Buttermilk Falls
Buttermilk Falls (Rating=B) is a terraced ribbon plunge waterfall that drops down 22 m into an impressive huge gorge below. Only 10 m wide, the water source is a tributary of Red Hill Creek. Water is only plentiful after a heavy rainstorm or during Spring melt.
LOCATION
For Buttermilk Falls, there is free parking in the Oak Knoll Park lot in Mount Albion (Hamilton) on Mountain Brow Blvd across from the Mohawk Sports Park.
Falls Type: terraced ribbon Falls facing: SE
Latitude: N43.20527 Longitude: W79.81957
Height: 22m Width: 10 m
Click on the Road Map button below for a Google map and directions. The Falls Locator button shows a map of other waterfalls in the area.
From the parking lot, walk towards the woods to pick up the Bruce Trail and head to your right (east) towards the falls. The distance to the falls is about 350 m. Click on the Trail Map button below for area walking trails.
ToHi RATINGOverall Rating: Buttermilk Falls = B
Waterflow: B -seasonal flow of Red Hill Creek
Falls Size: A - > 15 m, substantial drop
Aesthetics: A -very impressive steep gorge, good rock formation, but viewpoints not ideal.
Albion Falls, Felker's Falls, Devil's Punch Bowl, Chedoke Falls
THE BUTTERMILK FALLS AREA:
The deep gorge walls of ButtermilkButtermilk Falls is now a far cry from what it had been before the settlers came and cut down all of the trees. With few trees the land could no longer hold ground water the way it once did. Looking out at the falls today, one can only imagine the volume of water that once flowed over the escarpment to cut out the huge gorge that you see.
The flow of water over the falls is either non-existent or a small trickle most of the time dues to its highly urbanized location. Only shortly after a large rainstorm could you expect to see any water flowing over the edge from a tributary of Red Hill Creek.
From the bridge over the crest of the falls, there is a stunning view of Red Hill Valley below. The steep gorge walls are equally impressive.
BUTTERMILK FALLS AREA WALKING TRAILS:
Bruce Trail, Mountain Brow Trail. For a map of area trails, click on the Trail Map icon above.
From the Oak Knoll Park parking lot, walk over to the Mountain Brow Trail and turn right to head towards Buttermilk Falls. [An alternate parking lot is roadside at Mohawk Sports Park.] There are some good viewing points along the gorge edge but be very careful along here. There is also an excellent view of the deep gorge from the bridge looking down at the crest of the falls.
If you wish to extend your walk, you can continue south on the Mountain Brow Side Trail to Albion Falls. An even longer 3.1 km loop can be followed by continuing to the end of the Mountain Brow Trail where it meets the main Bruce Trail. Keep to the left here and head uphill to Mountain Brow Blvd. The trail turns left here and heads back to the Oak Knoll Park parking lot.
FOR THE ADVENTUROUS ONLY:
To access the base of Buttermilk Falls, you can hike along Red Hill Creek beginning at the base of Albion Falls and heading downstream. The first creek on the left leads to Buttermilk Falls. You could also hike north from the Mud St. parking lot along Mountain Brow Trail until it meets the main Bruce Trail. Keep left on the main Bruce trail crossing Red Hill Creek and continue along the tributary to Buttermilk Falls. Again this is rugged hilly rocky terrain.
HIKES VISITING THIS FALLS:
L50F Albion Falls to Devil's Punch Bowl
BUTTERMILK FALLS VIDEO:
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