♪ THEY ARE NATURE'S DRAMA QUEENS.
>> THEY DEMAND ATTENTION.
THEY CAPTIVATE PEOPLE.
THE GOOD NEWS, THERE ARE SOME REAL SHOW STOPPERS RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD.
>> OVER A HUNDRED WATERFALLS IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT I WOULD SAY ARE ABSOLUTELY WORTH YOUR TIME.
>> GREG PARSONS, COAUTHOR OF "NEW ENGLAND WATERFALLS," A GUIDE TO MORE THAN 500 WATERFALLS, WAS INSPIRED WHEN FEELING THE NEED FOR SOME FALLS.
>> WE'RE HEADING OFF IN OUR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE IN SEARCH OF SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS IN THE BAY STATE.
THE ULTIMATE WATERFALL ROAD TRIP.
>> THIS IS "CHRONICLE" ON WCVB CHANNEL 5.
>> THE ACTION BEGINS OUT NEAR WHERE THE QUIET HILLTOP TOWN OF ROYALSSTON FEATURES THREE TOPNOTCH WATERFALLS IN ONE TOWN.
>> SOME OF THE BEST WATERFALLS CLOSEST TO BOSTON.
THERE IS ROYALSTON FALLS, A DRAMATIC 50 FOOT HORSE TALE PLUNGE, SPIRIT FALLS, A MUTT TIERED CASCADE DEEP IN THE WOODS, AND JONES FALLS, A CHAIN OF CASCADES AND POOLS THAT BUMP
AND TUMBLE DOWN INTO TULLY LAKE.
>> IT'S A SHORT HIKE OFF THE MAIN ROAD.
IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
>> JESSICA OF THE TRUSTEES SAYS JONES FALLS IS A GOOD CHOICE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES.
>> THERE IS ACTUALLY A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE TRAIL THAT LEADS UP FROM THE BOTTOM THAT GOES TO THE BOTTOM FALLS.
♪ >> WHILE ADMIRING THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF THE FALLS WE SPY A FAMILIAR FACE AMID AT THE HEMLOCK AND BUSH.
>> IT'S A MASTERPIECE OF INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE.
THIS PLACE IS TRULY GRAND.
♪ >> THE FORMER CHANNEL 5 REPORTER DAVID -- MADE THE MOVE OUT TO CENTRAL MASS DRAWN BY A CALL OF THE WILD.
>> YEAH.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DECIDED TO LIVE OUT HERE AND, BECAUSE OF WHAT'S OUT HERE IS EXTRAORDINARY AND THERE AREN'T THAT MANY PEOPLE TO COME OUT HERE.
>> JONES FALLS, ONE OF HIS FAVORITE, FEATURES FIVE DISTINCT WATERFALLS DROPPING A TOTAL OF 175 FEET.
>> SO IT IS REALLY A SERIES OF CASCADES.
I GUESS WE COULD PROBABLY SAY THAT WE'RE AT THE FALLS'S, A COLLECTION OF FALLS.
>> A HEAVENLY SPOT FOR SURE, THOUGH NOT WITHOUT ITS EARTHLY PARTICULARS.
>> EVEN IN THE EPHEMERAL NATURE WE EVEN HAVE BLACK FLIES HERE JUST TO REMIND US OF OUR HUMA HUMANITY.
>> WE CONTINUE TO ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SPOTS, BUT THIS COMMUNITY IS PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR THE BRIDGE OF FLOWERS WHICH BRINGS A BOATLOAD OF COLOR.
>> ANOTHER FEATURE, POTHOLES.
>> IT'S KNOWN FOR THE GLACIAL POTHOLES BUT I'M SORRY TO INFORM YOU, THEY AREN'T GLACIAL.
THEY CAME LATER.
>> GEOLOGIST RICHARD D. LITTLE HAS A CONSOLATION PRIZE.
>> THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT THIS SPOT IS THAT WE HAVE ARMORED A MUDBALLS.
>> A BIT FURTHER DOWNSTREAM, TURNERS FALLS, LITTLE MADE A HUGE DISCOVERY.
>> THEY ARE ONLY FOUND IN A FEW PLACES IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
>> ARMORED MUD BALLS.
PETRIFIED BALLS PICKED UP AS THEY ROLLED ALONG ANCIENT RIVER BOTTOMS, ONLY ONE OTHER EXISTS IN THE U.S.
>> THERE IS ONE IN MONTANA.
OTHERWISE, THAT'S IT.
>> BUT GREEN FIELD COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS LAID OUT WITH THEM.
>> WE'VE GOT THE SMALLEST ONES, BIGGEST ONES, THE ONLY ONES.
THIS IS WORLD'S HEADQUARTERS FOR THEM RIGHT HERE.
>> MOON WHILE, BACK AT THE FALLS, THE FACT THAT THE POTHOLES AREN'T GLACIAL DOESN'T MEAN THERE ISN'T MUCH TO CELEBRATE HERE.
>> IT'S LIKE NATURE'S LAVA LAND.
THIS IS SOME OF THE PRETTIEST ROCK IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
>> MUD BALLS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL RUN INTO ON A WATERFALL ROAD TRIP AND THAT TRIO OF WATERFALLS OUT IN ROYALSTON MAKES A DAY TRIP FROM THE BOSTON AREA.
BEST OF ALL, THE SHOW IS FREE.
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