Is swimming allowed at Buttermilk Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Buttermilk Falls.

Nearby gauge (Mohawk River) · 2,770 ft³/s · About average

Buttermilk Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Buttermilk Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Buttermilk Falls.

New York

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 23 other waterfalls also named Buttermilk Falls, see below

Before you go

There is no official trail, and land ownership around the falls is not documented. It is not inside any public park or forest; respect posted signs.

Photo Credits (5)

Dougtone CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

About Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls is a cascade on an unnamed stream in the Town of Mayfield, Fulton County, northeast of Gloversville and about half a mile southwest of the Jackson Summit Reservoir. It is reached by an informal woods trail off Jackson Summit Road West and has no official trailhead, signage or published height.

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

An unofficial route described by a regional waterfall guide: a dirt road off Jackson Summit Road West becomes a trail after about 500 feet. Walk about 400 feet to a split and bear left, continue about 200 yards to the creek and about 100 yards beyond, and the falls are a short way upstream on the left.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Buttermilk Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🤑 Fees are required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Buttermilk Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

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.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Strong

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Mohawk River, 13.3 miles away, not on Buttermilk Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

2,770 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

1.6k 2.2k 5.3k 10.0k

Based on 12 years of record

10.81 ft

Water depth at gauge

49°F

Very cold

Expect numbness within minutes

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is about average for this time of year. Water temperature is very cold at 49 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes. Mineral content is typical.

Water Quality

336 µS/cm

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.

MOHAWK R ABOVE STATE HIGHWAY 30A AT FONDA NY

USGS 01349527

13.3 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 2,118 sq mi

Altitude: 257 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge MOHAWK R ABOVE STATE HIGHWAY 30A AT FONDA NY (21 km away).

Moderate confidence

Strong right now

2770 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Strong

2770 cfs

10/10

Tomorrow

Strong

3420 cfs

8/10

Fri

Roaring

3790 cfs

6/10

Sat

Strong

4278 cfs

7/10

Sun

Strong

2899 cfs

10/10

Mon

Strong

3275 cfs

10/10

Tue

Strong

3645 cfs

10/10

Best window: Today — strong flow, partly sunny (trip score 10/10).

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 Gloversville hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Buttermilk Falls Frozen?

Updated about 4 hours ago

Not 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 39°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 2740 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 shows the creek losing roughly 86 feet through Buttermilk Falls over a long run of ledges. Elevation at the pin is about 1,419 feet.

Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 82 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 64 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing east, the falls catch soft morning light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Buttermilk Falls near Gloversville, New York, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Buttermilk Falls near Gloversville, New York, showing about 86 feet of drop, a long cascade, facing east

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 1,419 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 86 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: East; Catches soft morning light.

Ground profile through the falls

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

From Gloversville, take NY 30 northeast. Just past the village of Mayfield, turn left onto Jackson Summit Road East, then take the second left onto Jackson Summit Road West. In a little over 0.3 mile, a dirt road on the right leads to the trail.

Get Directions on Google Maps