Buttermilk Falls

Most Adirondack waterfalls make you earn them with a hike into the backcountry. Buttermilk Falls is the opposite. The path from the small parking area to the falls runs only about a tenth of a mile, flat and short enough that almost anyone can make it, which is exactly why it is one of the most visited waterfalls in the region.

What you find at the end is a broad, frothing cascade named for the buttermilk-white water that pours down its rock steps. The falls total roughly twenty feet over a series of ledges rather than a single dramatic plunge, so the effect is a wide, lively wall of white water rather than one tall drop, easy to view from several angles and to photograph up close.

The falls sit on the Raquette River, one of the great water highways of the Adirondacks and a favorite of paddlers who thread its lakes and channels in canoes and the region's traditional guideboats. Long Lake itself is a long, narrow widening of the Raquette, and the river's flow feeds the cascade just downstream, so the falls are part of a much larger network of water that has carried travelers through this wilderness for centuries.

Below the falls the river slows into pools and picnic spots, and swimmers use the areas directly beneath the cascade or a little downstream on warm days. There are no lifeguards, no cell service, and emergency help is miles away, so this is a place to enjoy the water with real care, watching footing on the slick rock and keeping an eye on children.

The falls lie a few miles southwest of the hamlet of Long Lake, reached by turning onto North Point Road, a pretty back road that is worth the short drive in itself. A modest parking area serves the trail, and from there the walk to the water takes only a couple of minutes.

There are no facilities at the falls, so bring your own water and snacks and carry out everything you pack in. It pairs naturally with a stop in Long Lake, where you can find a beach, food, and a place to stay, making Buttermilk Falls an easy and rewarding add-on to any trip through the central Adirondacks.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

This Buttermilk Falls is a pretty waterfall on the Raquette River near Long Lake in the central Adirondacks, where the water tumbles and froths over rock ledges into pools below. Reached by a very short, easy walk off North Point Road, it is a popular quick stop for travelers exploring the Adirondacks, offering a lovely cascade, a picnic-worthy setting, and an easy dose of natural beauty without a long hike.

It is one of the easiest waterfalls to reach in the area: a very short walk from the small parking area off North Point Road brings you right to the falls, making it accessible for most visitors, including families with children. Because it is such a quick, low-effort stop, it is easy to fold into a drive through the Long Lake and Raquette Lake region of the Adirondacks.

Some visitors do wade or dip in the pools around the falls, but caution is essential. The rocks are slippery, the water is cold, and there is current near the cascade, so never climb on the wet ledges or venture above the falls, keep a close eye on children, and wear footwear with good grip. Enjoy the falls and pools carefully rather than treating it as a worry-free swimming hole.

Spring brings the fullest, most powerful flow as snowmelt swells the river, summer offers a cool, shady spot and a chance to dip your feet, and fall dresses the surrounding forest in color. The short walk is pleasant in any of these seasons. Go earlier in the day on summer weekends for a quieter visit and easier parking at the small lot.

The falls sit in the heart of the central Adirondacks near Long Lake, so they pair easily with the town beach on Long Lake, paddling and boating on the region's lakes and the Raquette River, and the nearby Adirondack Experience museum at Blue Mountain Lake. Together they make the area a rewarding base for a scenic, laid-back Adirondack getaway full of water and mountain beauty.