Owl Creek Trail, lower Buttermilk Falls SP
Meet-up: Main parking lot, lower Buttermilk Falls SP, off Route 13, at the base of the falls
The Owl Creek Trail is located in an isolated section of Buttermilk Falls State Park. It is a 0.9-mile hike one way from the lower park to Stone Quarry Road. Along the way, you will pass through different types of forests as well as a scenic overlook. Much of the lower part of the trail are somewhat steep, especially for novice hikers. Compared to the Gorge and Rim trails, this route doesn’t get as much use. There’s a very pleasant old cemetery at the top of the trail, along Stone Quarry Road.
The walk up and back doesn’t take two hours, so we supplement this trail by either walking up the rim trail or, more recently, crossing Stone Quarry Rd and hiking the trails within the Ithaca College Natural Lands.
Here’s a good map that shows the Owl Creek trail in relation to the road system and the other, better known trails in the park. Here is a map of the Ithaca College Natural Lands trail system:
NavMap+-+ICNL+-+South+Hill+West.pdf (squarespace.com)
More information on the Owl Creek Trail, including still photos and a YOutube video, may be found at:
Owl Creek Trail | Trails Less Traveled | Central NY (trailslesstraveledny.org)
Last edit 01/2023 JFR