The Finger Lakes region in New York is known for its beautiful waterfall hikes. And Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca is one that can’t be missed! The Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail is a stunning hike featuring several waterfalls and cascades that is short enough to do in the morning or even as a late afternoon hike. This guide shares everything you need to know before you start your hike in Buttermilk Falls State Park.
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Where to Stay Near Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca
Although Ithaca isn’t a large city, there are still plenty of hotel options for visitors, thanks to the two colleges in town; Cornell University and Ithaca College. Almost every chain has a hotel option available. Several family-friendly hotels are less than one mile from the Lower Entrance of Buttermilk Falls State Park, including Holiday Inn Express, Fairfield Inn & Suites, or Hampton Inn.
Getting To and Parking at Buttermilk Falls State Park
Where is Buttermilk Falls State Park?
If you search Google Maps for Buttermilk Falls, several options come up. There is a Buttermilk Falls in New Jersey and two in Pennsylvania! However, we are referring to the Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca, NY, in the Finger Lakes region of the state.
Buttermilk Falls State Park Entrance Fee
You have to pay a daily entrance fee for Buttermilk Falls State Park. Don’t lose your receipt! If you choose to hike some of the other waterfall trails near Ithaca on the same day, you can park at those locations for FREE. The Taughannock Falls gorge trail would be a nice compliment to the Buttermilk Falls gorge trail. You can easily do both on the same day, as they are less than a 20-minute drive from each other.
Parking at Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca
There are two entrances to Buttermilk Falls State Park.
The Upper Entrance to Buttermilk Falls State Park is off W. King Road. This is also the entrance you would use if you’d like to start at the top of the Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail or access the Bear and Lake Treman Trails. More information about that is included below.
The main entrance to Buttermilk Falls State Park is the Lower Entrance, off Elmira Road (New York State Routes 13, 34, & 96). This is the entrance you’ll want to use if you want to access the bottom of the Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail and the natural pool at the bottom of the falls. Again, more information about these options are included below.
Weekends and holidays during the summer can get very busy! Plan to arrive early to secure a parking spot.
Facilities at Buttermilk Falls State Park
Restrooms
There are running water restrooms near each parking lot in Buttermilk Falls State Park. The Lower Entrance restroom includes a bathhouse with showers for those who need to change for the natural swimming pool (open seasonally).
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables and grills are available near each parking lot at Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca. Keep in mind there are no trash cans at this park. Please carry in/carry out.
Preparing for the Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail Hike
Items to Bring on Your Hike
- Shoes: For the Buttermilk Falls gorge trail, you should wear supportive, comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Of course, bring water shoes if you want to swim in the natural pool.
- Clothing: Buttermilk Falls gorge trail is usually open from the end of May through the end of November. Those summer months may require shorts and t-shirts. However, you’ll need pants and a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt during the fall months. Don’t forget to layer! They are always good when hiking, especially when visiting the trail early in the morning.
- Water Bottles: Obvious, but always good to have a reminder.
- Snacks: The Buttermilk Falls gorge trail is not very long and shouldn’t take more than 1- 1.5 hours to complete. So unless you’re visiting at lunchtime, snacks should be sufficient while you’re on the trail. There are several picnic tables and benches at each parking lot, should you choose to bring a lunch or dinner. It’s also good to note the park is carry-in/carry-out..
- Bug Spray and Sunscreen: Visiting in early July, we didn’t experience too many mosquitoes. But it’s always good to wear bug spray and sunscreen outdoors.
- Hand sanitizer / Hand Wipes: Good to have before eating or after using the bathroom.
- Bandages: Some bandages or a small first aid kit are something you should always have when hiking. Scrapes and scratches often occur on the trail.
- Backpack: Our favorite hiking backpacks have side pockets to hold the water bottles and a front pocket to hold the wipes and bandages. But you can use whatever you own!
Be a Responsible Visitor
Places like Buttermilk Falls are popular with visitors, which can bring trash and other issues. We all need to do our part to keep our parks clean and enjoyable for all. Remember to pack out all trash (including those fruit peels), and leave behind what you found. Leave no trace so we all can enjoy these parks for years to come.
The Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail
Should You Start at the Top or the Bottom?
The first thing to note about the Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail is that it is very steep at the bottom of the trail. The bottom third of the trail is nothing but stairs, and there are a lot of them. We didn’t count how many there were in total, but there were enough that we thought we had made a big mistake choosing to hike this trail. However, once you get past those initial stairs, the trail is mainly flat, with occasional small sets of stairs along your route.
If stairs are intimidating, you can start at the Upper Entrance and walk down the gorge trail until you reach the top of the giant staircase. At that point, you can turn around and backtrack to the top.
If you choose to avoid the stairs at the bottom, you’ll miss seeing the namesake waterfall, a 165-foot-tall cascade at the start of the trail. However, you can always drive your car to the Lower Entrance to see the cascade and natural swimming pool once you’ve finished your hike.
What to Expect on the Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail
- The Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail has several waterfalls and cascades along the 3/4 mile trail. Hikers will encounter several staircases (as described above) and flat stone paths.
- The trail allows hikers to get close to the water. Although there are no huge waterfalls over the trail, it is a beautiful and peaceful walk.
- The total elevation gain is 460 feet, most of which occurs on the bottom third of the trail.
- If you do not want to backtrack on the gorge trail, you can return to both the Upper and Lower entrances via the rim trail.
- Trail Location: To access the Buttermilk Falls gorge trail, you’ll have to park at either the Lower or Upper Entrances of Buttermilk Falls State Park
- Trail Length: The gorge trail is 3/4 mile one way, 1.5 miles out-and-back
- Trail Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous if you start at the bottom (Lower Entrance) of the trail. If you start at the top and do not climb down the big staircases (and back track to the top), it’s a relatively easy to moderate trail
Other Hiking Trails in Buttermilk Falls State Park
Buttermilk Falls Rim Trail
The Buttermilk Falls Rim Trail is an excellent option for making a loop with the gorge trail (if you don’t want to backtrack). At the top of the gorge trail, you’ll make a left onto W. King Road to cross over the creek and immediately turn left onto the rim trail.
At 3/4 mile long, the rim trail is about the same length as the gorge trail. The trail is mainly packed earth and rocks. However, parts of the rim trail had been paved at one point. About .2 mile from the Upper Entrance of the rim trail, hikers can take a side trail that leads to the creek. There is a bridge that crosses the creek to the gorge trail.
If you choose to combine the gorge and rim trails, your total hike will be about 1.5 miles.
Bear Trail
The Bear Trail continues the gorge trail across W. King Road. This 3/4-mile trail is primarily flat, with some occasional inclines. It’s a wooded trail with packed dirt and stones and is relatively easy-moderate, depending on what kind of hikes you are used to.
This trail leads to the Lake Treman Trail, which is a 1.5-mile loop trail. You can either do both routes, giving you an additional 3 miles to hike after completing the gorge trail. Or you can treat the Bear Trail as an out-and-back trail. It’s up to you!
Lake Treman Trail
As mentioned above, the Lake Treman Trail is a 1.5-mile loop trail that connects to the Bear Trail. Hikers can also access the trail via the second parking lot in the Upper Entrance of Buttermilk Falls State Park. The loop is a relatively flat, wooded trail that encircles Lake Treman.
Buttermilk Falls Trail Map
There are paper maps available at both entrances of Buttermilk Falls State Park. Visitors can also download the Parks Explorer App, which has park information like fees, hours, and trail maps. You can also download a PDF from the New York State Park website.
Other Things To Do Near Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca
There are so many amazing things to do in the Finger Lakes region near Buttermilk Falls. We recommend trying some of the other beautiful waterfall hiking trails. If you’re staying in the Finger Lakes for a long weekend, the Corning Museum of Glass is one of the attractions that can’t be missed. And if you’re willing to drive a little further, Rochester has some fun things to do too!
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