Hobo Falls Trail in Northfield, Massachusetts is a nice place to visit during the spring thaw and after a heavy rain to enjoy the waterfall.  However before visiting, be aware that there are some drawbacks to exploring this trail.  Before going on a hike I like to research the trail.  Here is what I found for Hobo Falls Trail: “This is an easy walk, with a view of a tumbling cascading waterfall at the end. The first 0.4 miles of the walk is on a largely-abandoned one-lane dirt road through the woods. Then it is just over 0.1 miles on the Hobo Trail to the falls – this part is on private land, so please stay on the trail.  Return via the same route.”  I also found other reviews describing the work a member of the local Boy Scout Troop did building this trail as an Eagle Scout Project.  We were intrigued by descriptions of the unique rock formations and cave in the rock face that was rumored to be the home of a person in the nineteenth century.  So we were excited to visit this “picturesque trail.”

Since we were going in August, we were prepared for the falls to be less than spectacular, or not even flowing as was the case during our visit.  But that’s not why we didn’t enjoy this hike.  What made Hobo Falls a “bummer” (Asa’s joke, not mine) was the “largely-abandoned one-lane dirt road” that lead to it.  Located off a dead end road in a nice neighborhood, we couldn’t help but notice all the garbage dumped along that stretch of the trail.  We saw everything from tires to appliances to a lot of broken glass.  Sadly, we’ve seen garbage illegally dumped along trails before, but it was the amount piled up here that got our attention.  However, we trekked on anxious to get to the actual Hobo Falls Trail located off this abandoned dirt road.

This is where things got a bit confusing.  There were other trails crisscrossing the main trail on private properties, but according to the reviews we were to look for a sign on the left.  Well the sign is placed at an odd angle off the main trail.  So unless you know where to look, it can be easily missed.  In fact, after hiking a bit over the suggested .4 miles, we were debating turning around and heading back to the car.  That’s when as luck would have it, we noticed the sign directing us to the scenic lookout at Hobo Trail.

The Hobo Falls Trail itself is nice.  The Boy Scouts did a great job clearing the trail, and building log benches to enjoy the falls.  Also it was fun climbing the rocks searching for the cave that is the inspiration for the trail’s name.  But as with the abandoned road, there was a lot of broken glass in this area, making this not an ideal place to go hiking with dogs.

We wouldn’t recommend heading to Northfield just for this one trail.  However, if you’re exploring other trails in the area it may be worth the side trip to visit during the spring thaw and after a heavy rain to view the waterfall.  If you’d like to explore Hobo Falls Trail in Northfield, MA, from the junction of Maple Street and Main Street, go east on Maple Street .8 miles to Old Wendell Road; then go south on Old Wendell Road to the parking area at the end of this dead end road.  Parking is along the road.  Please respect the homes and private property in the area, and as always pick up after your dog.

We recommend visiting other trails in the area including the vast network at Satan’s Kingdom or the historic site of King Philip’s Hill, both also located in Northfield, MA.  For additional recommendations for Dog Friendly Places in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, please visit our Dog Trails and Scenic Walks pages.