Two years in the making by the expert trailblazing team at Tahawus Trails (who have pioneered new trails at locations like Niagara Falls, NY and the Appalachian Trail), the trail system of The Roxbury at Stratton Falls allows its hikers to easily access the base of the Stratton Falls waterfall. But it is so much more than just that. Viewing the video and photos on this page will give you an idea of the many adventures one encounters while walking this easy pathway and its two waterfall observation decks, sitting and lounging areas, beautiful rustic black locust, cedar, and stone staircases, high mossy walls of multiple-millenia-old rock formations, forested nooks, and fairy-tale-esque tree groupings. It was actually this area of the property that was the total inspiration for building our Tower Cottages with their architectural homage to fairy tale villages.
Prior to the construction of this trail, scaling down the 50′ gorge to access the falls was too dangerous of a task. But now, through using methods like hoisting 1000+ pound rocks on a pulley system across the 100 yard span of the 50′ gorge to be used as the stair treads for the rustic staircases; guests can access the beauty of Stratton Falls at its most breathtaking location – its base. Most of the rocks took an entire day just to get across the gorge, so if you count the number of steps on a staircase you are counting the number of days it took to just to get the treads in place – not to mention the time it took to excavate and provide hidden structural engineering.
Because, first and foremost, your safety is of the utmost importance and, secondly, we view ourselves as custodians who must protect this sacred area, it is imperative that you follow the policies that we set in place for usage of this trail. Our list of policies is always evolving, but the following are among the most important:
- Access to the waterfall, its observation decks, and the entire trail system surround is private property and therefore not open to the general public. It is FOR REGISTERED GUESTS OF THE ROXBURY AT STRATTON FALLS AND THE ROXBURY MOTEL ONLY. We would love to be able to open up the waterfall and trails to the general public, but unfortunately that would necessitate an entirely different level of insurance and approvals so we must keep it for our guests only.
- Due to the ice formations that form in the gorge during certain periods, the majority of the trail system will not be open during the winter months. Signs will be posted directing guests to the parts of the trails that are open with most likely the entire trail system closed from January through March/April.
- The entire trail system closes at dusk and opens at dawn. No exceptions.
- If you see fencing, it is there for a reason. Areas on the other side of fencing are off limits. This is of particular importance at the top of the waterfall. No one is allowed to ignore the fence and access the top of the waterfall. Guests must stay on the designated observation decks and pathways.
- No swimming allowed at the pool at the base of the waterfall. Guests can access the banks of the pool and put in their feet, but not venture any further than ankle height. We know it’s hard to resist the temptation to swim, so we built a waterfall for you at the swimming pool at the Crooked Cabana specifically to help you curb that urge! So you can swim underneath Crooked Cabana swimming pool waterfall or our favorite thing to do is just stand underneath it and let the pouring water fall on your shoulders and neck!
- No climbing on the rocks of the waterfall or any of the rock formations throughout the Stratton Falls trail system.
- We see ourselves as custodians of this special place who must preserve it for future generations, so no walking along the banks of the river to access the base of the waterfall. Guests must use the designated pathways to access the base of the waterfall and to return back to the lodging areas. We went to great lengths to protect the millions of years of flora and fauna and rock formations along the banks of the river and will work diligently to keep it protected.
- Guests use the trail system at The Roxbury at Stratton Falls at their own risk.
- Enjoy! We hope you will grow to cherish the areas leading up to and around the Falls of Stratton as much as we do.
