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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Buttermilk Falls (Ithaca)

Tompkins County, New York — about 165 ft, taller than most.

The 165-foot namesake cascade of Buttermilk Falls State Park tumbles in two segments down Buttermilk Creek near Ithaca, the last of ten falls in the gorge. The Gorge Trail climbs steeply alongside the cascades and can be looped with the Rim Trail.

Height
165 ft
Type
Cascade
Access
Moderate Hike
Trail
1.5 mi loop
Elevation gain
600 ft
Best season
May through early November
Land manager
NYS Parks (Buttermilk Falls State Park)
Watercourse
Buttermilk Creek

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check NYS Parks (Buttermilk Falls State Park) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

Buttermilk Falls (Ithaca) drops about 165 feet. That makes it the 107th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 84% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Gorge Trail / Rim Trail Loop reaches it about 1.5 miles (loop) with roughly 600 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Ithaca. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with NYS Parks (Buttermilk Falls State Park) for closures and current conditions.

May through early November. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

More New York waterfalls

Sources

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