Buttermilk Falls State Park

This was a beautiful park with so much to see and my pictures do not do it justice!! I was too busy looking around and enjoying the sites to take the proper pictures!! There is a parking lot that you can pay to park in but there are also free parking lots in the second entrance to the park. There are many trails and beautiful sites to see there!! I 100% recommend this park to anyone looking for a nice place to walk or hang out or picnic!!

Very nice location that is very visitor friendly. The Rim trail, up the waterfall, isnt as awesome as the walk down (as per the new rules, one way up and one way down) but towards the upper part of the falls is where things get interesting. Ponds of water with deeper ponds carved into them. Many smaller falls, and rock outcroppings with dripping water giving it an open cave-like vibe. Its very cool.

If you want to get away from the crowded and constantly rushing NYC for a while - for example, spend a weekend in the wild - spend 4 hours and go to the city of Ithaca (Finger Lake Region) and hide there in Buttermilk Falls State Park ... and you will sweat on the ascents, but believe me - what you see at the top will compensate you for this effort ... You can even rent a small Cabbin (attention! without electricity !!!) and spend the night in State Park in amazing SILENCE ... !!! And if you want to go there, be sure to take road No. 17 ... You will feel as if you are going to the south of Europe and approaching the foothills of the Alps ... WONDERFUL ...! * Small tip: 1. At Buttermilk Falls St.P. drive to the parking lot in the vicinity of the park management and start hijking from there. 2. If you dont like to spend a lot of money on tools, go back to NYC on Route 17 and continue on Route 6 - Bear Mountains Bridge direction - E-Zpass $ 1.35 only ( instead $18 at GWB + huge trafic ... ) and on the other side of Hudson River wonderful views, serpentines like in the mountains and completely free access to the city by Taconic Parkway ...

What a beautiful and colorful place.At the beginning my family and I were disappointed because swimming wasnt allowed on the lower falls, however retribution came quick when we began the hike to the higher falls and encounter so many beautiful swimming holes.The hike can be a bit strenuous but not extremely long.Will go back next summer.

Absolutely breathtaking views. We enjoyed the little climb of the trail and follow the way down. The fall color painted the falls is astonishing!

It’s a short hike but very pretty . So take a hike, enjoy and watch your step . Someone fell walking in the falls, and emergency came so half of trail was closed for approximately an hour, which was very inconvenient. So we waited . Other than that, I recommend. Kids and family friendly. Will come back in hot summer again since swimming was closed .

Heres everything you need to know. The trail is essentially up one side of the river and down the other. The up climb is fairly intense. If youre carrying 40 or more extra pounds, this is probably not the trail for you. Thin people definitely faired much better. But there is an easy way, provided you have two cars. There is a parking lot at the top, and one at the bottom. Get dropped off at the top, walk to the bottom via the Gorge Trail, and take the 2nd car back. It is the least amount of work this way. The point of the tough hike up is to experience the views down, so if you have 2 vehicles, you can start at the top and just get the views. Now, if youre not so fit, and you dont have 2 vehicles, and you want to experience a gorge like this, check out Watkins Glen. Watkins Glen views are great and it is much less strenuous. The hike up was definitely a work-out and I had a tinge of pride having done it, so theres that.

Came here beautiful waterfalls in Ithaca and close from our hotel.Trail is open and One way only.

Wonderful way to spend your day. The falls are breathtaking. The trail is currently one way and the hike up is a bit tough, but doable for someone who exercises regularly. Just take your time..it is worth all the effort. You will be greeted with many cascading waterfalls. Plenty of places to chill and enjoy. Pack a lunch and stay a while. Coming down is all stairs. So if you have knee issues this could be a problem. I highly recommend visiting this park. Happy Trails!

Great hike with lovely scenery. I would def hike this park everyday if I lived here. Would def recommend!Note: parking is $8 for the entire day. The hike doesn’t take more than an 1.5 hr (depending on your physical state). I was able to use the same parking ticket at Tremen that day.

