Buttermilk Falls State Park

Excellent spot.
1) This is the largest Buttermilk Falls I have visited. If anyone hikes NY, NJ, PA it is obvious there are tons of waterfalls named Buttermilk.
2) There is a small 7 dollar fee to enter the park. Plus the receipt can be used for all NYS parks for the day.

Beautiful… just beautiful. Don’t know why we waited a lifetime to get here, but so glad we finally made the trip. Great trails– beautiful– up close views of the falls; picnic areas and a place for swimming with lifeguards in the summer. You will definitely get a good leg workout making the vertical climb up the Gorge trail. Be sure to wear good footwear with appropriate traction. The Gorge trail has many stone steps that are wet from the falls and can be slippery. Slow and steady will get you to the top.

Buttermilk Falls is GORGES!
With that pun out of the way I continue my review. Being just outside of Ithaca on Route 13 it’s probably one of the fastest parks to get to near the city. They have a decent sized parking lot, and a nice front lawn area right near the main falls, which has a deep pool where you can swim in the warmer months.
Personally, I go there to hike… which starts first thing with STAIRS! Buttermilk gets major points because they seem to be in the process of re-​doing theirs! Mind you, I love hiking, but most gorge stairs turn me into in an excessively slow person who takes each step one at a time and needs my hand held while also holding on to a wall. There was little need to do that at Buttermilk given their recent work, though there are still a few small patches they appear to be working on.
There is more to the park than the main big Buttermilk. Going along the Gorge Trail it’s an almost continuous cascade as you ascend (or descend if you come from the top), with mini water falls and beautiful pools carved out beneath them. The water elements are varied, from slightly deeper rapids to still shallow stretches. It’s quite magical, especially in the fall with the low-​angle lighting. It’s not long and there is a lot to see. Past West King Road the park kind of mellows out, going into more of a grassy area which is good for picnics and such.
As far as hikes go I think it’s good bang for the buck. It’s not necessarily a hardcore workout but it is well worth the views.
Overall the park has a lot of offer and is well worth a visit and has something for everyone.

It was convenient having showers next to the lower pool… And they seemed to be pretty well maintained… But there was no swimming allowed in the lower pool, even though a diving board stood present, looking oh so inviting on the 92 degree 75% humidity day I visited… There was a huge, and intense hill-​30 minute hike with all my gear because I’m currently traveling without a car-​between the main office and the campgrounds. The employee taking my money asked if I was driving or walking to my campsite… He laughed when I said walking… I figured we were walking up the same hill that we would need to take to the upper falls… Nope… Had to hike down the huge hill and cross over to the inaccessible pool of cold refreshing water to hike up the trails to the other falls because there was no connecting trail???
Majorly lame.

Like all of the other state parks in the finger lakes area, it’s very beautiful. If your GPS takes you to a random parking lot and your not sure where to head from there, try going on foot to the road and look left. If you see a small bridge, walk over it and then cross where the crosswalk is. On the other side, you will see the gorge trail.

Yay!
This is one of my favorite parks ever. I suppose there’s quite a bit of sentimentality attached which may skew my review. However, it’s quite beautiful. It’s a great place for cooling off in the summer, as at the base of the falls, there is a swimming hole with lifeguard on duty. And, although swimming is prohibited elsewhere, there are plenty of rebels breaking the rules and jumping off the cliffs into the water, strategically aiming for the weathered scoops in the rocks.
The gorge trail can be a bit difficult closer to the falls, as the soils have eroded quite a bit, but if you approach it from the upper entrance, you’ll find easy to navigate slate stairways and paths.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails, which is great because it’s super cute to encounter pups on your hike and to see them cooling off in the shallow springs.
There’s a $ 7 fee for cars to park at either entrance but otherwise it’s completely free. The restrooms are decent and the facilities by the swimming area also have showers.

One word: Heaven.
After a long week of work, people like to come to Buttermilk Falls to relax and rejuvenate their spirits. The long hikes help you to relax and forget about life in New York City.
Listening and watching the waterfalls melts your stress away. It almost has a therapeutic effect on you. Breathe in the clean air. Walk slowly so you see the details of the gorges.
Many people enjoy activities here: Dogs love to hike here. Bring your cameras. On a sunny day, you will have many opportunities to take beautiful pictures. The trail leads you to the bottom of the river. Some people swim in the water.
I highly recommend this state park. Families, friends, and tour groups come here to see the majestic beauty of nature.
Come and enjoy.

Great place to just get away and hike. The fall are beautiful. Got some great pic’s.

While the falls here are attractive, I feel this park is highly overrated. It was the least beautiful and least enjoyable of all my state park experiences in the area.
The gorge trail was closed on the day I came, so perhaps I am missing a huge piece of the puzzle by having not done it. However their rim trail is very difficult, much more difficult than one would think by looking at the size of the park. If you think you can manage it without good hiking shoes and some supplies you’re wrong; I know I was.
The swimming area at the bottom of the falls looks absolutely filthy. Due to the nature of the water flow it seems that most of the water used for swimming stays stagnant. We saw bird feces and lots of feathers on top of the water, as well as a film of oily run off on the surface. I don’t know who in their right mind would want to step into those waters.
If you go, take a gander at the falls. Don’t bother with anything else.

