Exploring Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County

Exploring Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County Pennsylvania.

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.

The falls are located along the Cowanshannock Trail, a recently-renovated rail trail and spur of the much longer Armstrong Trail.

Trail map near the Buttermilk Falls parking area just north of Kittanning.
Cowanshannock Trail map at the parking area.

Don’t confuse this waterfall with Buttermilk Falls in Beaver County.

Buttermilk Falls in Beaver Falls Pennsylvania.
Buttermilk Falls in Beaver County, PA.

Or Buttermilk Falls in Indiana County.

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

Or even Buttermilk Falls in Carbon County!

Buttermilk Falls at Lehigh Gorge State Park.
Buttermilk Falls in Carbon 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 along the Cowanshannock Trail in Armstrong County Pennsylvania.
Buttermilk Falls along the Cowanshannock Trail.

How to Find Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County

The trailhead and parking lot for the hike to Buttermilk Falls is located along Johnson Avenue at GPS coordinates 40.85082, -79.50725.

How to find Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County Pennsylvania.
A map to Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County.

The parking area is located on the south side of Johnson Avenue, opposite the Allegheny River and the Armstrong Trail.

Parking area for the Buttermilk Falls hike in Armstrong County PA
Where to park when hiking to Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County.

The Cowanshannock Trail follows the eastern bank of Cowanshannock Creek upstream, away from the Allegheny River, for approximately one mile to Buttermilk Falls.

Cowanshannock Trail Head near Johnson Avenue north of Kittanning.
Cowanshannock Trailhead near Johnson Avenue, north of Kittanning in Armstrong County.

The trail follows a former spur of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which was used to haul coal mined by the Kittanning Iron and Steel Manufacturing Company, as well as bricks made by the Cowanshannock Brick and Manufacturing Company and the Willard Brick Company.

Cowanshannock Trail is a rail trail with a crushed stone surface.
Cowanshannock Trail is a rail trail with a crushed stone surface.

Approximately 0.7 miles into the hike (or bike ride), you’ll cross a newly-installed bridge over a small tributary stream.

Bridge along the Cowanshannock Trail downstream from Buttermilk Falls.
Bridge along the Cowanshannock Trail, downstream from Buttermilk Falls.

Just beyond the bridge you’ll come to an old parking area along the Cowanshannock Creek – this is NOT Buttermilk Falls!

Cowanshannock Trail near the rapids on Cowanshannock Creek.
Cowanshannock Trail near the rapids on Cowanshannock Creek.

Rather, it is the site of some picturesque rapids along Cowanshannock Creek, worth a few minutes of your time and a few photos to be sure.

Rapids on Cowanshannock Creek downstream from Buttermilk Falls.
Rapids on Cowanshannock Creek.

Continuing upstream along the rail trail, you’ll pass an erosion control project on Cowanshannock Creek.

Erosion control project along Cowanshannock Creek just downstream from Buttermilk Falls.
Erosion control project along Cowanshannock Creek just downstream from Buttermilk Falls.

And just beyond the erosion control project, you’ll come to Buttermilk Falls, a little over a mile from where your trip began near the Allegheny River.

Buttermilk Falls near Kittanning Pennsylvania.
Buttermilk Falls near Kittanning.

Buttermilk Falls has been attracting visitors for a long time, as evidenced from some of the rock carvings near the falls.

Rock carving from 1965 near Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County.
Rock carving from 1965 near the falls.

It’s also a popular swimming hole, as evidenced by the rope swing dangling over the falls.

Buttermilk Falls near Kittanning is a popular swimming hole as evidenced by the rope swing above the falls.
Buttermilk Falls near Kittanning is a popular swimming hole.

The return hike (or bike ride) is a simple matter of retracing your one-mile route, and if you have time be sure to check out the Armstrong Trail along the banks of the Allegheny River.


The Armstrong Trail Mosgrove Trailhead near Buttermilk Falls in Armstrong County Pennsylvania.
The Armstrong Trail, across the road from the Cowanshannock Trail parking lot.

12 Must-See Waterfalls in Western Pennsylvania is your guide to even more waterfalls on the “west coast” of PA!

The author at Hell's Hollow Falls.
The author at Hell’s Hollow Falls in western PA.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.