I highly recommend this place. Beautiful waterfallsGreat for hiking and exercise we stay for three days on a tent and it was only $76. We definitely have to come back next year!!

This place is amazing because only so many people do the hike to the top to get back down to enjoy the hidden gems such as the small natural swimming pools. There are areas to cliff jump which is probably not recommended and I would highly recommend knowing your depth before jumping into them. The water is extremely refreshing during the hot summer times and it’s extremely beautiful in general. You would never guess you were in New York of all places. Truly a gorgeous place to hike, swim and enjoy nature at its finest. The hike is strenuous for the average person and I recommend a good pair of footwear with excellent traction. Bring plenty of fluids and take breaks when you need to. The hike all around the falls took me roughly 2 hours and that included stopping at most of the swimming holes to jump in and swim around.

The falls are really easy to get to and are extremely beautiful! The only reason for 4 and not 5 stars is the trickle of water coming down the falls. A function of the season I am sure...

I love coming here with the family! Buttermilk Falls is perfect for kids and whole family. Canyons are breathtaking I must say. A must see on the outdoor bucket list.

Buttermilk falls is fantastic. Many different routes depending on your ability. Currently, the rim trail is one way up and the gorge trail is one way down. Id recommend starting at the bottom off Elmira road and taking the rim trail.After about 3/4 of a mile is your first option for a turnaround by way of the bridge. The rest of the hike up to king road is quite easy though (you already did the hardest climbing!), so Id recommend continuing then crossing the King Road bridge and taking the gorge trail back down. The loop all the way up to King Road is 2 miles.If youre looking for more than 2 miles, for a 6 mile loop you can continue up through the upper park, starting on the road and then moving off the road to the right when you spot the trail. Continue along the road up to Treman Lake and take that loop, then come back down and take the Bear Trail down to the gorge trail to finish up.At the top of Treman Lake is a stone bridge. For a quick as easy adventure, go up into the gorge above the bridge and see signs really nice rock formations and a little, neat waterfall.

Great park! Was pretty busy but what else are you going to do in a pandemic? Got take out from old Mexico less than a mile up the road. Also, very good!

This place is fantastic! An absolute must see. The gorge has stunning rock formations and nice clean water. Don’t be afraid to jump right in. It says no swimming but they don’t seem to enforce it. So if someone breaks their neck they can’t sue. The rocks can be very slippery so be extra careful. If you’re worried about COVID then stay home. There is a designated swim spot at the bottom but it’s a little stagnant and cloudy there with a lot of kids. Nice picnic spot though. If you’re in the area don’t miss this natural wonder. To save some time and for an easier hike park in the upper lot and walk down the gorge trail. 8 bucks to park is a bargain for a great day.

Beautiful gorge filled with cascades of water, impressive cliffs and stone, and great trails to view from multiple angles. Note during Covid, the gorge trail is one-way, starting at the top end and exiting at the lower parking area.

Buttermilk Falls is a beautiful hike.There are many smaller waterfalls to be seen on the trail. The hike in is all uphill, but worth it.Thank you Governor Cuomo for keeping the state parks open.

Small quiet campground that has a mix of tent ($15 a night) and cabin sites ($156 a night). You can hear twice noise from Elmira Road when its quiet though and there is little to no privacy between sites, an issue that didnt bother me because I was camping in early October and it wasnt crowded at all. Bathrooms were nice and clean too. Buttermilk falls itself is also amazingly gorge-ous and offers a lovely hike.

Pretty place, good hike. Its easy to cover all the trails in a loop for a good 6 mile hike! And the gorge is so pretty.

Beautiful fall day, but if youve never been here be prepared for a solid uphill hike! Well maintained stairs wind across the hill with some great scenic spots making for some beautiful pics.

