Buttermilk Falls State Park in New York, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-01. Check linked official notices before travel.

Buttermilk Falls State Park is a waterfall-and-gorge park in Ithaca, New York, managed by New York State Parks. Choose the lower entrance for the main falls and campground area, or the upper entrance for Lake Treman and woodland trails. Seasonal camping and swimming are separate from the park’s year-round daytime access.

Falls, gorge and wetland walks

Buttermilk Creek descends toward Cayuga Lake in the foaming cascade that gives the park its name. The Gorge and Rim trails provide different paths through the wooded valley, while Larch Meadows offers a wetland nature trail beyond the lower playing fields. This lets a visit combine the falls with a different habitat.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Swimming and trail planning

Do not plan on swimming without confirmation from the park. Swimming is prohibited whenever water quality or lifeguard coverage compromises safety. The published 2026 swimming schedule began July 3, with limited days and an expected mid-August end. It is not a November swimming schedule.

Visit responsibly

At permitted campsites and day-use areas, a maximum of two pets must remain supervised, crated or on leashes no longer than six feet. Bring current proof of rabies vaccination for campground check-in. Pets are excluded from playgrounds, buildings, boardwalks and guarded swimming areas, with a service-animal exception. Bow hunting for deer is permitted in season.

Reservations and overnight choices

Use the authorized park booking page for site details and availability. Campsites can be booked up to nine months ahead. Cabin minimum stays vary by season: nonpeak stays normally require two nights, specified holiday weekends require three, and peak stays require seven or fourteen nights.

Cabins are rustic, without bedding, cookware or heat. Portable heaters, smoking and generators are not permitted in them, and tents cannot be set up in the cabin area. These restrictions matter when comparing a cabin with bringing your own camping equipment.

Maps, location, and access

The main park address is 106 East Buttermilk Falls Road, off Route 13 South, Ithaca, NY 14850. The main entrance serves the lower falls, gorge access and campground. The upper entrance serves Lake Treman and upper day use. The official park map separates these entrances and the connecting trails.

Nearby parks

Robert H. Treman State Park is another Ithaca-area stop at 105 Enfield Falls Road, with separate lower and upper entrances. Taughannock Falls State Park lies farther along the Cayuga Lake corridor at 1740 Taughannock Boulevard, Trumansburg. Its lower entrance serves the lakeside facilities, while the upper entrance serves the overlook and trail system. Select the destination entrance before driving.

Things to do

The official map gives both Gorge Trail and Rim Trail as three-quarter-mile routes. Larch Meadow Trail is one mile, and Lake Treman Trail is one and a half miles. Use these individual distances to choose a walk, then account separately for the return route and connections between parking areas.

Facilities and accessibility

The lower park has camping, playing fields and the natural pool, while the upper park has picnic areas and Lake Treman. The park lists accessible features for lodging, showers and waterfall viewing. Contact staff about the precise route needed, and plan restroom stops around the Lake Treman seasonal closure.

About the park

The park follows Buttermilk Creek as it drops down the valley toward Cayuga Lake. Its upper lake, narrow gorge and lower meadow areas explain why the two main entrances offer different visits.

Woodland and wetland habitats

Woodland borders the gorge and rim trails. Larch Meadows adds a wetland setting beyond the lower park. Treat the nature trail as a chance to observe that habitat without assuming a particular wildlife sighting.

Contact

Official Buttermilk Falls State Park page. General information: (607) 273-5761. Secondary phone: (607) 273-3440.