A walk around the Town of Shelburne Falls in Massachusetts exploring the Bridge of Flowers and the Glacial Potholes of the Deerfield River is a must if you are in the area, passing through the town or looking for a day trip from the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Albany, NY or Hartford, CT.
We set on our adventure on a early summer morning. The day ahead promised to be sunny and warm. We decided we wanted to do something different that day and skip the hiking that we usually do on weekends. A scenic drive through the Berkshires is what we settled on. No destination, just driving around the scenic roads of the Shire, looking for places to stop along the way and new spots to explore.
The early morning called for coffee so we pulled out google and searched for a close by coffee shop and that’s how we discovered The Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters – place like no other. Unique atmosphere, intimate, perfectly utilized space, large assortment of fresh, daily brewed coffee and even larger history.
We sat there for a bit slowly sipping the delicious flavored coffee, marveling at the story of the owners and their little café, their passion for bringing the community together one coffee cup at a time, a true inspiration of how to follow your dreams and turn them into a reality. 20 years of persistent hard work and unwavering effort. The first cup of coffee sold on a ferry dock in Maine to now 6 locations all around Western Massachusetts. Makes you dream big.
We chatted with the barista a bit more before asking for suggestions on things to do in the area. Of course she said “You must visit the Bridge of Flowers”. We grabbed few of their delicious freshly baked pastries for the road and set on exploring. It took us less than 10 minutes before we arrived in the lively village of Shelburne Falls and passed by a large sign that said ‘Bridge of Flowers”. Finding parking is not hard. There are plenty of options. The early morning made it easy since we did notice as the day progressed that the town buzzed with more people wandering about.
To say we arrived here at the right time of the year would be an understatement. Gorgeous flowers bloomed vibrantly next to a windy path along the once deserted piece of history – a formerly trolley bridge, arched high above the Deerfield River, that is now a beautiful flowing garden maintained by the Shelburne Falls Woman’s Club.
The trolley bridge was build in 1908 but did not get much use as it was able to only hold 20 tons of goods, which resulted in its bankruptcy. After being abandoned for some time the bridge turned into an unpleasant sight for the locals until the late resident Antoinette Barnham had the marvelous idea of turning it into a flower bridge. It took many years and endless work from volunteers to bring this beauty to it’s current state.
The path begins right pass the arched metal entrance gate. Beautiful flowers all dressed in different colors were still covered in water drops from the early morning mist. We walked slowly along the path taking their beauty with each step. I am unsure of what amount of work it must take to keep them looking this way. All of them at their perfect spot in the row. All of them so vivid as if they are looking at you just as you are looking at them.
The variety of vibrant blooms at this lovely nature spot is more than I could’ve ever imagined. A burst of colorful flowers surrounded me while slowly strolling the pedestrian well maintained, clean path that follows the length the bridge. What a surprise to find that all of them are labeled too so I knew exactly what I was looking at at any given moment.
The explosion of color paired with the roaring water beneath us, the multicolored buildings hanging above the water before me and the lush greenery of the hills in the background made for the most picturesque New England scene. This is exactly how I would imagine a postcard from the Berkshires to look like.
Thanks to a recent service added from Amtrak, visitors can now take day trips from New York and be back the same day or take a day trip from Springfield Union, Northampton Station or Holyoke to the station in the town of Greenfield which is only 10 miles away from The Bridge of Flowers and the town of Shelburne Falls. From the train station you can take a quick Uber or Taxi.
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum offers fun for the whole family. Take a ride in one of their trolley cars or on the old fashioned pump car, play pretend with the wooden and electric trains located in the Visitor Center, learn more about the old trolley bridge and make sure to check out their gift shop for a souvenir to bring home.
The Museum is open on Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays form Saturday, July 3rd until Sunday October, 31st with operating hours from 11A.M. to 5P.M. For prices and more information as well as their special events check their WEBSITE HERE.
Aside from The Bridge of Flowers Shelburne Falls is also known for its geological Glacial Potholes which occurred naturally as a result of glaciers melting from the great Ice Age. Formed by hard granite swirling in ice melt waters underneath glaciers, they are unique and rare. You can walk from The Bridge of flowers over to the attraction where you can also enjoy the sight of The Salmon Falls.
The rich history that you can sense in the air here is overwhelming. Part of the Mohawk Trail, you can easily picture the Native American People fishing, washing and going about their every day life right here by the side of the roaring waters of the Deerfield River where you are standing today.
Shelburne Falls Village was a set for multiple movies. In 2012 the movie “Labor Day” casting Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin was filmed in the town and the surrounding areas. The “Blackout” staring Abraham Benrubi, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Costas Mandylor. In 2013 Warner Brothers Pictures transformed the town into Carlinville, Indiana for the filming of “The Judge”.
Top 7 places to grab a bite to eat in Shelburne Falls, MA:
#1. The Blue Rock Restaurant ( 3 min from the Bridge of Flowers)
#2. West End Pub (2 min from the Bridge of Flowers)
#3. Gypsy Apple Bistro ( 2 min from the Bridge of Flowers)
#4. BuckLand Pizza House ( 2 min from the Bridge of Flowers)
#5 FoxTown Dinner ( 2 min from the Bridge of Flowers)
#6. Hearty Eats ( 1 min from the Bridge of Flowers)
#7. Davenport Maple Farm ( 13 min from the Bridge of Flowers)
For more things to do in and around this area check out our WEBSITE. Let us know if you are planning a visit and have any question we’d like to help you plan the perfect trip and fully enjoy this lovely spot.
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