So, if youve never been there before (much like me) the parking lot is small and mostly gravel. The trails start to the left of the entrance building (once youve parked and now are looking at the building) the trail I took was steep, but once you get past that it becomes fairly easy. I went early on a Tuesday and only a few people were there. Its a really beautiful and serene place.

Overall, this was my favorite experience in the Ithaca area. Its a good hike and although the public swimming part was closed, we did find some swimming holes in the gorge. Just ignore the sign that says you will get a ticket and jump on in! P.S. watch out for snakes if you hike around the lake there.

Very nice trail. A decent amount of steps and incline but not close to that of watkins glenn. Went towards the end of summer but would love to go back mid spring to see more water. Pool areas were closed off but throughout the trail a lot of people were milling about in the water. Went on a Friday afternoon and it wasnt super crowded but we werent really ever by ourselves. A short drive to ithaca for dinner if your visiting the area. Leashed - dog friendly!

These waterfalls easily rival Watkins Glen State Park! I went here the day after Watkins, and really enjoyed how not crowded it was on Labor Day. I was there around 9am. The hike is slightly strenuous going up (its one way, so you go along the rim trail right now to go up). Once youre a the top of the rim trail, make sure you walk along the bridge on the same side of the road and youll see the stairs down to the gorge trail. Once on the gorge trail, its downhill and very easy. This is the only way to see the waterfalls up close. The water was running well while I was there, not overflowing, and it was still a great sight to see.

Love the gorges and waterfalls along this hike. It is currently one way, but it is still an enjoyable hike.Camped here for 3 nights as well; it was an awesome experience, and will return.

Just amazing. Beautiful walking along the falls for a good walk. Multiple Spectacular fall areas the rock formations the polls cut out in the bed rock. The combination of trees and fall was fantastic

Easy short hike but wear proper shoes because therere inclines and terrain has lots of rocks. Gorge is beautiful. Usually its packed with people but maybe because due to Covid, it wasnt that bad. Be aware hiking is one direction only right now, ascend up rim trail, descend gorge.

A good amount of uphill trekking depending on where you start, but amazing views - a must see if youre in the area

Beautiful park. Highly recommend doing the loop trail to see pinnacle falls.

Be ready for half the hike going uphill with stairs! But, the other half is leisurely and has spectacular views. The NY State parks require an $8 fee to enter each day... not sure of fee for camping. We were there for a day hike. We chose this area, since it has multiple parks, lakes and waterfalls within a half hour. Many wineries too, in fact, too many for one visit!

Short, steep, somewhat slippery trail. Really gorgeous hike, trail marks up higher in trees but the map was easy to follow the now one way path for covid. Most folks followed the signs and plenty wearing masks- got a little crowded when we were leaving after lunch. Plenty photo spots on the way down. Would go probably earlier / near sun set to avoid crowding. $8 to park and they accept cards.

Beautiful. The gorge trail is beautiful but now due to covid the park wants people to climb up the Rim trail and go down the gorge trail. The Rim trail is VERY steep, through the woods, and not easy to hike. I recommend doing what most others did....sneak up the gorge side. We went up the Rim trail and it was exhausting....never again. Also, when we went we were not allowed to swim. Check the government web page before you go to see if swimming is open now. FYI there are multiple scenic spots the higher up the gorge trail you go. Beautiful.

During the pandemic the trail is a large one-way loop of two trails. The trail going up was steep for the entire ascension, definitely gets the blood flowing. Once you finally reach the top, youll loop back around on a secondary trail. The views are beautiful and its a series of falls together with multiple swimming holes. The Ascension back down is mainly a stair style versus trail style, so thats something to note. we went earlier in the morning so it wasnt busy at all, it tends to get busy around 11:00 a.m. and doesnt taper off until around 4:00 p.m. It was worth the view, but definitely keep in mind that the challenge is presented on the ascension.

