NYFalls.com Talk

This falls has a unique rock structures where portions of falls pour out of the middle of the rock face.

From the DEC report:

BUTTERMILK FALLS ON OATKA CREEK - (Region Buttermilk Falls is an
approximately 70 foot waterfall in Oatka Creek. It is the point where the creek drops over the Akron-Bertie Onondaga Dolomite and Limestone Formation in the Town of LeRoy, Genesee County. During periods of low rainfall (perhaps several weeks during the summer) the creek "disappears into the bedrock upstream of the falls and reappears
either at the base of the falls or at points on the rock face. It is a very scenic area, but currently unavailable for public viewing.


Essentially the report means that this is on the list of places the DEC would like to have under ownership.

A beautiful falls that changes almost daily, they are "technically" off-limits -- but on any hot weekend afternoon you'll find people swimming in the pool at the top of the falls. The property is currently owned by a quarry. There are trails leading to the base of the falls if you know where to look, but the bottom of the gorge is NOT a place you want to be after the sun goes down unless you're very familiar with the area. A sunset picture equals a climb up a trail - or cliff face - in the dark.

It is a beautiful falls that changes almost daily.

The waterfalls is on private land owned by the gravel company, but it is not well-posted at all, and it is clear that lots of people have been visiting it. There are many trails that lead to the Falls and most of them do not have any posted signs on them. It looks to us like the gravel company wants to prevent 4-wheeler access but not hiking access. There are two main ways to get to the Falls.

You can park on route 19 and walk east on the Dolomite Gravel company driveway. There is a trail on the left just before the bridge over Oatka Creek (the creek that flows over the Falls), and there is also a trail on the right just after you cross the bridge over the creek. If you take the second one, it does down and then you make a right turn and go underneath the bridge and follow the creek to the Falls.

You can also drive a little further south on Route 19 and then head east on North Street. There is an Ace hardware on that corner. The road curves to the right and then crosses Oatka creek. You can park on the side of the road, and there is a trail on the south side of the creek, which follows the creek. You take that for I guess about a half mile to the Falls.

This is a beautiful Falls that is very close to the Rochester area and is easily accessible from 490 and from the Thruway. And it is no more than a half mile walk to the Falls, on level ground.

Fred Dewey
Victor, NY

The falls are actually on land owned by people living on North Street. Viewing areas might be on the gravel company's land but access above the falls and falls themselves aren't.

I just visited Buttermilk yesterday afternoon..just parked my car at Ace Hardware and walked down the gravel road about a half mile on foot. Can't miss it.

Here's one of the shots I took.

Nice shot...I haven't been there in years.

Beautiful!

Neat pic. Interesting falls. Like the way the falls bleeds through the rock.