Rim Trail

The Rim Trail at Buttermilk Falls State Park follows the upper edge of the gorge, providing aerial perspectives of the cascading creek far below while traveling through mature mixed hardwood forest above the canyon walls. The loop begins near the main gorge entrance and climbs to the rim, where intermittent viewpoints offer glimpses through the canopy down into the dramatic gorge carved by Buttermilk Creek. The forest above the gorge is notably different from the moist gorge environment, featuring drier conditions that support oak, hickory, and tulip poplar alongside the more typical maple and beech of the Finger Lakes region. Wildflowers are abundant in spring before the canopy closes, with trout lily, trillium, and wild columbine among the species commonly encountered along the trail margins. The rim route connects to overlooks above the upper cascades, where the sound of falling water drifts up from the gorge below but the falls themselves are glimpsed only through trees. Views toward Ithaca and Cayuga Lake open occasionally through gaps in the canopy on the western segments of the loop. The combination of rim views, forest ecology, and elevated perspective on the gorge makes this a valuable complement to the Gorge Trail below, and many visitors choose to hike both trails together for a comprehensive park experience.