Buttermilk Falls is a 95-foot sliding cascade on Buttermilk Creek in Buttermilk Falls State Park, at the south end of Ithaca in Tompkins County, New York. The creek slides down wide bedrock ledges into a natural swimming pool just a few dozen yards from the parking area, and the gorge above holds a chain of smaller falls.
The falls
The main waterfall drops in two tiers: an upper slide of about 18 feet and a main slide of 72 feet that fans out from about 60 feet wide at the crest to 100 feet at the base. Earlier surveys listed 180 feet, and regional guides give 165 feet. Above the falls the creek drops about 430 feet in two-thirds of a mile over at least eight waterfalls, cut into Devonian shale and sandstone; the gorge formed as a hanging valley carved in the last 20,000 to 30,000 years, with potholes and a spire called Pinnacle Rock.
Getting there
The park entrance is at 106 East Buttermilk Falls Road off Route 13 on the south side of Ithaca, and the falls are visible from the park road. Entry is $10 per vehicle, collected April through November, and covered by the $80 Empire Pass. The park is open year round from dawn to dusk.
To see the falls from above, the Gorge Trail climbs about 600 feet on stone steps past several falls, rated difficult. It pairs with the Rim Trail on the opposite bank for a loop measuring 1.6 miles and rated moderate. The Bear Trail continues about 1.5 miles upstream to Lake Treman. As of September 2026 the park reports all trails open.
When to go
The creek drains only about 11.5 square miles with no large lake to steady it, so flow varies considerably: by late summer it can shrink to a trickle.
On site
In summer a small removable dam deepens the plunge pool by about 5 feet for swimming. In 2026 the pool opened July 3, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays through Mondays and some weekdays whenever lifeguards were available. Up to two pets are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet, but not at the pool, playgrounds or buildings. The park also has campsites, cabins, picnic areas and a playground. Drivers should lock their cars, as thefts have occurred at Ithaca-area trailheads.
History and name
An 1866 account likened the creek's thick, frothy foam to buttermilk, and the park takes its name from that cascade. Robert and Laura Treman gave the first 164 acres to the state in 1924; the park now covers 811 acres.
Nearby
Pulpit Falls is about 0.2 mile up the gorge, with Pinnacle Falls at 0.3 mile and Lake Treman Falls about a mile upstream. Owl Creek Falls is about 0.5 mile away on a side stream.
Distances are straight-line.