A Beginners Guide to The Best State Parks in New York

New York is home to one of the craziest, most populated, yet magical cities in the US. But because of NYC, the state is often overlooked for its natural beauty. Besides NYC, New York is also home to over 200 state parks! But since trying to visit all of them may be a little overwhelming here’s a beginner list of the best state parks in New York to vist that will not disappoint!

As a New York native, I’d be lying if I said I always had a passion for exploring my home state. However, in recent years I’ve discovered a newfound appreciation for the underrated beauty that New York State has to offer. I’ve made it my mission to explore the best of it and my aim is to share that in this post.

If you enjoy waterfalls, gorges, beautiful scenery, and easy hiking paths then keep on reading because this is the New York State Park list for you.

Know Before You Go

Just some important things to keep in mind before visiting New York State Parks.

New York State Parks Entrance Fees

Since most New York State parks are not accessible by foot or public transportation, entrance fees are not charged by person, but by vehicle. The fee is generally between $6- $10 per vehicle for the day. There may be additional fees for certain amenities such as pools or shelter reservations. During the low season there are some parks that don’t charge at all.

The Empire Pass

If you plan to visit multiple New York state parks on this list, it’s worth considering the Empire Pass. This pass allows you to visit all of the state parks throughout New York for a one time payment of $80. Good for one calendar year, but important to note- regardless of what month you purchase the Empire pass, it always expires on December 31st of that year. Depending on how serious you are about hitting all 200 state parks, there are other options for three-years, five-years, and even a lifetime pass. 

Practice the Leave No Trace Seven Principles

Before heading out to any state park it’s always a good reminder to practice the Leave No Trace principles. Incase you’re unfamiliar, or haven’t heard them in a while, here’s a quick refresher to keep in mind:

• Plan ahead and prepare- Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces– Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites
• Dispose of Waste Properly– pack it in, pack it out!
• Minimize Campfire Impacts– keep fires small and put out campfires completely
• Leave What You Find- “take only pictures, leave only footprints”
• Respect Wildlife- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.Never feed animals. 
• Be Considerate of Other Visitors- “Treat others the way you would like to be treated” is a rule that applies in the outdoors, too.

The Best State Parks in New York

Lets get into it! Here are some of the best State Parks to visit in New York.

Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park covers 14,350 acres and is known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” With lush forests all around, the winding Genesee River below, and plenty of picturesque hiking trails, Letchworth State Park is one of the best New York State parks to visit. It was even named “#1 State Park in the USA” and “Best New York State Attraction” in past years.

Letchworth has over 25 different trails ranging from easy to moderate. Some of the shorter trails are between 1 & 2 miles whereas the longest trail is 24 miles!If you can only do one trail during your time at Letchworth, Trail 1- The Gorge Trail is considered the most scenic trail at the park. It’s approximately 7 miles long and passes by all three major waterfalls.

The three waterfalls include the Lower, Middle, and Upper Falls and are all uniquely beautiful. The Upper Falls, which is probably considered the most iconic of the three, is roughly 70 feet tall and flows directly under an active railway bridge. It makes for the perfect photo- op!

Location: 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427

Hours: Daily from 6am- 11pm

Helpful Tip: There’s six entrances to Letchworth State Park. Use the Castile entrance (which is one of the main entrances) From here you will see signs directing you to the Glen Iris Inn, where you’ll have easy parking options and a short walk to your first amazing view.

For more information on Letchworth State Park, check out my full guide here.

Watkins Glen State Park

Along with being one of the best state parks in New York, Watkins Glen is also one of the most picturesque. It’s hard to walk through this park and not feel like you’ve been dropped into some sort of fairytale. Picture this: a seemingly endless river that flows through towering cliffs, lush greenery, serene rock bridges, that showcases numerous waterfalls. It’s truly a sight to behold. 

The most popular trail at Watkins Glen is the Gorge Trail. Roughly 1.5 miles, you’ll get the best views of Glen Creek, the gorge, its cliffs, and the 19 waterfalls within the park. That’s right, 19 waterfalls! As you make your way down the trail you’ll find incredible sights around each and every bend. I recommend taking your time and really enjoying the views.

Location: 1009 N Franklin St Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Hours: Open year-round dawn to dusk

Helpful Tip: There’s over 800 steps on Watkins Glens’ Gorge Trail. You’ll also find that parts of the trail are wet and slippery from the various waterfalls. Wearing good, appropriate footwear will go a long way at this state park.

Niagara Falls State Park

Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the US. Established in 1885, the park sits on 400 acres of land and is a known natural wonder of the world. With over 30 million visitors each year, you can imagine why it’s considered one of the best new york state parks to visit.

Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls and is actually located in two countries– the US and Canada. The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are both located on the American side. While Horseshoe Falls, the largest and most iconic of the three, is located on the Canadian side. The views from the Canadian side are arguably the best, but the American side of Niagara Falls should not be overlooked.

One of the most popular areas to explore in Niagara Falls State Park is Goat Island. Goat Island has a pathway to Luna Island, which is between Bridal Veil Falls and the American Falls. In each direction you’ll have clear views of the magnificent rushing waters. The walking path to get to Luna Island is also very pretty and you’ll even pass by some smaller falls along the way.

For a list of fun things to do on the American side of the falls, check out my post here.

 Location: 332 Prospect St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303

Hours: Open 24/7!

Helpful Tip: Go on the Maid of the Mist! It’s absolutely worth waiting in line and spending the extra money. The Maid of the Mist boat tour is the only way you can truly see the incredible Horseshoe Falls from the American side and the experience of getting so close to this majestic world wonder is one you will never forget. Expect to get wet though!

Chittenango Falls State Park

Compared to the very popular Niagara Falls State Park, Chittenango is not only fairly unknown, but very underrated. Located just about 40 minutes outside of Syracuse, Chittenango Falls State Park houses a 167-foot tiered waterfall surrounded by an incredibly scenic gorge.

Chittenango Falls is very accessible as long as you’re okay with some stairs. Just steps from the parking lot you’ll be able to view the magnificent, cascading waterfall from above. But the best view is down from below. Follow the signs leading you down to the bottom of the gorge- as I said there are steps and a few steep areas, but once you reach the wooden bridge at the bottom of the gorge, I can promise you’ll be astounded by your view.

While Chittenango Falls is not nearly as popular as some of the other state parks on this list, it’s a special, hidden gem and one of the best state parks in New York.

Location: 2300 Rathbun Rd. Cazenovia, NY 13035

Hours: Monday- Friday 8am-4pm

Helpful Tip: Chittenango Falls is located less than 20 minutes away from the fascinating Green Lakes State Park. Make a day trip out of it and experience both.

Green Lakes State Park

Green Lakes State Park is just as stunning as it is unique. Another New York State park that I would consider fairly underrated, it’s home to one of the rarest lake types in the world!

The two lakes located here are meromictic lakes, meaning they have no seasonal mixing. This allows a lot of visibility into the lakes and gives them a vibrant turquoise color. In some parts, you can also see right down to the bottom. 

This one is located outside of Syracuse, NY and has a beautiful walking trail surrounded by lush forests, a nature center, playgrounds, a golf course, picnic areas, a beach, and canoe rentals.

Location: 7900 Green Lakes Rd. Fayetteville, NY 13066

Hours: Open year-round from dawn til dusk

Helpful Tip: As I mentioned, there is a beach here and you will see designated swimming areas. It’s very important to only swim in those areas as the reef and ecosystem of the lakes are very fragile. For it’s conservation, it’s important to only enter the water where it’s allowed.

Taughannock Falls State Park

Taughannock Falls State Park is one of my personal favorites. I’ve visited both during summer and towards the end of winter. No matter what time of the year you go though, its astounding beauty makes it one of the best state parks in New York.

Taughannock Falls has a drop of 215 feet. It’s one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains. The park itself is 750 acres and features outstanding nature trails, cabin rentals, campsites overlooking Cayuga Lake, and a beautiful Visitor Center.

The Visitor Center is a great place to start as it’s right next to the best viewpoint in the entire park. Here you’ll get a complete overlook of the cascading falls surrounded by the gorge. From there hike the Gorge Trail, which is a fairly easy 1.9 miles out and back. At the end of the trail you’ll get to marvel at the up close view of Taughannock Falls. It truly leaves you breathless.

Location: 1740 Taughannock Blvd, Trumansburg, NY 14886

Hours: Open year-round from dawn to dusk

Helpful Tip: As incredible as Taughannock Falls is during the summer, visiting during the low season is worth it! You can avoid the crowds and the waterfall is always most impressive during winter/spring

If you’d like information on Taughannock Falls and its surrounding areas, check out this itinerary.

Get Out And Explore the Best State Parks in New York

As I mentioned earlier, there are over 200 state parks in New York. And while they all have something unique and beautiful to offer, I stand by these being some of the best! Especially if you’re just getting started or haven’t visited any New York state parks yet. (I’m sure you’ll change that very soon!)

 I plan to update and add to this post as I continue to check state parks off of my list and encounter new ones that blow me away- as I know there will be many more out there. But until then, I hope this list comes in handy and you get to enjoy some of the best that New York State has to offer.