Trail is a steep incline so be aware. Guess from the room are great

Nice walk with the dogs. Beautiful stone work

Its a pretty park. Seems like this place is great to spend the day hiking or if you tent camp this is a sweet place. There are sites that will accommodate travel trailers under 20ft. Thats what we used for our stay here. We came with teenagers and theyre not digging it but the young children that are camping here seem to be having a ball. We are also here during a period of social distancing therefore, swimming isnt allowed. We were told Theres a place for swimming up the road but the young ladies at the entrance were pretty vague on how to get there lol.

Best place to start your NY Waterfall hunting adventure. Treman is far more massive. But this is just as nice. Swimming usually happen at the base of the falls during summer. But Covid and all...

Awesome place to see multiple waterfalls!!! Some of the trails have stairs. Be aware, you will be in shape after this! There is no swimming on the trail, but there is swimming at the beginning. Nice place to stop and hang out if you dont want to hike. I would call to make sure you can swim, its always a gamble when we go. Lovely place for pictures! Many parks near by with waterfalls as well! Once you pay for one state park, you can get into any for the day! Its a good deal if you want to park jump!

Great place to hike amazing views of the gorge. May be better to go on a week day was a bit crowded in the better photo spots on the weekend

Really pretty hike with awesome waterfalls along the way. The ascent on the Rim trail is the tiniest bit challenging, but it’s not too long. The rest of the trail is fairly easy and really pretty.

It is really beautiful with some great views right along the waterfalls. Due to the COVID they have made the trails one way. The current path starts on the Rim trail to the left of the park office. It has varying levels of elevation going uphill in this direction. Would recommend taking breaks on the way up for inexperienced hikers. It eventually flattens out and then goes downhill and takes you to the falls and a bridge. Turn right to continue onto the gorge trail to make your way back. I would reccomend caution of rocks, roots, loose dirt, and slippery conditions. Definitely wear good shoes for durability and safety.

Great loops hike. Short but sweet and a good climb.

Gorgeous park!!! Highly recommend hiking here if you are in the area!

The upper gorge is less known. Im embarrassed to say, its the one gorge I have not hiked any part of. I lived in this are all my life. 59yrs

On the smaller side there are a few camping sites and several older cabins with electric and several new ones that do not. Decent size campsites with number 14 being the nicest, down a little and hidden from the other neighbors. Very shaded with lots of trees. Plenty of sites with good sun too if thats your thing. Showers and bathrooms are frequently cleaned (twice a day during COVID) and nice staff. The hike to the falls is moderate to strenuous but worth it. Its one way right now and definitely the better way to go so you just have to follow the arrows and signs and you will be on the way to a nice view and peaceful experience. Dogs are welcome too!

During pandemic times its a 1 way trail situation. You go up the rim and come down the gorge trail. Im not gonna lie. Its pretty steep on the way up. We did Watkins Glen the day before so it was a bit rough for me. Even so. It was truly worth it. So many different places to stop and take a selfie that you will have a hard time choosing one for your profile pic. Do not miss this one... Also. Go early! We hit it as soon as it opened and saw 1 other person. We had the place to ourselves.

Beautiful 3 mile hike along yhe creek channel. Numerous waterfalls, pools, and distinctive rock formations.Nice addition to hiking the nearby Watkins Glen. Fall colors were robust Oct. 24th

There are no markers along the paths to tell you where you are like at Robert H. Treman State park we hiked the previous day. However beautiful views of the many waterfalls. Nice camping grounds and it there are nice trails

Enjoyed the hike and the park but unfortunately the waterfalls are a little light of water

This place is great. We planned a long 20 mile run starting here. Out 10 and back 10 finishing in the gorge. We linked buttermilk, bear and several others to our goal which included forested ridges, gorges, waterfalls, Creek crossings and more. Returning into buttermilk and taking a plunge in the deep pools was the highlight. It wasnt too busy and the water was the perfect temp. This for sure was the best part of our trip.

Beautiful. Need to come back in later spring to see more waterfalls!

