Off the Beaten Path - Doane's Falls in Royalston, MA (Moderate)

The Hike:
Saturday, 3/16 @ 10AM-2PM
Approximately 5-miles
1,000’ elevation gain
There may also be a bit of bushwhacking.
What You’ll See:
Doane's Falls
Spirit Falls
Views (Weather permitting)
Doane's Falls, a 175-foot-tall chain of wide cascades and plunges on a 46 acre preserve managed by the Trustees of Reservation.
Doane's Falls is split into three easily distinguishable sections. With a –stone bridge as a backdrop, the first section is a pair of plunges. Following a well-marked trail downstream for a few minutes, you come to the second and third sections of Doane's Falls. You will pass a few sets of cascades before reaching a 20-foot block waterfall streaming over a ledge. The river continues on with small cascades and pools, eventually dumping into Tully Lake.
Doane's Falls are named for Amos Doane, who operated a door, sash, and blind mill on Lawrence Brook in the 19th century. Doane's mill was one of several such ventures along the falls, of which only the foundations remain.
Spirit Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall. No individual drop is over 10 feet, but collectively the outflow from Little Pond drops a total of 150 feet. The falls is seasonal but is splendid in high water.
Link for details & directions: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/massachusetts/doanes-falls-to-spirit-falls-loop
NOTE: THIS HIKE IS CONTINGENT ON GOOD WEATHER & SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER.
Liability Release – AS A CONDITION OF ATTENDING THIS EVENT, you agree to hold harmless and indemnify the organizer and his heirs, and all members and participants of this group from any and all claims of injury, illness, death, and/or property damage including those caused by negligence, ignorance, inexperience and any other reasons. You also agree to assume all mental, physical, financial and/or other risk associated with this event. All activities pose inherent risks and dangers. Participation in these activities is voluntary and dependent upon your own personal judgment.
ps: People who promise to bring homemade cookies/baked goods, have a much better chance of getting on this hike! (especially if the cookies are chocolate chip w/nuts!)