Are there fees or permits required for Buttermilk Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Buttermilk Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Buttermilk Falls?

Yes, swimming is allowed at Buttermilk Falls.

Nearby gauge (Indian River) · 169 ft³/s · About average

Buttermilk Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Buttermilk Falls?

Yes, dogs are allowed at Buttermilk Falls. Dogs are allowed on this Forest Preserve land; keep them under control near the river.

New York • 25 ft

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

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

Sargent Ponds Wild Forest SCA · SDC

Photo Credits (5)

rob madeo CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

Photos by Nate Wilson CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

Dougtone CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Easy

Trail Length

0.2 miles

Trail Type

Out And Back

Elevation Gain

30 ft

About Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls is a broad staircase cascade of about 25 feet on the Raquette River in the Sargent Ponds Wild Forest, part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve in Hamilton County south of Long Lake. A short footpath of about 0.1 mile leads from a small signed parking area on North Point Road to the river. The falls have long been a carry point for canoeists on this rough stretch of river, and there are a few picnic tables beside it.

The Setting

Buttermilk Falls sits at 1,654 feet within Sargent Ponds Wild Forest, in the hills of New York. The falls drop 25 feet.

Height: 25 feet

Trail & Hike Details

0.2 mi distance 30 ft climbed

The Approach

The easy 0.2-mile out-and-back trail gains 30 feet of elevation on the way to the falls.

Trail Description

A short, mostly level dirt path of about 0.1 mile each way, with roots and mossy boulders, leads from the parking area to the riverbank beside the falls. Paths continue along the river above and below the cascade.

What to Expect

The falls drop a gentle 25 feet. Swimming is permitted. Dogs are welcome.

Accessibility

The trail is short and relatively flat, but the surface may be uneven. Contact the managing agency for accessibility details.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Buttermilk Falls?

✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are allowed on this Forest Preserve land; keep them under control near the river.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Buttermilk Falls?

✅ Swimming is 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

The rocks around the falls can be extremely slippery. Do not climb on or dive from the falls; microspikes help in winter.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Indian River, 15.4 miles away, not on Buttermilk Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

169 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

4 41 428 568

Based on 113 years of record

1.82 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is about average for this time of year.

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a regional waterway. Conditions at the falls may differ, especially after local rain.

INDIAN RIVER NEAR INDIAN LAKE NY

USGS 01315000

15.4 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 132 sq mi

Altitude: 1,604 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge INDIAN RIVER NEAR INDIAN LAKE NY (25 km away).

Moderate confidence

Barely Flowing right now

169 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Barely Flowing

169 cfs

4/10

Tomorrow

Barely Flowing

197 cfs

3/10

Fri

Barely Flowing

189 cfs

2/10

Sat

Barely Flowing

192 cfs

2/10

Sun

Barely Flowing

190 cfs

2/10

Mon

Barely Flowing

175 cfs

5/10

Tue

Barely Flowing

169 cfs

5/10

Best window: Mon — barely flowing flow, partly sunny (trip score 5/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late December to mid March, peaking in February.

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 Speculator 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 north-facing, shaded

Buttermilk Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 49°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: 169 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.

Here the descent is spread out: 1-meter lidar measures about 72 feet of drop through Buttermilk Falls, stretched along the creek rather than stacked in one wall. That is more than the listed 25 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 1,660 feet above sea level.

The ground changes about 26 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 6 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face north and stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.

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

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Buttermilk Falls near Speculator, New York, showing about 72 feet of drop, a long cascade, facing north

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

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

Ground elevation: 1,660 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 72 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: North; Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading north).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

From the village of Long Lake, drive about 3 miles south on NY 28N/30 and turn right onto North Point Road (Hamilton County Route 3) at the Buttermilk Falls sign. Follow it about 2.1 miles to a small parking area on the right.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

Small unpaved parking area on the right side of North Point Road, marked with a Buttermilk Falls sign.

Elevation

1,654 feet above sea level

Coordinates

43.914784° N, -74.484052° W

Land Management

Sargent Ponds Wild Forest SCA

Managed by SDC

Visitor Tips & Gear

There is no fee or permit. The rocky falls are not a place for climbing or diving.

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For this easy 0.2 miles trail, lightweight trail shoes and a water bottle are usually sufficient. Sun exposure on the trail makes good sun protection a must in summer.