This place is gorgeous. Yes, the pun was intended. I visited here with my family a few weekend ago. There’s a pool at the bottom of the trail. However, it’s only open when a life guard is on duty. The hike is fairly easy and enjoyable. By the entrance there are very well maintained bathrooms with showers and vending machines. If you’re into photography this is a place to go for some interesting shots.

Pretty waterfall! Don’t need to pay for parking and open for viewing until dusk.

The waterfalls were a beauty! I loved them. But i got lost here. Maybe i’m just a bad hiker (actually, that’s probably it), but they should really put more obvious signs to make sure people like me stay on their trails, because i ended up at some hotel/​bistro after reaching the very disappointing lake that was severely dried up.
But the waterfalls were gorgeous, though.

As a nature photographer our first visit had a wonderful combination of three days of solid rain then two of amazing fall colors and scenery.
Buttermilk Falls state park was one of my life highlights in photo opportunities. I would take a picture and think it was one of my best ever! Then five minutes later see a more magnificent waterfall.
The hike is one that will test your ability and your body will tell you immediately how in or out of shape you are. There are a lot of steps with the lower ones much better than the upper ones as they seem to have been given more attention.
The entrance fee of $ 7 is even more palatable when you consider that it is good for any other state parks that day. The question that needs answering is how many state parks are you going to be able to visit? Stay and enjoy each one, consider the fee as your way of helping improve the trails!
The trail following the gorge, the one with all the stairs in my opinion is the most beautiful. The trail farther from the stream, is a nice walk in the woods… but, I can get that anywhere. I’m here for the waterfalls.
I’ve included one teaser photo.

This is a great park with running water, restroom facilities, picnic benches, and of course hiking trails. The falls are unique and interesting, and the trails are great for a nice hike… however, a bit short for serious hikers. The only downside is probably the $ 7 parking fee which is a bit steep for the size and locale of the park but many parks all over are starting to follow suit with this funding format.
Very pretty scenery, worth going to visit at least once. In the wintertime, the water freezes which is also amazing to see.

The main fall can seen when driving into the park so u can decide if it’s worth visiting. $ 7 entrance ticket is good all day at any state park! Go check out Robert Treman park which to me has nicer falls. Buttermilk was down to almost a trickle when we went. The hike along the creek and falls consists of uneven stairs and dirt which makes a good workout.

It’s not a terribly rigorous hike but it’s a good workout. It’ll take more effort than Watkins Glen but it won’t be that bad.
I was expecting to have to pay when I came here, and there was an attendant present at the parking lot, but everyone was parking for free. Not sure what was going on there. But hey, even if you do have to pay the standard $ 7, it’s worth it at this place.
The trail starts out as a nice staircase to a first observation area, which is the first good location for photos. After this point, the staircase to the next major stop is pretty bad. Be careful, especially on your way down, because the dirt between the concrete has settled, so it’s really easy to to trip on the concrete.
After the next major stop, the rest of the hike becomes much easier, as there are more flat paths. These can get pretty slippery though so watch your step here too, especially because there are no rails along a lot of the sections.
This park has a lot more to offer than some of the other local parks so it’s well worth your time if you’re in Ithaca. Plenty of scenic waterfalls to see, a few spots deep enough for a little swimming, and quite a lot of areas to just sit and relax while surrounded by nature.

What a gorgeous hike this was! I went my first weekend in Ithaca and it truly was a great introduction to the beauty that Ithaca has to offer. The hike was a bit tough at first but definitely worth it.
Also it was super nice to swim in the water hole.

Steve L missed the fact that you pay once per day at any NYS park and can enter another park same day on same ticket for $ 7. This means you pay at one end of Buttermilk and not the other. Lower end has falls and swimming, upper end is small falls, hiking, and peaceful lunch spots. We did both in one day and loved it all! Wear good hiking/​walking shoes if you want to see it all. Bring a swimsuit if you want to swim in the life-​guarded area at bottom of falls.

This is a great little park and I love camping here. The camp sites are close together, but for some reason it works. The other campers I meet here are always very friendly and respectful.
Like most of the Finger Lakes region state parks, there is some beautiful, easy hiking.
If you aren’t a very prepared camper, there are lots of stores/​restaurants nearby. Also Itacha Brewery is just down the street!!!

You should definitely check out the gorges when you stop by Ithaca. Buttermilk Falls State Park is really close to Cornell University (about 10 minutes away).
The hike is steep so make sure to bring comfortable shoes. The view along the hike is very scenic though (Gorge trail). You wouldn’t mind stopping every so often because each stop you make offers you a different view of the gorges. It is really beautiful here.
The rim trail is also nice.
Some tips: Wear waterproof shoes, as it helps when you want to walk by the shallow part of the river (?).