Buttermilk Falls
New York • 30 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrain
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Moderate
Trail Length
0.5 miles
Trail Type
Out And Back
About Buttermilk Falls
Better known as Yatesville Falls, this roughly 30-foot waterfall on Yatesville Creek is the centerpiece of the 712-acre Yatesville Falls State Forest in Montgomery County, south of I-90 near Rural Grove. A quarter-mile trail with a moderate grade leads from the parking area (reached by an unpaved forest access road off County Route 106) to an accessible viewing platform; flow is often low, so visit after rain.
The Setting
Buttermilk Falls sits at 817 feet in the foothills of New York. The falls drop 30 feet.
Height: 30 feet
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
A quarter-mile trail with a moderate slope runs from the parking area to an accessible viewing platform at the falls.
What to Expect
The falls drop 30 feet.
Accessibility
The trail is not wheelchair accessible. Uneven terrain and elevation changes require steady footing.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Buttermilk Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Buttermilk Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
After rain or during spring snowmelt, when the creek has the most water.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
Water temperature is currently 49°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.
For emergencies, call 911 or 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264).
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Mohawk River, 6.9 miles away, not on Buttermilk Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
2,480 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
Lower than usual for this time of year
Based on 12 years of record
10.46 ft
Water depth at gauge
49°F
Very coldExpect numbness within minutes
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is lower than usual for this time of year. Water temperature is very cold at 49 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes. Mineral content is typical.
Water Quality
Conductance
Dissolved minerals in the water
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge MOHAWK R ABOVE STATE HIGHWAY 30A AT FONDA NY (11 km away).
Today
Moderate
2678 cfs
6/10Tomorrow
Moderate
2862 cfs
6/10Sat
Moderate
3164 cfs
6/10Sun
Moderate
2226 cfs
8/10Mon
Moderate
2565 cfs
8/10Tue
Moderate
2855 cfs
8/10Wed
Moderate
3109 cfs
8/10Best window: Sun — moderate flow, partly sunny (trip score 8/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early March to late April, peaking in April.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Fultonville hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Buttermilk Falls Frozen?
Updated about 6 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately big river, rarely freezes solid
Buttermilk Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 51°F to 40°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 2450 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in New York.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
1-meter lidar measures about 81 feet of descent through Buttermilk Falls, a steep tiered drop rather than a single free fall. That is more than the listed 30 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 816 feet above sea level.
The ground changes about 25 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 63 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing east, the falls catch soft morning light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 816 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 81 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- East
- Catches soft morning light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading east).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
The state forest's access road starts off County Route 106 in Montgomery County (entrance at 42.874192, -74.433466). Follow the unpaved forest access road west to the parking area near its western end (42.868151, -74.445456).
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Parking area near the western end of the forest access road, with the trail to the falls starting there.
Elevation
817 feet above sea level
Coordinates
42.868685° N, -74.450692° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
The state forest is free and open year-round. Primitive camping needs a Forest Ranger permit for stays over three nights or groups of 10 or more.
Where to Stay
KC's Corner Motel
Elegance Escape
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Johnstown
Haslett House - A Gilded Age Estate
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Additional Information
Nearby Attractions
Rural Grove State Forest, which adjoins Yatesville Falls State Forest.
Cities near Buttermilk Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
Other waterfalls named Buttermilk Falls
23 other waterfalls share this name across the U.S.
-
01
Apalachin
50 ft -
02
Claverack-Red Mills
Current flow 173 ft³/s -
03
Cohoes
15 ft -
04
East Worcester
104 ftCurrent flow 13 ft³/s -
05
Gloversville
Current flow 2,430 ft³/s -
06
Greenwood Lake
Current flow 43 ft³/s -
07
Highland Falls
100 ftCurrent flow 28 ft³/s -
08
Hudson Falls
60 ftCurrent flow 1 ft³/s -
09
Keeseville
128 ftCurrent flow 101 ft³/s -
10
Linwood
70 ftCurrent flow 23 ft³/s -
11
Palenville
549 ftCurrent flow 2 ft³/s -
12
South Hill
165 ft -
13
Speculator
25 ftCurrent flow 169 ft³/s -
14
Wampsville
30 ftCurrent flow 18 ft³/s
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