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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Buttermilk Falls

Tompkins County, New York — about 165 ft, taller than most.
Buttermilk Falls, a waterfall in New York
Buttermilk Falls, New York · Rothschild Brothers, Ithaca, New York (publisher) · Public domain

A 165-foot frothy cascade where Buttermilk Creek tumbles down a steep gorge into the Cayuga Lake valley southwest of Ithaca. The Gorge Trail climbs alongside the falls past a series of cascades and pools.

Height
165 ft
Type
Cascade
Access
Short Hike
Trail
1.5 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
500 ft
Best season
Spring
Land manager
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
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 New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation 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 drops about 165 feet. That makes it the 106th-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 reaches it about 1.5 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 500 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Ithaca. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for closures and current conditions.

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

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Sources

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