Buttermilk Falls State Park

The main falls at the park entrance is the showpiece, a broad sheet of water that gives the park its name from the churning, buttermilk-white foam at its foot. But it is only the beginning. Follow the creek upstream and the Gorge Trail climbs alongside a whole staircase of cascades, ten in all, cut into the shale and sandstone as the water works its way down toward Cayuga Lake.

The trail itself is part of the story. Its stone steps and walls were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Depression-era work program that shaped so many American parks, and they let hikers climb roughly six hundred feet through the gorge past pools, chutes, and rock formations. Paired with the Rim Trail up top, the route makes a loop of about a mile and a half through some of the most dramatic scenery in the Finger Lakes.

What most visitors remember is the swimming. At the base of the main falls the park maintains a natural pool, and in the warm season it drops a removable dam that raises the water several feet, creating a deep, clear basin directly beneath the tumbling cascade. Swimming under a waterfall in a rock gorge is a genuinely rare experience, and it draws families and students all summer long.

The pool is seasonal and supervised by lifeguards only during set hours, so it pays to time a visit for when it is open and staffed. Even when the water is closed, the sight of the falls plunging into the basin is worth the short walk from the parking area, and the lower park's lawns and picnic spots make an easy place to spend an afternoon.

Above the gorge lies a second, gentler half of the park that many day-trippers miss. Here Buttermilk Creek widens into small Lake Treman, ringed by woodland and rim trails, playing fields, and picnic areas, a calmer counterpoint to the dramatic gorge below. The Bear Trail follows the creek up to Lake Treman Falls and the lake itself.

Beyond the lower park stretches Larch Meadows, a wetland threaded by a nature trail, where the noise of the falls gives way to marsh birds and quiet water. Between the roaring gorge, the swimming hole, the woodland lake, and the meadow, Buttermilk Falls offers far more than the single waterfall its name suggests.

The park entered the New York state system in 1924, seeded by a gift of land from Robert and Laura Treman, whose name is attached to nearby parks as well. It sits just south of downtown Ithaca, so close that it makes an easy stop on any Finger Lakes trip, with separate entrances for the lower park at the falls and the upper park at the lake.

The Gorge Trail is steep and can be slick when wet, and it usually closes for the colder months, so check conditions before an off-season visit. On hot summer weekends the lots fill early, so come in the morning if you want to swim, and pair the park with Ithaca's other famous gorges for a full day of Finger Lakes waterfalls.

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.

Just outside Ithaca in the Finger Lakes, this park is famous for a stream that tumbles down a long series of cascades and waterfalls through a rocky gorge, with the tall, frothy main falls, said to resemble churning buttermilk, giving the park its name. A natural swimming hole sits at the base of the main falls, and trails climb alongside the cascades, making it a beloved spot for both a cool swim and a scenic waterfall hike.

Yes, one of the park's biggest draws is the natural swimming area in the pool at the base of the main falls, a classic Ithaca summer experience. Swimming is allowed only in the designated area and typically only when lifeguards are on duty during the warm season, so go when it is open and staffed, obey posted rules, keep children close, and never swim above the falls or climb on the wet, slippery rocks.

The Gorge Trail climbs steeply beside the cascades on stone steps for close-up waterfall views, and the Rim Trail offers a return route with overlooks, together making a rewarding loop. The upper part of the park holds quieter woods, a small lake, and wetland trails. The gorge steps get slick with spray, so wear good shoes, watch your footing, and hold railings, especially with kids along.

Late spring through early fall is ideal, with summer best for swimming and the falls flowing well after spring rains and snowmelt. The gorge trails are seasonal and typically close in winter due to ice, so check current status in the colder months. Weekends and hot summer days draw crowds to the swimming hole, so arrive early for parking and a calmer visit.

Ithaca is famously 'gorges,' and Buttermilk is one of a cluster of spectacular waterfall parks. Nearby Robert H. Treman State Park has its own dramatic gorge and swimming hole, and Taughannock Falls, one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls in the Northeast, is a short drive away. Together they make an easy multi-stop waterfall tour around Ithaca and the southern Finger Lakes.