Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls, New York

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Buttermilk Falls is the main attraction of Buttermilk Falls State Park near Ithaca, New York. That doesn’t mean it’s the only waterfall in the park. The are multiple waterfalls, upwards of 20 depending on what you consider a waterfall. Buttermilk Falls is the largest of these waterfalls, and it may also be the first waterfall you see as you enter the park.

I say that because I entered the park on the gorge trail at the W. King Road entrance, and then hiked downhill. That meant Buttermilk Falls was the last waterfall that I saw. This means a more strenuous hike back uphill if you choose to do this. On the other hand, if you just want to start at Buttermilk Falls and then make the decision to hike to see the other falls, start at the lowest entrance, which is also probably the easiest to find.

Directions:

  1. There are multiple ways to access this entrance to the park. I think the easiest is to get onto NY-96B (aka Danby Rd.) heading south from Ithaca.
  2. Heading south, you will come to W. King Road. Turn right onto W. King Road.
  3. Head to the sign for the entrance to Buttermilk Falls State Park. Turn into the entrance.
  4. From here, you can park right there, and cross W. King Road. The entrance to the gorge should be rather obvious.
  5. The Gorge Trail is the best choice to view the falls, though it is only open during certain times of the year.

Accessibility: Ascent (4/10 moderate/difficult), Descent (9/10 easy)
Height: 80′
Length of Hike: 0.2 miles round-trip (to see falls from lower entrance), 1.2 miles round-trip to see many of the falls

Buttermilk Falls in May 2009

Where in the World is Buttermilk Falls?

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Waterfall #6 in Buttermilk Falls SP, New York

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There are numerous, numerous waterfalls in Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca, New York. It would definitely be helpful or even cool if they named each of the different waterfalls something…different. First off, Buttermilk Falls is one of the most common waterfall names. Second, it would be easier to identify the falls if they actually had a name!

I’ve called this one waterfall #6. It’s by no means the largest of the falls in the park. It’s actually one of the smallest, but it’s still pretty nonetheless. The whole park is beautiful. The Gorge Trail, where the falls are best viewed from, is open during certain times of the year, though. Luckily, when I visited the park in early May, it was one of the only parks to have the gorge trail completely open. Most of the other state parks with waterfalls and gorge trails still had the trails closed.

One more thing about Buttermilk Falls: the park has a rather steep incline. If you enter from the W. King Road, the way down is not bad at all. The way back up is tougher. The opposite is true if you enter from the other entrance. Beware! The best way to view the falls would be to start at the W. King Road entrance, descend down to the other entrance, where somebody could pick you up.

Directions:

  1. There are multiple ways to access this entrance to the park. I think the easiest is to get onto NY-96B (aka Danby Rd.) heading south from Ithaca.
  2. Heading south, you will come to W. King Road. Turn right onto W. King Road.
  3. Head to the sign for the entrance to Buttermilk Falls State Park. Turn into the entrance.
  4. From here, you can park right there, and cross W. King Road. The entrance to the gorge should be rather obvious.
  5. The Gorge Trail is the best choice to view the falls, though it is only open during certain times of the year.

Accessibility: Ascent (4/10), Descent (9/10)
Height: 5′
Length of Hike: 1.2 miles round-trip (if you start near NY-96)

A smaller waterfall in Buttermilk Falls State Park

Where in the World is Waterfall #6?

Tillman Ravine Falls, New Jersey

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I guess the most surprising thing about Tillman Ravine Falls is simply that it’s in a place you would least expect. I guess when I think of New Jersey, I imagine chemical plants and mobsters, though the area where this waterfall is found conjures up much different feelings. Tillman Ravine Falls is in Stokes State Forest, which is a beautiful area in northwest New Jersey. The waterfall seems very isolated, though there is a village nearby. It was amazingly quiet, though, and I didn’t see anyone else nearby.

The waterfall was narrow, and had multiple different pieces, though none of them were that large. I chose to include the picture below since it was the most scenic/photogenic of all of the pieces, though there are other equally interesting parts. It’s just fun to explore the area to find the various falls. The waterfall is also nearby the much larger Buttermilk Falls and Silver Spray Falls.

