Gorge Trail

The Gorge Trail at Buttermilk Falls State Park threads through one of the most dramatic Finger Lakes gorges in the Ithaca area, climbing alongside a spectacular series of cascades that tumble down a staircase of layered shale and siltstone carved over thousands of years by Buttermilk Creek. The trail begins at the base of Buttermilk Falls itself, a broad curtain of white water that drops approximately 165 feet in a series of steps before pooling in a popular natural swimming hole at the base. The creek has worn the bedrock into smooth bowls and channels, creating a series of natural water slides and plunge pools beloved by swimmers on hot summer days. The gorge walls rise steeply on both sides, their layered sedimentary faces recording millions of years of geological history from the Devonian sea that once covered the region. Ancient ferns and mosses colonize the perpetually damp cliff faces, creating a lush green tapestry throughout the warmer months. The trail climbs stone steps and wooden bridges to various cascade viewpoints above the main falls, rewarding the moderate effort with increasingly expansive views down the gorge toward Cayuga Lake. The swimming hole at the base of the falls is one of the finest natural swimming experiences in central New York.