Buttermilk Falls
NY State Park

Quick Bits

Main Activities - Hike,  Swim
Distance -  5.8 miles of trails
Quiet - fairly quiet except other people
Surface - dirt and stone trails
Elevation -  significantly steep in places
Pets - on leash
Address - 112 E. Buttermilk Falls Rd. Ithaca, NY
Fee - New York State Park entrance fee

In a Nutshell

A well maintained state park offering camping, swimming, and hiking. The park is centered around the gorge created by the Buttermilk Creek and its many falls, including the main fall with swimming area. 

Location and Parking

More details

Buttermilk Falls, named for how the water looks like buttermilk, has a lot of charm. The lower falls are spectacular. It's also nice for those unable to hike anything that the main falls are right by the main parking lot. Here is where you will also find the swimming area. The gorge cut by Buttermilk Creek has various falls and pools worth checking out. The Gorge Trail from the main falls is steep, mostly stone steps. Eventually the slope becomes less steep. There is a cross over to the Rim Trail which has some nice over views of the Gorge and goes through a nicely wooded area. 

The Gorge Trail ends as you hit King Road, with the Upper Buttermilk Falls Park on the other side. Here, you can pick up Bear Trail which crosses Upper Buttermilk Falls Road. There is a spur trail off of this that goes to the Finger Lakes Trail and then Bear Trail connects to Treman Lake Trail which loops around Treman Lake. Here you'll see impression stone work of the man-made dam. I've also seen signs of nature's dam builder the beaver in this area.