New York · Hiking

Finger Lakes Trail Spur - Buttermilk Falls

Finger Lakes Trail Spur - Buttermilk FallsPhoto: javajoe6, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
2.0 mi
one way
189 ft
climb
1,141 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Aug–Sep
best months

Finger Lakes Trail Spur - Buttermilk Falls is an easy, short hike of about 2 miles, with a low point near 930 feet and a high around 1,141 feet. It is a point-to-point route, and the climb is gentle, with a total gain of 189 feet. The trail starts about 1.5 miles from Meadowbrook Park, New York. The nearest town is Meadowbrook Park, and the route is part of the Finger Lakes Trail network. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ithaca run from highs around 76°F in June to 80°F in July, while winter brings highs near freezing and regular snow days from December through February. The route makes a natural link with other trails in the area. Finger Lakes Trail Spur - Lick Brook is just 0.1 mile away, and the Finger Lakes Trail (Eastern Finger Lakes Region) is about 0.2 mile off. Within roughly a mile and a half are Lake Treman Trail and Rim Trail.

  • Best time to go · Aug–Sep

    Best time to visit Finger Lakes Trail Spur - Buttermilk Falls

    Best months: August–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      31° / 15°

      16 wet · 12 snow

    2. Feb

      33° / 15°

      13 wet · 10 snow

    3. Mar

      41° / 22°

      14 wet · 7 snow

    4. Apr

      54° / 33°

      14 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      67° / 44°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 53°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 58°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 56°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 49°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 39°

      15 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 30°

      15 wet · 4 snow

    12. Dec

      36° / 22°

      15 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ithaca Cornell Univ, NY, 5.7 mi away at 960 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Finger Lakes Trail Spur - Lick BrookPhoto: javajoe6, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Finger Lakes Trail Spur - Lick Brook

Next door

0.46-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 135 ft gain.

Lake Treman TrailPhoto: vwcampin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lake Treman Trail

~2 min drive

Easy out-and-back hike to a scenic glacial lake in the Finger Lakes.

Cayuga TrailPhoto: seabamirum, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cayuga Trail

~13 min drive

Nearly 8-mile point-to-point trail near Cayuga Lake in New York's Finger Lakes.

Finger Lakes Trail (Eastern Finger Lakes Region)Photo: javajoe6, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Finger Lakes Trail (Eastern Finger Lakes Region)

Next door

0.30-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 121 ft gain and 453 ft loss.

Gorge TrailPhoto: vwcampin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gorge Trail

~5 min drive

3.68-mile out-and-back hike in New York with 1,603 ft elevation gain

Backbone TrailPhoto: javajoe6, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Backbone Trail

~25 min drive

11.22-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 1,127 ft elevation gain

East TrailPhoto: Russ Nelson, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

East Trail

~5 min drive

East Trail is a 1.70-mile loop in New York with 565 ft of elevation gain.

Yellow TrailPhoto: Russ Nelson, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Yellow Trail

~8 min drive

A short point-to-point trail perfect for a quick New York hike.

Interloken TrailPhoto: Seabamirum from Ithaca, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Interloken Trail

~25 min drive

A 10.91-mile point-to-point New York trail through scenic terrain.

Orange TrailPhoto: javajoe6, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Orange Trail

~10 min drive

1.04-mile loop in New York with 337 ft gain and 354 ft loss

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors