Royalston Falls
Royalston Falls is a waterfall and granite gorge located in Royalston, Massachusetts along Falls Brook, a tributary of the Tully River which in turn is a tributary of the Millers River. The falls are part of a open space preserve acquired in 1951 by the land conservation non-profit organization The Trustees of Reservations. The Tully Trail and the pass through the property.
History
Royalston Falls was once called Forbes Falls for Calvin Forbes, a local property owner in the 1800s. The falls were previously the site of a town recreation area which included a playground; it was also the location of a casino. The preserve was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Foote in 1951 and 1954; additional land was added in 2002.Recreation and conservation
The preserve is open to fishing, walking, picnicking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting, cross country skiing, and hiking. A trailhead is located off Massachusetts Route 32 just short of the New Hampshire border. A second trailhead is located off the unmaintained Falls Road in Royalston.Royalston Falls are part of a larger contiguous area of protected open space, connected by the Tully Trail and including the United States [Army Corps of Engineers]' Tully Lake flood control project, The Trustees of Reservations' Jacobs Hill and Doane's Falls properties, and Massachusetts state forest land. Tully Lake Campground, a 35-site walk-in and tent only facility jointly managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Trustees of Reservations, is located along the Tully Trail to the south.