Buttermilk Falls
New York • 60 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
The falls are on private land. View them from Buttermilk Falls Road only; there is no public trail.
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Drive Up
About Buttermilk Falls
Buttermilk Falls is a roughly 60-foot cascade on the outlet of Sly Pond in the Town of Fort Ann, Washington County, one of only three USGS-named waterfalls in the county. The falls sit on private property on the west side of Buttermilk Falls Road north of Twiss Road and can be viewed from the roadside; park on Twiss Road rather than the shoulder of the busier road.
The Setting
Buttermilk Falls sits at 623 feet in the foothills of New York. The falls drop 60 feet.
Height: 60 feet
Trail & Hike Details
The Approach
No hiking required. Buttermilk Falls is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.
Trail Description
There is no trail. The cascade is seen from the west side of Buttermilk Falls Road just north of Twiss Road.
What to Expect
The falls drop 60 feet.
Accessibility
This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.
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
Spring and after heavy rain, when the outlet stream carries the most water.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
Watch for traffic on Buttermilk Falls Road while viewing the falls.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Glens Falls Feeder, 8.5 miles away, not on Buttermilk Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
2 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
Much lower than usual for this time of year
Based on 32 years of record
2.17 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is well below normal for this time of year, so the waterfall may be a trickle.
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 GLENS FALLS FEEDER AT DUNHAM BASIN NY (14 km away).
Today
Moderate
2 cfs
8/10Tomorrow
Moderate
2 cfs
8/10Tue
Moderate
2 cfs
8/10Wed
Moderate
2 cfs
8/10Thu
Moderate
2 cfs
8/10Fri
Moderate
2 cfs
8/10Sat
Moderate
2 cfs
8/10Best window: Today — moderate flow, partly sunny (trip score 8/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late September to late October, peaking in September.
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 Hudson Falls hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Buttermilk Falls Frozen?
Updated about 17 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
Buttermilk Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 39°F to 32°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 2 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 99 feet of descent through Buttermilk Falls, a steep tiered drop rather than a single free fall. That is more than the listed 60 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 650 feet above sea level.
The ground changes about 32 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 70 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face southeast and sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 650 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 99 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Southeast
- Sunlit most of the day. Go early or late for softer light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southeast).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
From NY 149 west of Fort Ann, take Buttermilk Falls Road. The falls are on the west side of the road just north of its junction with Twiss Road.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
There is no lot. A local resident recommends parking on Twiss Road rather than on the shoulder of Buttermilk Falls Road, which carries steady traffic.
Elevation
623 feet above sea level
Coordinates
43.422570° N, -73.587615° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
View the falls from the road and do not enter the private property around them.
Where to Stay
Lake George Boathouse Waterfront Lodging
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Queensbury - Lake George , NY
Courtyard by Marriott Lake George
Depe Dene Lakeside Resort
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.
Nearby Hot Springs
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Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Glens Falls, New York on SoakingSprings.
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Cities near Buttermilk Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
CC
Other waterfalls named Buttermilk Falls
23 other waterfalls share this name across the U.S.
-
01
Apalachin
50 ftCurrent flow 52 ft³/s -
02
Claverack-Red Mills
Current flow 226 ft³/s -
03
Cohoes
15 ftCurrent flow 3,660 ft³/s -
04
East Worcester
104 ftCurrent flow 21 ft³/s -
05
Fultonville
30 ftCurrent flow 2,340 ft³/s -
06
Gloversville
Current flow 2,340 ft³/s -
07
Greenwood Lake
Current flow 43 ft³/s -
08
Highland Falls
100 ftCurrent flow 29 ft³/s -
09
Keeseville
128 ftCurrent flow 103 ft³/s -
10
Linwood
70 ftCurrent flow 29 ft³/s -
11
Palenville
549 ftCurrent flow 3 ft³/s -
12
South Hill
165 ft -
13
Speculator
25 ftCurrent flow 169 ft³/s -
14
Wampsville
30 ftCurrent flow 17 ft³/s
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