Beautiful trail with gorgeous scenery! The trail is rated moderate and is steep and long, and was worth the hike to see the falls! There are many picnic tables available at the entrance to the park to relax and eat. Dog friendly and definitely worth exploring!

This park has beautiful trails, amazing walk along the river and small waterfalls

As they say Ithaca is gorgeous. Over the years my friends and I have shared many memorable times in the Ithaca area. Ive always enjoyed visiting Ithaca, the surrounding parks and falls. The residents of the area have always been friendly and polite with open mindedness and diversity among the college students and the town people. The state parks that are located in the area have always been pleasant to visit whether its for a family or public event or just a small picnic. Sometimes the parks can become busy but theres always a place to pull up a rock and have a peaceful seat. Always beautiful views.

Amazingly Beautiful Sites of Waterfalls.No swimming available but was given an alternative park right next door. Had a great Time. Will revisit again.

Beautiful trails. Nothing negative can be said about the park; the staff have safety protocols in place including but not limited to one-way hiking paths. However, the other visitors occasionally neglect to follow the paths directions or to wear a mask.

A very accessible place to visit a lovely waterfall, and if you feel energetic, a beautiful walk up the hill to a road above.

What a cool place to spend a few hours! The rim trail is a moderately-steep, wooded walk uphill to a series of small falls and pools. The gorge trail (downward) is a steeper series of rock staircases. Plenty of people were swimming in the pools and jumping off the rocks near the falls when I was there - which was NOT a busy day. I imagine it can get VERY crowded, but on a day with low crowds, it can be very fun and very relaxing. Plan to spend 2-2.5 hours hiking the trail and splashing around in the falls.

Its beautiful all year the best is early spring for the falls lots of places to hike or rest for lunch

A fantastic park. If you are in the Ithaca area and looking for some fun this is a great stop. Short hikes pack in tons of views. Sitting areas provide locations to eat lunch and a fantastic swimming area.Come walk the Glen (only a half mile) see the pools climb the stairs and enjoy the area. When you are done go by to the swim area and cool off then head into Ithaca for a drink.

Natural beauty and well cared for by all

Great hike but better signage needed along trails to reinforce one way hiking. Disappointing to see the amount of trash left by hikers in areas, beer cans, masks etc. Low flow due to lack of rain in the area this summer.

Beautiful scenic park with dozens of natural waterfalls.

Absolutely wonderful! My family and I visit here several times a year. We hike the trails and stop to take in the scenery. Never gets old! Always beautiful!

Wow. Regarding return on investment this place ranks way up there. Meaning very short and easy hike rewarded by some incredibly amazing views of this beautiful gorge.

Popular place! Super convenient location almost a stones throw from local shopping. Nice views of the gorge and swimming allowed as well.

Wonderful place, hiking trails are clean and safe, beautiful scenery. Great for all ages.

We visited buttermilk in October and it was gorgeous with all the color changes. This hike had quite a bit of stairs but a also a lot of amazing spots to stop and take pictures along the way. Definitely will be coming back if Im ever in the area!

Beautiful spot with lots of waterfalls along the trail, follow me on instagram @ wookwithacamera to see more of my photography of the fingerlakes

Awesome hike around the gorge. This was one of my favorite hikes in the finger lakes area. The hike is definitely tough going up. There are many little treasures along the way.

Buttermilk Falls is something you only see on Instagram. The trail up was a little bit challenging even for me in my late 20s and I think I’m pretty fit. But the views of the gorges were all definitely worth it!!

Nice simple first timer park, though the walk up the rim is at times steep and lacks a clear sign here and there when the trail divides. Leaves block a lot of goods views in the summer. Come in the spring before the leaves but after the snow makes it slick. Back along the gorge during the one way for the trails as covid precautions are taken. Parking near the lower area. They were fixing the pool and walking bridge, so no swimming. Campsites there you can reserve. State park, so you can use the NY Park Pass.

