Buttermilk Falls (or Homewood Falls)

Buttermilk Falls, Homewood Falls, or Smiddy’s Falls, depending on who you ask, is just a beautiful place to spend a bit of time. It is about 40 minute from downtown Pittsburgh. If you are using your GPS, then make sure that you put in Buttermilk Falls Natural Area or you end up on the other side of the tracks in Homewood.

Buttermilk/Homewood Falls was the first place that I went after being inside for about 6 weeks except for food shopping every 2 weeks. I saw very few people on the trail and those that I did see, we keep over 6 feet way from each other. I was a wonderful day.

But when the Coronavirus is under control, then I would love to take a little bit to explore Homewood. It has 2 parks and what looked like a great little cafe plus a lot of historical items to view.

Buttermilk Falls

As you enter the park area, they have only a few spots to park. But up the hill there is a lot of parking at the Homewood United Methodist Church but on Sunday mornings, I am sure that it full.

You also have a two chooses to view the Buttermilk/Homewood Waterfall which includes a short hike to the waterfall at the bottom parking area or the top of the waterfall just off the parking area at the top.

Lower Trail Hike

The lower trail hiking area is about a half of a mile from the waterfall but it has great views with lots of cascades down the Clark’s Run.

Clark’s Run is just gorgeous. The cascades are just breath taking on the left side of the trail.

Or if you look to the right, you can see the Homewood Stone Quarry area of the trail.

The trail is nice and wide at the beginning.

Then up a few steps.

Then it starts to get a bit thinner.

And a bit thinner…But look at the Buttermilk/Homewood Waterfall peeking out at you!

As you continue on the trail, the 35 foot Buttermilk/Homewood Waterfall comes into full view with a swimming area below. A dog was enjoying his/her swim on the day that I went.

The rocks on the side are lovely plus you can go behind the Buttermilk/Homewood Waterfall.

Behind the waterfall is great but a bit damp and the mud is a bit slick.

But it is well worth going behind and looking through the waterfall.

The pond area in the front is a great swimming area or throwing a stick was what this dog was just loving. So bring a suit and a towel.

The walk back is just as wonderful.

The Upper Trail

The upper trail starts at the church and is at the top of the Buttermilk/Homewood Waterfall and has a great picnic area.

The trail and the top of the Buttermilk/Homewood waterfall is just to the right of this area.

The overlook area is a great view looking down.

It is possible to go down the rocks to get to the waterfall from the top but I don’t believe it is all that safe. There is about a 3 foot drop down but higher if you fall off the very thin trail.

But the views are great above of the whole area.

After enjoying the overview area, I went over to the top of the falls.

And just sat here and relaxed….

I looked behind at the water coming toward the falls…Dreaming of the past as the trains rolled past.

Then forward…Dreaming of the stones being quarried.

It is just a beuatiful place to enjoy a few hours of time. Breathing in the wonderful smells of pines and listening to the water cascading over the waterfall and along the creek. The color changing along the way…Dreaming of times gone by….

Brief History

Homewood was settled in 1831 but really got a start in 1852. A stone quarry was started along Clark’s Run. The quarry pulled out the sandstone, coal, and limestone in the area around Clark’s Run which was a valuable commodities. The quarry employed over 100 men at its peak.

The Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad was build through the area as a railroad junction branching out to Pittsburgh, Chicago, Lake Erie, and other stops along the way. But Homewood was a main point to take out the quarried items and lumber from the saw mill in the area.

The Methodist Church was established in 1869 and doubled as the school house until around 1914. The Church has been in this spot since January of 1870 and has had services for over 150 years.

Homewood was a booming area up until the 1920’s. As the railroads declined, so did Homewood. Currently, just over 100 people live in Homewood which is just about the same amount of people that worked at the Stone Quarry over 160 year before.

But the town is very much about helping its neighborhood. I saw a house that had food and other supplies laid out front for anyone to get during the Coronavirus.