The Gunn Brook Falls Trail at the UMass Mt. Toby Forest in Sunderland, Massachusetts is an easy 0.2-mile out-and-back hike featuring two waterfalls. This hike is
extremely short and is great for families with little kids.
Hikers should note that depending on what time of year you visit, you may need to cross Gunn Brook during high water (generally the Spring and Winter). In this case, if you wish to see both cascades, it's probably best to park in both Lower and Upper parking lots to avoid getting your feet wet. Otherwise, during the Summer this is less of an issue.
Waterfalls: The main attraction on this trail are the two waterfalls - Upper Gunn Brook Falls and Lower Gunn Brook Falls. The Upper Falls is about 15 feet high and 6 - 8 feet wide. The Lower Falls is slightly shorter, at approximately 10 to 12-feet tall and 4-feet wide. It's best to visit the waterfalls after a spout of consistent rain, in the early Spring, or in the winter when the waterfalls are frozen over. In the Summer you may find Gunn Brook a bit more dried up. Be sure to check out Gunn Brook Falls during the Spring to see waterfall at its peak.
Parking: There are two parking locations for this hike - the direction coordinates provided will bring hikers to the Lower Falls parking area, which is large enough for about 2 vehicles. You can also find parking at the opposite end of the trail, at the Upper Falls section of Gunn Brook Falls - at approximately 42.49696, -72.559113. During the winter, if Gunn Cross Rd is covered in snow, you can park at the
intersection of Falls Rd and Gunn Cross Rd (without blocking the road) and hike up the road for an
additional 0.1 mile one-way to the trailhead.
Pets: Dogs are allowed if leashed and their waste must be carried out.
Water source: If you have a water filter, you can refill in Gunn Brook.
MyHikes is an indie web platform aimed to make exploring public trails easier for everyone. The site has no investors and is owned and operated by one person, Dave Miller (Founder & Admin). As the Founder, main contributor, and doer-of-all-things for MyHikes, I share my trips with over-detailed write-ups for fun on a volunteer basis and I believe that public trail information should be available to everyone.
It takes a lot of time 🕦, money 💰, and effort (including espresso shots ☕) to run MyHikes, including hiking , mapping , writing , and publishing new trails with high-quality content... along with building new features, moderating, site maintainance, and app development for iOS and Android . I simply ask that if you find MyHikes' trail guides helpful to please consider becoming a Supporter to help keep the site, iOS, and Android apps available to everyone.
Supporters unlock website and in-app perks with a one-time payment of $25 (you renew) 😎👍. Or you can simply make a Donation of your choice without a MyHikes user account. Otherwise, telling your friends about MyHikes is the next-best thing - both quick and free 🎉
Thanks for visiting MyHikes and have a great hike!️