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Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail

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Distance:
1.0 Mile / 1.6 km
Type:
One-Way
Difficulty:
Hard
Time to Hike:
~30 minutes
Features:
Surface Type:
Dirt
Park:
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Town:
Ithaca, New York
Directions:
42.417326, -76.52107
Added:
May 27, 2017
Updated:
March 18, 2025
Copy Trail Link Hiking this trail? Send a friend or family member a link to this trail guide for your own safety. Hike at your own risk (disclaimer)
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483'

Total Change
475'

Ascent
31'

Descent

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Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail

The Buttermilk Falls Gorge Trail at Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca, New York is a difficult 1 mile one-way trail that features the ~40-foot tall, Buttermilk Falls, along with several upstream cascades.

Hiking the Buttermilk Fall's Gorge

This hike begins at the main parking lot where you'll find the Gorge Trail located on the east side of the lot. You don't even need to hike the trail to enjoy Buttermilk Falls as the cascade presents itself at the bottom of the gorge, located right next to the parking lot. The trail leads uphill and first passes Buttermilk Falls. The view of the waterfall is best seen from its base, but the hike up alongside the cascade provides a different perspective.

The Gorge Trail then leads upstream as it passes several other, smaller, multi-tiered waterfalls. The scenic stonework of the trail matches the rest of New York State Park's idyllic scenery and feels like something out of Lord of the Rings. The trail ends along West King rd in which you can take the Rim Trail back for a 2 mile loop.
While hiking along this trail you get numerous views of scenic waterfalls, so the hike to the top is well worth the effort.

Pets

Dogs are allowed on these trails if leashed and should be cleaned up after.

Popularity

This is a very popular hiking destination near Ithaca, especially on weekends.
Explore 63 trails near Ithaca, NY
  1. Parking

    42.417326, -76.52107
  2. Main Trailhead

    42.41692, -76.521388
No community routes found. To add your own hike as a Community Route for this Trail guide, leave a Trip Report with an attached GPX file.

Hazards

Ticks - Lyme Disease More Info (CDC)
Rockfalls / Ledges / or Scrambles

Seasons

Spring, Summer, Fall

Weather Forecast

In Ithaca, NY

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