Fun route! We started at the Rim trail, then did the bear trail up and down and ended with the gorge trail. Lovely views! The bear trail has fewer hikers. If chipmunks are your friends, this is a good trek!

The water is cold but it feels good to jump in after hiking!

Beautiful place for family fun!!! Was here for my sisters kickball games but unfortunately there was an injury in the gorge and a helicopter had to be landed in the middle of the fields to help. However, we were still able to go swimming and let kids play on the playground so all in all not bad...was actually a really fun day!

My wife and I had a good time here. Unlike the gorge in Watkins Glen, this park seems to not care about people swimming in the pools of the creek. Good call for that.I will warn you though that the water is incredibly cold as I found out from dropping in!We walked the upper rim trail up, stepped off the path for a little adult time ha ha, and then took the gorge trail back and it was pretty fun.

It was such lovely place lover everything about it. However it was my first trail and it was hard when we went to see, well for me lol. But the view is so

With Covid 19 and social distancing you can only hike in one direction up (rim trail) & down the other trail. Not much to see on the rim trail and its a HIKE UPHILL!! The pics are mostly from the return side. Swimming area was closed (90° and a Saturday?) but we did see some lady taking a dip in a non swimming area. Awesome hike, beautiful views.

Very STEEP hike..though cool fall weather supported us..Think twice if you have knee issues

Its pretty but very popular, lots of parking but the machine ate my money and gave nothing back. Thankfully, once you pay at one park you dont need to pay at another. Three stars because it was very family friendly however it was also pretty crowded because of that.

Dog friendly, limited parking. Narrow trails, beautiful views.

Small yet very beautiful park with great trails, waterfalls, and swimming holes

Beautiful views! The walks give a good workout. The waterfalls are lovely. I highly recommend.

We camp a LOT, and the new cabins here are unique, clean, and almost like glamping! We absolutely loved our experience. The campground is small, roads are paved, bathrooms are functional and that is where the strongest COVID signage exists, reminding people to wear masks.As for the park, be careful. The rim trail is steep, and one way up right now. The gorge trail is crowded with illegal swimmers, and one way down. Continue past this to the Bear Trail, and then also go around Treman Lake--- that is a gorgeous trail.The falls are now open for swimming, and ridiculously crowded with people, despite park efforts to only allow so many parking cars inside. The falls are nowhere near as full as they were 20 years ago... but still breathtaking.

The cascading falls are beautiful. We went hiking up to the top and it was amazing. Must see.

Needs better trail markings! Also $8 parking fee seems a little high!The place is gorgeous

Beautiful hike. First mile or so is straight up. After that its quite pretty and nice.

Beautiful falls not far from the parking lot. Definitely one of my favorite water falls.

Rim trail is no easy hike for 55+.Gorge trail was very pretty

Worth a visit. While not as spectacular as Letchworth, its worth hiking the Rim and Gorge Trails.

We got soooo lost! Theres the upper and the lower and so many other trails, there was one from our glamp site. Absolutely head turning but lovely. The trail from where were was about 4hrs rountrip, a moderate hike.

Beautiful hike and gorgeous views of the falls here. Can be a little challenging for some people.. lots of steps!!

Pretty hiking trail, lot of waterfalls. Beautiful picnic area with trees, tables... Only problem is the parking.

I hiked here on a 90 degree day. Due to COVID you have to go one way up the Rim Trail which is very strenuous for an inexperienced hiker. I almost gave up but its worth it making it to the Gorge Trail. Many swimming holes and its absolutely beautiful.

Beautiful, stunning. Lots of stairs!

Scenic gorge, would have been enjoyable but on Labor day it was very crowded, and some didnt wear masks or observe the one-way trail instructions. I will go back on a different day.

Stopped for a picnic, after getting takeout from Ithaca Brewery. Sat at a picnic table in the shade, drinking a crowler, and enjoying a burger. No complaints.

Very beautiful I really wanted to jump in the water but it can be slippery so be careful