Buttermilk Falls State Park
Notice: Lake Treman area bathroom closed for season — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $1.25 walk-inAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions6-ft leash
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins
- Official site
- parks.ny.gov(607) 273-3440
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. Details last changed Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Closure Lake Treman area bathroom closed for seasonThe restroom at the Lake Treman Parking area has closed for the season, all other restrooms remain open at this time.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
.jpg){kind=link}
Covering about 819 acres, Buttermilk Falls State Park lies in Tompkins County, about 3 miles south of Ithaca.
The park supports hunting in season, swimming, fishing, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach. There are also cabins for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
Official wording
Park is open year round, dawn to dusk. Vehicle entry fee collected from April through November.
2026 Camping Season May 15 – October 11. Advanced reservation required for Cabins, strongly recommended for campsites. Please visit ReserveAmerica for reservation info and details, or call 1-800-456-2267.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cars | $10 |
| Bus Fee | $35 |
| Seasonal Bus Permits | $75 |
| Campsites | $17 · night |
| Campsites | $21 · night |
| *Additional (nonresident) | $5 |
| $1.25 Walk-In fee | $1.25 · walk-in |
| $7.25 Reservation/Cancellation fee | $7.25 |
| Per week | $210 |
| Per week | $238 |
| *Additional (nonresident) | $7 |
| *Additional (nonresident) | $28 |
| $7.25 Reservation/Cancellation fee | $7.25 |
| Peddling Fee | $400 |
Official wording
Vehicle Entry Fee Collection • Cars: $10 • Bus Fee: $35 Seasonal Bus Permits: $75 (arrange directly with Park Office in advance) Collected Daily: April 1 - November 30 - 6am to 6:30pm Camping Campsites: $17-$21/night *Additional $5/night for out-of-state patrons • $1.25 Walk-In fee • $7.25 Reservation/Cancellation fee Cabins: • Daily rate is 1/4 the weekly charge (two night minimum) • Per week: $210-$238 (one week minimum Fri.-Fri. or Sun.-Sun.) *Additional $7/night ($28 /week) for out-of-state patrons $7.25 Reservation/Cancellation fee NO Walk-In reservations for Cabins Peddling Fee $400
New York park passes
- Empire Pass — from $80. Unlimited day-use vehicle entry at most State Parks and DEC facilities (one vehicle at a time) Details
- Golden Park Program — free. Free vehicle entry on non-holiday weekdays for NY residents 62+ Details
- Access Pass — free. Free or discounted use for NY residents with disabilities Details
- Lifetime Liberty Pass — free. Free or discounted use for NY resident veterans and Gold Star parents, spouses, children Details
- Every Kid Outdoors (NPS 4th-grade pass) — free. Free entry for 4th grade students Details
From the New York state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Recommended
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-800-456-2267
Before You Go: Advance reservations are strongly recommended for Campsites and required for all Cabins.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions · leash up to 6 feet
Not allowed in or on: playgrounds.
A maximum of two pets are allowed in campsites and day use areas unless prohibited by sign or directive. Pets are to be supervised at all times and either be crated or on a leash not more than 6-feet in length. Pets are not permitted in playgrounds, buildings, golf courses, boardwalks, pools and spray-grounds or guarded beaches (this does not apply to service animals).
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Camping Campsites: $17-$21/night *Additional $5/night for out-of-state patrons • $1.25 Walk-In fee • $7.25 Reservation/Cancellation fee Cabins: • Daily rate is 1/4 the weekly charge (two night minimum) • Per week: $210-$238 (one week minimum Fri.-Fri. or Sun.-Sun.) *Additional $7/night ($28 /week) for out-of-state patrons $7.25 Reservation/Cancellation fee NO Walk-In reservations for Cabins
From the official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
FishingHikingHuntingSwimmingCamping
Trails
Trails Update All trails at Buttermilk Falls are open. Before your visit, please contact the park office for an updated status.
Swimming
2026 Swimming Season Beginning July 3, swimming will be open 11am -7pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and select weekdays when Lifeguard Staffing Permits. Swimming at Buttermilk will likely be closed by mid-August. Swimming is not guaranteed and closures can occur due to water quality, weather, environmental reasons or lifeguard availability. In the event of closures, we will update the alert at the top of this website promptly. *The swimming schedule is subject to change. Before traveling, we strongly recommend contacting the park office to confirm swimming is open.
Amenities
Facilities
- Showers
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
Water
- Swimming beach
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Accessible amenities: Campsites, Cabins & Lodging, Fishing, Event Rentals: Pavilions, Shelters, Showers, Swimming Beach, Waterfall
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Before You Go: Advance reservations are strongly recommended for Campsites and required for all Cabins. Visit Reserve America for reservations. A maximum of two pets are allowed in campsites and day use areas unless prohibited by sign or directive. Proof of rabies inoculation must be produced when checking into the Campground.
Getting there
- Address
- 106 E. Buttermilk Falls Rd. (Off Rt. 13 S)
Ithaca, NY 14850 - Nearest town
- Ithaca — about 3 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 42.4040, -76.5123
- Phone
- (607) 273-3440
Entrances
- Main Entrance
- Upper Entrance
- Jennings Pond Entrance
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Main Entrance: Campground Entrance; Access to Gorge Trails, Waterfalls and swimming Upper Entrance: Access to Day Use Area, Pinnacle Rock, Lake Treman, Buttermilk Creek, Gorge Trails Jennings Pond Entrance
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- New York State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 30, 2026
- NY State Parks 'All Locations' park finder (server-rendered, ?page=N)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca, NY. (8575465466).jpg — Public domain (US federal government work), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 30, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology