcester
Comfort Inn & Suites Sturbridge-Brimfield
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Campground
Buffumville Lake (Group Shelter)
11.6 miles away · 1 sites
Overview In 1958 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Buffumville Dam in Charlton, Massachusetts to provide flood risk management for downstream communities. Flood waters due to large amounts of rainfall or spring snow melts are stored on 480 acres of land. The lake is also managed for recreation and environmental stewardship. Buffumville offers year-round recreation and park rangers are available to assist you during your visit. Recreation Buffumville Lake provides excellent boating, canoeing,
Book on Recreation.govAdditional Information
Nearby Attractions
Cook Pond lies just below the falls, and the Cascades trails connect to Boynton Park and other Greater Worcester Land Trust parcels, about 157 acres in all.
Wildlife
The area is home to various bird species, small mammals, and forest wildlife. Keep an eye out for chipmunks and songbirds along the trail.
Cities near The Cascade
Other waterfalls named The Cascade
1 other waterfall shares this name across the U.S.
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