Buttermilk Falls: Serpentine Rockhounding in Essex County, New York

Updated June 2026

Buttermilk Falls is a mapped rockhounding spot in Essex County, New York. Reported finds include serpentine. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Essex County
State: New York
Coordinates: 44.46614, -73.43679

Geology at Buttermilk Falls

This spot sits on Metanorthosite and anorthositic gneiss, mapped as gneiss and metaanorthosite that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Plutonic rock like this weathers slowly into grus and boulders, and the most productive collecting is typically in weathered zones and drainages.

Mapped unit: Metanorthosite and anorthositic gneiss
Age: 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Rock types: gneiss and metaanorthosite
Elevation: 630 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Buttermilk Falls

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 79°F in midsummer and 27°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 10°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WILLSBORO 1 N station (6 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Buttermilk Falls

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Serpentine Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Buttermilk Falls.

Across the state line from Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls is close enough to the New York border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Buttermilk Falls FAQ

Where is Buttermilk Falls?+

Buttermilk Falls is in Essex County, New York, at 44.46614, -73.43679.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Buttermilk Falls?+

Buttermilk Falls is reported to produce Serpentine.

Is collecting allowed at Buttermilk Falls?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Buttermilk Falls?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Buttermilk Falls?+

The most comfortable months at Buttermilk Falls are April to October.

How do I get to Buttermilk Falls?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.46614, -73.43679 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in New York

See all 74 New York spots →

Open Buttermilk Falls on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.