Directions:

  1. From Walpack Flatbrook Road (aka Sussex County Road 615), head toward Walpack Center.
  2. Turn onto Tillman Road. Go about 0.6 miles.
  3. The road then branches off in three directions. Continue going straight. Do not turn left or right!
  4. Go about 0.6 miles further to a parking area for Stokes State Forest, which will be on your right. Park here.
  5. From the parking area, walk down the hill toward the creek to the falls.

Accessibility: 8/10 (easy/moderate)
Height: 10′ (for this portion)
Length of Hike: 1 mile round-trip

Tillman Ravine Falls in May 2009

Where in the World is Tillman Ravine Falls?

Lake Treman Falls, New York

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Lake Treman Falls in May 2009

I guess I’m not even sure if Lake Treman Falls is a truly natural waterfall. It definitely looks like it is. The historical information provided on the trail seemed to indicate, though, that the waterfall was created when a river/lake was dammed. Maybe I misunderstood the sign.

Oh well, whatever the case with Lake Treman Falls, it’s still a very pretty waterfall. It is found in Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca, though this falls is somewhat removed from the other more prominent falls in the park. In order to access Lake Treman Falls, you can hike from the gorge/rim trails to the falls, or you can just park right near the waterfall, since there is a paved road that leads directly to this one waterfall.

While you’re visiting Lake Treman Falls, check out the area surrounding the falls. In the picture, you may notice a foot bridge crossing right above the falls. This bridge leads to a very interesting stone dam/structure, whatever it is.

Directions:

  1. There are multiple ways to access this entrance to the park. I think the easiest is to get onto NY-96B (aka Danby Rd.) heading south from Ithaca.
  2. Heading south, you will come to W. King Road. Turn right onto W. King Road.
  3. Head to the sign for the entrance to Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park. Turn into the entrance
  4. Keep heading down this paved road. It will end after a mile or so. Park here.
  5. You should be able to see the falls directly from that parking area. You can head up the very short trail to get different views of the falls if you would like.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 30′
Length of Hike: 0.2 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Lake Treman Falls?

Silver Spray Falls, New Jersey

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Silver Spray Falls in May 2009

Silver Spray Falls is a fun waterfall in the Delaware Water Gap. You can access the falls from the same road as the more accessible Buttermilk Falls.

The most difficult part is finding the trail to the falls, and even that’s not too difficult. It’s just the trickiness of trying to interpret other people’s directions! (Update: this apparently is very true…I remember seeing a house near the fenced area, but apparently there isn’t one, at least not where I’m thinking…The house was off in the distance, if I remember correctly.) Once you find the trail, the walk is rather enjoyable and contains many hidden secrets. As I was hiking along in late May, I found another kind of orchid I had never seen and some kind of orange salamander. Keep an eye out for these fun treasures.

Directions:

  1. From Walpack Flatbrook Road (aka Sussex County Road 615), head toward Walpack Center.
  2. Turn onto Tillman Road. Go about 0.6 miles.
  3. Turn right onto Mountain Road. You will pass a cemetery as you turn, and you will end up on a dirt road.
  4. Proceed 1.4 miles along Mountain Road.
  5. At 1.4 miles, you will reach the “parking area” for the trail will be the first dirt area on your left. This is apparently right before you reach a tiny bridge with guard rails. (Thanks Charles and others.) The remnants of a stone fence are there. It might not look like much, but you can fit at least one car there and hike up the trail.

Accessibility: 8/10 (easy/moderate)
Height: 40′
Length of Hike: 0.4 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Silver Spray Falls?

Buttermilk Falls, New Jersey

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Buttermilk Falls in May 2009

In Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, every other waterfall seems to be named Buttermilk Falls. This is the Buttermilk Falls in the Delaware Water Gap Recreational Area in Sussex County, New Jersey.

Buttermilk Falls, at about 85 feet in height, is a rather tall waterfall, but it is also narrow. It is an extremely pretty setting, and one of its nice qualities is that it is very easy to view, since it is about 10 feet from the road. As part of the Delaware Water Gap, it is near other impressive waterfalls on the Pennsylvania side.

Directions:

  1. From Walpack Flatbrook Road (aka Sussex County Road 615), head toward Walpack Center.
  2. Turn onto Tillman Road. Go about 0.6 miles.
  3. Turn right onto Mountain Road. You will pass a cemetery as you turn, and you will end up on a dirt road.
  4. Go about 2.5 miles down the dirt road, and you will see the falls on the left.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 85′
Length of Hike: Roadside

Where in the World is Buttermilk Falls?