Buttermilk Falls State Park is a gorgeous park. While it is smaller than Stony Brook and Watkins Glen, it was definitely just as beautiful and impressive. I actually thought the waterfalls were more abundant, and the way they flowed into one another was, in my opinion, much more dramatic than the other parks. Buttermilk Falls State Park also appeared to be a lot less crowded. Of course, we visited during the week, which might have made all the difference.
Hiking the Gorge Trail and Rim Trail
There are several trails in the park. The gorge trail is a must-see. You really can’t hike this park and not take advantage of the gorge trail. Sneakers are a must on this trail. The footpath can be extremely slippery and muddy in certain places, such as on the stairs. This is not a place to wear flip-flops, even on a hot summer day.
It was a wet spring/summer, so it’s hard to tell if this is normal for the park or due to the unusually wet weather. The way the trail is designed, the water runs off the sides of the cliffs and onto the trail, so it will probably be wet any time it has recently rained. The rim trail and the bear trail are trails you want to make sure you have some water with you on a hot day. It is not as cool on these trails as it is in the gorge.
Hiking the Other Trails
There are two other trails outside the gorge area, the Lake Treman Trail and Larch Meadow Trail. The Lake Treman Trail takes you around a small lake north of the park, and the Larch Meadow Trail travels through a wetland area. Both areas are excellent for seeing various types of wildlife. The trails in this park offer varying types of sceneries to trek through, offering unique views.
Buttermilk Falls State Park is not really a good place for strollers. You would probably do better with a frame-pack child carrier. I also wouldn’t recommend having small children running freely in front of you. There are a lot of places they can fall or leave the trail. This park is best for children who have a bit more sense of self-preservation. The trails are not long, but they can be difficult to traverse for people who aren’t in great shape, as you are climbing in and out of a gorge and there are many steps. Again proper footwear is a must.
Camping at Buttermilk Falls State Park
There is a small campground within the park that features 21 cabins and 29 campsites. The area is lovely and worth a stay, but due to the small number of sites, I recommend you reserve as early in the season as possible. Buttermilk Falls State Park is stunning, and so far, has surpassed the larger parks like Watkins Glen on my own personal preference list. This is a park not to be missed, and there are lots of picnic areas in the park for day use.
Winter at Buttermilk Falls
The giant falls at Buttermilk Falls is absolutely breathtaking in the winter. Unfortunately, this is about the only area of the park that is open during the wintertime. Even though there isn’t much to see other than the one waterfall, it is still worth visiting because it is really spectacular and the area in front of the falls doesn’t very crowded.
Helpful Links:
112 E. Buttermilk Falls Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
Google Map Link
Other Places to Visit in the Area
Museum of the Earth
This little-known museum located in Ithaca is completely dedicated to Paleontology. The Museum of the Earth is extremely kid-friendly and strives to make learning as fun and hands-on as possible. Kids love dinosaurs, and this museum delivers just what they want. Not only dinosaurs but later periods in the evolution of the earth as well as the ocean.
Taughannock Falls State Park
Taughannock Falls State Park is a gorgeous state park located on the west side of Cayuga Lake. This park has the tallest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains at a height of 215 ft.
Ithaca is full of waterfalls. Which one is your favorite? Did we miss something about Buttermilk Falls that you think we should share? What do you love about this park? We want to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.