This Ithaca, NY Park Boasts Milky White Waterfalls, Cool Pools & Forest Trails

Buttermilk Falls State Park, New York

Right at Ithaca’s doorstep sits Buttermilk Falls, where a stream drops into a natural pool perfect for summer swims.

With gorge trails, campsites, and spots to picnic next to rushing water, this park offers more than just pretty views.

Here are all the best things to do in this beautiful corner of New York.

Robert And Laura Treman’s Gift

Every time you visit Buttermilk Falls, you’re experiencing the legacy of Robert and Laura Treman, who donated the original 164 acres to New York State back in 1924.

Their gift has since grown to the current 811-acre park through additional acquisitions. Before becoming protected land, this area was a working industrial zone with mills lining the creek in the 1850s.

A dam above the main falls once supplied water to the entire city of Ithaca until the early 1900s.

In the upper section, you can still find remnants of a large grist mill that processed grain for local communities.

Marvel at the “Milky” Waterfall

Buttermilk Falls is a roaring 165-foot cascade that literally got its name because it looks like frothy milk pouring down the rockface.

The waterfall splits into two segments with this cool twist in the middle, and the first drop alone is a knee-weakening 90 feet.

Enjoy a Cool Swimming Hole

When summer hits and you’re melting faster than an ice cream cone in July, nothing beats jumping into the natural swimming pool at the base of Buttermilk Falls.

The park adds a removable dam that deepens the water by about 5 feet, creating what has to be one of the most scenic swimming spots in the entire Northeast.

For 2025, they’ll have lifeguards on duty from late June through August 21st, usually 11am to 7pm on weekends and some weekdays.

Discover More Waterfalls on This Trail

The Gorge Trail follows Buttermilk Creek upstream through a narrow ravine that feels like something out of a fantasy novel.

You’ll climb about 600 feet up stone steps that workers literally carved into the cliff face. Along the way, you’ll pass deep emerald pools, smaller waterfalls, and these wild rock formations shaped by millennia of erosion.

Keep your eyes peeled for the 42-foot ‘Pinnacle Rock,’ this bizarre spire that’s somehow survived while the gorge walls around it eroded away.

Don’t miss ‘Pulpit Rock’ either, which juts out over the aptly named Pulpit Falls like a natural podium.

Take In Ridiculous Panoramic Views From The Rim Trail

Here’s a tip: hit the Rim Trail first, then come down the Gorge Trail.

Yes, it’s steeper going up, but at least your legs won’t be jelly trying to climb those stone steps.

The Rim Trail runs along the opposite edge of the gorge, creating this perfect 1.5-mile loop that gives you completely different perspectives of the same incredible landscape.

Spend Time at This Peaceful Lake

While everyone else crowds around the falls, smart visitors sneak up to Lake Treman in the upper section of the park.

This peaceful little lake sits surrounded by quiet woodlands and open meadows, with a well-maintained trail that loops all the way around it.

And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can connect to the Finger Lakes Trail from here and disappear into the backcountry for hours.

Catch Trophy Brown Trout Without Needing A Fishing Charter

Every year they stock over 1,000 brown trout in both Buttermilk Creek and Lake Treman, and some of these bad boys grow to over a foot long.

You’ve got more than four miles of creek access, with all these perfect little pools and eddies where the big ones like to hide.

Encounter Gray Petaltail Dragonflies

Beyond the usual squirrels and chipmunks (which are everywhere), the park harbors flying squirrels that glide between trees at dusk, beavers building dams in the wetlands, and coyotes that you’ll hear yipping at twilight.

Bird watchers can spot everything from massive pileated woodpeckers hammering at trees to great blue herons stalking the shallows.

But the real stars? Gray petaltail dragonflies, living fossils that have barely changed since dinosaurs were running around.

Snag One Of 45 Electric Campsites Or 6 Rustic Cabins

The campground at Buttermilk Falls has 45 electric sites and 6 cabins available from May 16 through October 12, 2025.

Many campers rave about falling asleep to the distant sound of the falls, which beats any white noise machine you’ve got at home.

The facilities are clean with hot showers, and you can book nine months ahead through Reserve America.

Just know that RVs are size-restricted, so check ahead if you’ve got a big rig.

Wander Through Larch Meadows

Once you’ve had your fill of dramatic gorges and waterfalls, check out Larch Meadows hiding behind the playing fields in the lower park.

This place feels like you’ve stepped into a completely different park. It’s a moist, shady wetland full of unique plants and animals you won’t see in the gorge.

A one-mile self-guided trail loops through the meadows, with strategically placed boardwalks keeping your feet dry while getting you up close to the action.

Enjoy a Picnic at Buttermilk Falls

They’ve got picnic tables scattered throughout the park, many under shade trees that keep your food (and you) from baking in the summer heat.

For bigger gatherings, you can reserve their pavilion for $100 a day (73-person capacity, two-day minimum).

Extend Your Hike with Other Trails

If you’re the type who thinks regular hiking is too easy, Buttermilk Falls connects to neighboring parks via the Finger Lakes Trail for some seriously ambitious adventures.

The full Treman Park and Buttermilk Falls Park Trail spans a leg-burning 24.3 miles of moderately challenging terrain that takes most hikers around 10.5 hours to complete.

You’ll traverse Robert H. Treman State Park, cross through Sweedler and Thayer Nature Preserve, and finally emerge at Buttermilk Falls, experiencing three completely different parks in one marathon journey.

The trail skirts the southern boundaries of all three parks, exposing you to an incredible variety of landscapes from deep gorges to rolling hills to dense forests.

Witness Ice Formations In Winter

When winter grips the park, the falls partially freeze into these incredible ice formations that look like a natural ice sculpture garden.

While the gorge trail closes in November for safety reasons, you can still access the main falls from the lower parking lot throughout winter.

On particularly cold days, the mist from the falls coats everything nearby in a glittering layer of ice crystals.