Buttermilk Falls or Taughannock Falls State Park: Which Ithaca-Area Park Should You Choose?

Taughannock Falls is the stronger choice for a dramatic waterfall and lake setting; Buttermilk offers a broader mix of gorge, woodland and wetland landscapes. Both parks have hiking trails, but their other features differ.

At Taughannock, the namesake waterfall drops 215 feet on its way to Cayuga Lake. The park also has a swimming beach, boat launches and rentals, campsites, cabins, fishing, food, grills, a marina, a playground and winter activities such as sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Buttermilk is divided into upper and lower areas. The upper park has a small lake, woodland and gorge or rim trails, picnic areas and playing fields. The lower park includes a campground, natural pool, playing fields and Larch Meadows, where a nature trail crosses a wetland.

Its entrances serve different areas: the main entrance leads to the campground, gorge trails, waterfalls and swimming; the upper entrance serves day use, Pinnacle Rock, Lake Treman, Buttermilk Creek and gorge trails; and there is also a Jennings Pond entrance.

For more waterfall and gorge options in town, Ithaca Falls and Cascadilla Gorge make a separate urban outing.

Taughannock Falls State Park brings together a tall waterfall, overlooks, hiking trails and access to Cayuga Lake. The park address is 1740 Taughannock Boulevard, Trumansburg, NY 14886.

For a town-and-campus itinerary to pair with a park visit, this one-day route through Ithaca covers a different side of the area.

The main draw is the waterfall’s 215-foot drop toward the lake. The park also has hiking trails and an Overlook parking lot; shuttle stops include that lot, the North Point parking lot, South Point by the park office, the Regional Headquarters parking lot on weekends, and the Black Diamond Trailhead parking lot on Gorge Road.

If you are choosing between a view and a longer outing, consider how you want to spend your time: the overlook is a named stop, while the park’s trail network and lake-area amenities offer other ways to explore. Taughannock Falls State Park is about 5.7 miles from a two-star inn in Ithaca.

Buttermilk Falls State Park combines gorge and rim trails with a natural pool and upper-park paths. Its main entrance serves the waterfalls, gorge trails, campground and swimming area, while the upper entrance gives access to day-use areas, Lake Treman and Buttermilk Creek.

The Gorge Trail includes many stone steps, which can make it difficult for some visitors. You can also choose from woodland and rim trails in the upper park, or visit Larch Meadows in the lower park, where the nature trail crosses a wetland.

Swimming is seasonal and can depend on conditions and lifeguard availability. The park advises checking swimming status before making the trip, since swimming may close for water quality, weather, environmental reasons or staffing. You can also contact the park office for current trail status before setting out.

Both parks are open year-round from dawn to dusk, but their vehicle-fee schedules differ. Taughannock charges $10 per vehicle, collected daily from sunrise to sunset; pay stations are available when no gate attendant is present. Buttermilk charges $10 per car or $35 per bus, with daily collection from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from April 1 through November 30.

At Buttermilk, the vehicle-entry fee is collected from April through November. For either park, check the official site before you go, especially if you are planning around swimming, trail conditions or seasonal facilities.