Buttermilk Falls State Park © 2007

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Buttermilk Falls State Park
NYS Route 13
Ithaca, New York, 14850

Map

Mailing Address:
c/o Robert H. Treman State Park
105 Entfield Falls Road
Ithaca, New York 14850

Phone: (607) 273-5761 (summer)
Phone: (607) 273-3440

Seasons/Hours:
Park open all year.
Camping season from mid-May to mid-October.
All trails close November 10.
Deer hunting, bow only, is permitted in season.

There are two entrances to Buttermilk Falls State Park. The lower, or main, entrance is located just off NYS Route 13. Picnic areas, camping, a swimming pool, and restrooms can be found at this entrance. Access to Rim and Gorge trails are here as is an excellent veiw of Buttermilk Falls. The upper entrance has access to both Rim and Gorge Trails, Bear Trail and Lake Treman trail. There is picnicing and restrooms here, as well as a playground. To get there, drive north on Sand Bank Road to West King Road. Turn left. The park is about a mile from the intersection. Be careful, the entrance is on the right just after you come down a hill and is not visible until you are almost on top of it. It is across the bridge over Buttermilk Creek.

Facilities at Buttermilk Falls State Park
Camping
Cabins
Swimming Pool and Bathhouse
Picnic tables with grills
Picnic Pavillions which may be reserved in eleven months in advance
Play fields and playground
Comfort Stations
Pay phones
Nature Activities
Trails

There is a small vehicle use fee which is paid at the gate. Save the reciept if you plan on visiting more New York State Parks the same day. The vehicle fee is waived at other parks if you show them the receipt. It is good only for the same day. You may also purchase an Empire Passport which is good all year and provides unlimited

New York State Parks have no trash cans or dumpsters. You must carry out your own trash. Trash bags are provided for convenience, but it is best to provide your own.

Camping
The campground at Buttermilk Falls State Park has 46 campsites which have no electricity or permanent water hook up. The campground is open from May through October. Comfort Stations have hot showers and flush toilets. Reserervations may be made at Reserve America.
Reservations 1-800-456-2267
Customer Service 1-800-777-9644

Swimming Pool and Bathhouse
The swimming pool at Buttermilk Falls State Park is spring fed. Swimming is available only in the lifeguard area and weather permitting. The pool is open from the end of May until Labor Day. To check pool availability call the park office or click this link.

Hiking Trails at Buttermilk Falls State Park

Gorge Trail
.75 Mile
You can enter the Gorge Trail from either the lower park entrance off State Route 13, or the upper one on West King Road. This is a beautiful trail which follows Buttermilk Creek. There are numerous waterfalls and cascades along this trail. It is a bit steep and there are steps. There is a bridge to access the Rim Trail about halfway along the trail. Buttermilk Falls is located near the trail head at the lower park entrance. The falls is quite spectacular and is visible from obversation decks which you do not have to hike to get to.

Rim Trail
3/4 mile
The trail head for this trail is located just east of the restroom at the lower park entrance. It can also be accessed from the upper park entrance. It makes a good return loop for the Gorge Trail to where ever your car is parked. There are a couple of scenic overlooks to Buttermilk Creek, but the overlook to Buttermilk Falls is not so spectacular. It is a good trail, pretty steep at the beginning from the lower park entrance, but it levels off to a gentle incline after about a third of the distance.

Bear Trail
3/4 mile
This is a hike along Buttermilk Creek. It is a straight line trail, so once at the other end you must either return the way you came, or return via the Park Roadto the parking area.

Larch Meadow Trail
1 mile.
Larch Meadow Trail skirts the Ball Fields and winds through a wetland. There is a trail brochure available at the park office. The trail head is located near the ball field ticket booth on the west side of Sand Bank Road at the lower entrance. This is a loop trail. to Buttermilk Falls State Park.

Lake Treman Trail
1.5 Miles
This trail goes around Lake Treman. The entrance to this trail is at the picnic area on the extreme north end of the park at the end of Park Road. It is a loop trail.

Buttermilk Falls State Park is well worth finding and spending time in. Scenic beauty, hiking, camping, picnicing, and swimming are all here.

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