PA Road Trips

Buttermilk Falls Road Trip Across PA

This image is a collage of six photographs, featuring five distinct Buttermilk Falls located across Pennsylvania along with a road map that shows a route connecting these falls. Each photo captures a different waterfall, illustrating varied landscapes and water flows—from multi-tiered cascades to singular, serene drops surrounded by lush foliage. One of the falls is shown with a wooden walkway and railing, suggesting ease of visitor access. The map, placed among the waterfall images, displays a blue line tracing a route across a regional map of Pennsylvania, indicating a scenic drive that links these natural attractions.

Who’s up for a 357 mile, cross-state road trip to visit 5 gorgeous Pennsylvania waterfalls, all named Buttermilk Falls!

Pennsylvania is home to DOZENS of “Buttermilk Falls”, many of them on private lands.

View of Buttermilk Falls in Indiana County from the top of the stairs. — Buttermilk Falls in Indiana County.

But the 5 I’ve selected for this road trip are all in in public parks, and each one is uniquely beautiful!

Best of all, I’ve created a downloadable route map of the “Buttermilk Falls Road Trip Across PA”, which you can access by clicking on the button below.

Download Buttermilk Falls Map Here

Why So Many “Buttermilk Falls?”

Traditionally, “buttermilk” referred to the thin liquid left over from churning butter – it’s a milky white liquid with a consistency slightly thicker and silkier than regular milk.

Buttermilk on the right., regular milk on the left. — Buttermilk (right) has a slightly thicker, silkier consistency than regular milk (left) – photo credit: Wikipedia.

While most of us aren’t churning our own butter anymore, buttermilk would have been very familiar to people in the 18th and 19th centuries, when many of these waterfalls were being “discovered” and named by European settlers fanning out across PA.

A summer morning at Buttermilk Falls in Beaver County.

Since the silky white appearance of falling water often resembles the silky white appearance of buttermilk, the name was attached to many waterfalls across Pennsylvania, often without knowing someone else had done the same thing somewhere else in the state.

A captivating image of Buttermilk Falls in the Bear Creek Preserve, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, featuring multi-tiered waterfalls spilling over layered rock formations. The falls are flanked by verdant forest trees, some clinging to the last of their autumn leaves, with the forest floor adorned with a scattering of brown foliage. The water, appearing silky and white, contrasts with the dark, wet rocks, offering a visual symphony of natural beauty and serene woodland charm. — Buttermilk Falls in Luzerne County.

Now it’s YOUR turn to discover 5 of Pennsylvania’s best “Buttermilk Falls.”

Buttermilk Falls along the Cowanshannock Trail in Armstrong County Pennsylvania. — Buttermilk Falls along the Cowanshannock Trail in Armstrong County.

Moving from west to east, I’ll briefly describe each of the 5 Buttermilk Falls that make up this road trip below.

View of Buttermilk Falls in Indiana County from the viewing platform above it.

Simply click on the blue text link in each description to read a more in-depth article about that waterfall.

Buttermilk Falls sign on rail trail bridge below falls. — Buttermilk Falls in Carbon County.

1. Buttermilk Falls in Beaver County

Buttermilk Falls in Beaver County is a magnificent waterfall in a picturesque park setting, just a few hundred yards from the Beaver Falls exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Buttermilk Falls in Beaver Falls Pennsylvania.

One of the best features of this Buttermilk Falls is that it is one a handful of waterfalls in Pennsylvania you can stand behind!

The author behind Buttermilk Falls in Beaver County PA.

Buttermilk Falls is situated in the Buttermilk Falls Natural Area, a Beaver County park that is also home to a historic stone quarry.

Buttermilk Falls Natural Area entrance sign in Beaver Falls PA. — Buttermilk Falls Natural Area entrance sign in Beaver Falls.

2. Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County

Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County is short in stature but long on beauty, located along a rail trail that parallels Cowanshannock Creek, a tributary of the Allegheny River.

Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County Pennsylvania. — Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County.

THIS Buttermilk Falls is named after a nearby mining village called “Buttermilk” (now long gone), and is located approximately 3 miles northeast of downtown Kittanning.

Buttermilk Falls near Kittanning Pennsylvania. — Buttermilk Falls near Kittanning.

3. Buttermilk Falls in Indiana County

Buttermilk Falls in Indiana County is one of the tallest waterfalls in western PA, and one of the few PA waterfalls you can safely stand behind, thanks to a special viewing platform.

Buttermilk Falls on a late February morning. — Buttermilk Falls in Indiana County on a late February morning.

It was also part of the summer estate of Fred McFeely, grandfather of Fred Rogers (of “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood” fame.)

Fred Rogers AKA Mister Rogers spent many childhood summers at his Grandfather Fred McFeely's house at Buttermilk Falls. — Fred Rogers, AKA Mister Rogers, spent many childhood summers at his Grandfather Fred McFeely’s house at Buttermilk Falls.

In 1996 this property was donated to Indiana County, and it is now a 48 acre natural area / park.

Sign at the entrance to the Buttermilk Falls Natural Area in Indiana County.

4. Buttermilk Falls in Luzerne County

Buttermilk Falls in Luzerne County is a 35 foot-tall waterfall located on the western edge of the Bear Creek Preserve.

A tranquil scene of Buttermilk Falls, located within the Bear Creek Preserve in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where the water gently descends in a series of white, frothy cascades over stratified rock ledges. Surrounded by a forest of trees and rocks covered in lush green moss, the area is rich with the hues of nature, as fallen leaves in various shades of brown are scattered across the moist, dark stones, adding to the autumnal palette of the landscape. The water’s flow creates a soft, misty atmosphere, adding a sense of peacefulness to this picturesque woodland setting.

This roadside waterfall is a haven for those looking to enjoy the beauty of cascading waters without venturing deep into the wilderness.

A vibrant orange pickup truck is parked in a gravel lot surrounded by a mix of evergreen and leafless deciduous trees, indicative of the changing seasons. In the background, the natural beauty of Buttermilk Falls in the Bear Creek Preserve of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, can be glimpsed through the woodland, inviting exploration and adventure in this serene setting. — Parking area near the base of Buttermilk Falls in Luzerne County.

5. Buttermilk Falls in Carbon County

Buttermilk Falls in Carbon County is a cascading waterfall along the Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail, 1/4 mile north of the Rockport Access to Lehigh Gorge State Park.

Buttermilk Falls along the Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail at Lehigh Gorge State Park.

It’s difficult to say how tall Buttermilk Falls at Lehigh Gorge State Park really is, because it seems to extend all the way to the sky!

So there you have it – 5 spectacular “Buttermilk Falls” in Pennsylvania, and a road map connecting all 5!

This image is a collage of five photos showcasing different Buttermilk Falls located in Pennsylvania. Each photo captures a unique waterfall set amidst lush forest environments, highlighting the cascading water over rocky terrains and serene surroundings. Some falls are depicted with flowing tiers, while others show a single, dramatic drop. Included scenes feature waterfalls with access paths and protective railings, emphasizing their popularity and accessibility for visitors. The varying flow rates and surrounding foliage suggest the photos span multiple seasons or weather conditions.

If waterfalls are your thing, be sure to check out my interactive map below, with directions to hundreds of PA’s finest falls!

Find even more great spots to explore all across Pennsylvania with the interactive PA Bucket List Travel Map!

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