Butternut Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Butternut Falls is a waterfall in Jefferson County, New York, about 2.5 miles east of Watertown. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Jefferson County, NY

Nearest town

Watertown (2.5 mi)

Coordinates

43.96338, -75.86322

USGS topo

Rutland Center quad

Getting there

Butternut Falls sits about 2.5 miles east of Watertown in Jefferson County. Navigate to the coordinates 43.96338, -75.86322, which mark the waterfall itself; the trailhead or parking area may be some distance away.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Butternut Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Most well-known falls are in state parks managed by New York State Parks or on state Forest Preserve and other lands managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation; the Adirondack and Catskill parks are a patchwork of public and private land, so posted boundaries matter. Popular parks such as Watkins Glen, Taughannock and Niagara Falls charge vehicle fees and become crowded on summer weekends, and Kaaterskill Falls parking fills early. Gorge rims are the chief hazard: shale and limestone edges crumble, ledges are wet and slippery, and fatal falls have occurred at several sites, including the upper ledges of Kaaterskill Falls. Swimming in gorges is often prohibited outside designated areas. Stay on marked trails and behind barriers.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Butternut Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of New York. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 43.96338, -75.86322 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Spring is prime waterfall season across New York. Snowmelt and rain usually push the Adirondack and Tug Hill rivers to their highest levels from April into May, and the Finger Lakes gorges run strongly through spring. Many smaller gorge falls drop to a thin veil in July and August, though Niagara and other large river falls flow steadily all year. Autumn brings outstanding foliage, peaking in the Adirondacks in late September and early October and later in the Catskills and Finger Lakes, and fall rains often restore flows. Winter freezes many falls into ice sculptures, but some Finger Lakes gorge trails close for the season because of ice and rockfall.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

History of the area

According to the U.S. Geological Survey's naming record: The name refers to the butternut trees (Juglans cinerea) that grow around the falls

Older maps and records also list it as Rutland Hollow Falls.

The federal gazetteer describes it this way: 35 ft. high; on private land in the Town of Watertown, along an unnamed stream at the head of Rutland Hollow

Butternut Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on November 10, 2017, and it appears on the USGS Rutland Center 7.5-minute topographic map.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names made a formal decision on its name on November 9, 2017.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Rutland Hollow (valley, 0.1 mi) and Staplin Creek (stream, 1.9 mi).

Tug Hill and the Black River Country. The Tug Hill Plateau, east of Lake Ontario, receives some of the heaviest lake-effect snowfall in the eastern United States, and its meltwater feeds streams that cut sharp gorges into layered limestone and shale at the plateau's edges. Salmon River Falls in Oswego County, one of the most reviewed falls in the state, plunges into a broad gorge on the plateau's western side. Lewis County, around Lowville, holds many falls on tributaries descending to the Black River, and Jefferson County's falls lie on rivers flowing toward Lake Ontario. South of the plateau, Onondaga and Madison counties add gorge falls in the hill country near Syracuse.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Butternut Falls about 2.5 miles east of Watertown is a documented waterfall in the federal gazetteer. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Butternut Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.