Swimming Area

Pool Party at Buttermilk Falls!

Woosh, splash, splash, you jump in the cool water. Doesn’t it feel good? One of Buttermilk's amazing features is it’s dazzling swimming area and plunge pool!!!

The swimming area was originally eroded by falling water and rocks that formed a deep pool at the bottom of the waterfall. Today, the pool area is set up using gravel. The gravel bed helps the water run through the pool. The gravel bed can control the height, but not all the natural elements. If there’s not enough rain, it can’t keep the water in, which means the water could get too low, making it dangerous for swimming and diving. There is also a bridge system to help control hight so the water does not get too high. In addition to maintaining the gravel bed and bridge system, the park rangers use large special equipment to remove the rocks that get deposited during the winter to prepare the pool for safe summer swimming! Some fish also swim in the pool. Once, a 15 inch fish was caught from the pool! The fish like the water because it is dark and cold.

You will also see a waterfall above the swimming area. Buttermilk Falls State Park takes its name from its centerpiece, the classic 165 foot foaming cascade. Notice its creamy, frothy, buttermilk-like appearance. Some early residents that were dairy farmers thought the water looked like Buttermilk , too!