Niagara Falls State Park Reviews

This park was clean and signage was placed such that you knew exactly where you were . Some great views from the top of the American falls are from here.

This time we walked to Goat island to watch the falls very close. Merely it’s a wonderful view from the top. A must go place

Having seen photographs of Niagara so often and having been to some wonderful waterfalls around the world I wasn't actually expecting great things for Niagara. I was surprised. The US side first was picture perfect, noisy powerful water tumbling over falls close up at Prospect Point. Only 100 yards further at about $2 entry was the Observation Tower for the face on views. Over the river bridge to Goat Island the views of American Falls was great and further into Goat Island Terrapin Point provided excellent views of Horseshoe Falls. Both American Falls and Horseshoe were excellent. Ok you can't see the complete Horseshoe shape from the US side but what you can see of it is fine and the American Falls were great. The walks are pretty much flat and traffic free in pleasant locations in the park or the observation tower so easy walking between each point.

Bring your sneakers or some comfy footwear for this park so you can enjoy every bit of scenery. Awesome at night

You can visit the park and see the falls without paying any entrance fees. This place is within walking distance of some local accommodations, including a few big hotels. Niagara Falls should be on everyone's bucket list!

It was such a great experience to share with the family. The kids absolutely loved it as well. Not too far of a drive from Cleveland and the scenic view of the lakes and bridges were so beautiful.

A great park . Ride the Maid of the Mist up to the falls. A super experience but plan of getting wet even with the supplied rain poncho. Cave of the winds also in the part on Goat Island.

Love the N.Y. State Park, it was clean and we felt safe even long after sunset. The views of the rapids on Goat Island and Three Sisters is amazing!!! One of my favorite places to be!!! The connected walking trails are very well maintained and a great draw for cyclists, runners and walkers....can travel a long way!

Please see my review of Whirlpool State Park. You could substitute "Niagara Falls" for "Whirlpool" here. Well worth some of your touring time.

Thirty years ago, I did the Canada side. This time I did the NY side and it's amazing. Completely different angles and views but breathtaking, especially walking along the river before it gets to the American Falls. Our group of three couples explored the park on three different days at different times of day, and each one was like a new experience. Be sure to go both day and night. Take the time to go to Goat Island and to the tower above the Maid of the Mist dock. It's amazing to see the falls from so many different parts of the park. Kudos to the architects and engineers who designed this truly accessible and diverse park experience.

the park is beautiful and you seem to be so close to the water, trails are nice and we got some really good photos

Absolutely beautiful to see falls at night with all the colors! Park was clean and not too crowded bc of covid. It was open late so you can see the falls at night with the lights....very beautiful.

Just a wonder
Niagara Falls Park is the biggest attraction, admission to the park is totally free , if you want to do some kind of activity like go in the boats and approach the falls or take a bath with the waters that fall by these , it is just a matter of approaching the entrance to the Main Mist area and buying your tickets, if you want to take a bath with the freezing waters of the American Falls, you have to approach the area called Cave of the Winds and buy the respective tickets. In both cases they will be given a plastic covering to protect themselves in some of the water, but it is symbolic because they will still get wet
They used to give plastic sandals, I don't give them so you have to go prepared with a good Aqua Shoes
The recommendation is to look for a Hotel near the park, make the journey walking since the entrance to this park is totally free, the observatories along the American side of the falls are totally free; there is parking, but you have to pay a flat rate, which in some cases is up to 21 $ daily
In the area there are a number of restaurants that are by the entrance to the park, as well as fast food place but their prices are very high. The quality is not good and the attention leaves much to be desired and for the high prices it is best to take a lunch box, water and snacks
The park opens at 8:00 in the morning and closes at 8:00 at night, this allows you to take the night boat ride and observe the spectacular lighting of the night falls

Best trip ever. Literally loved everything about it. Booked a tour. Met some amazing people. The girls had a blast. I can’t say just how awesome this experience was. I wish we had went years ago. Love love love. Another must see on my bucket list and the girls can’t stop talking about it. I think it scored me cool points. Gorgeous state park.

A stunning place to visit for anyone. It has breathtaking sights, beautiful scenery, and multiple food places nearby.

Larry's Legends is the best guide I have ever had! Larry knows his stuff (history, geology, physics and even where to eat!)

Nice state Park on the American side of Niagara Falls. Contains both the Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist tours. Has a good trolley system that you should use. There is a lot of construction since they're building a new visitor center.

Beautiful park! Very well kept.
We did A LOT of walking!
We loved visiting this park. So many food vendors, souvenir shops & falls to see!
We spent 2 entire days here just walking, looking at the falls, buying souvenirs, eating lunch.
Had a wonderful time!

Well done, State of New York! This park is beautiful and well-maintained. It is not a huge place, but includes many opportunities to experience the American side of Niagara Falls. We stayed in a hotel adjacent to the park, so did not need parking, but there seemed to be ample options for those not staying nearby.

We started our visit with a look around the visitor center, where we watched the introductory movie, Niagara: Legends of Adventure. For $12 each (adults), it was worth it, but definitely more romanticized human-interest stories as opposed to geologic history. But, a fun way to get started.

From the park you can view the three fall areas -- the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls (in Canada). The Maid of the Mist and the Cave of the Winds attractions are both accessed from the park. I would consider the Maid of the Mist a "must do" if visiting only the American side (which is your only option during COVID times). The Maid of the Mist boat ride (about a 30 min trip) takes you nice and close to all the falls, where you experience the mist, the wind, and the crashing thunder of the falls up close. It's worth the price ($50 for two adults). Station yourself on the upper deck at the bow for the best view, but anywhere on board will get a full experience! When you get off the Maid, take a few minutes to walk past the elevator and up the steps towards the American Falls and you will get another great view.

Included with your ticket is access to the Observation Tower, where you'll see the entire falls landscape.

We highly recommend taking the time to walk across the pedestrian bridge to Goat Island where the view of Bridal Veil Falls is fantastic. Walk further to Terrapin Point and you'll get a great, up close look at Horseshoe Falls. This walk is not difficult, mostly flat, and completely paved, so stroller friendly. It is a bit of a distance, though, so if you are concerned about little legs or have mobility issues, take the park's Trolley instead ($3 adult/$2 child for all day hop on/hop off riding). And, if your group is up for it, continue past Terrapin Point out to Three Sisters Islands for a lovely look up the river.

We did not do the Cave of the Winds on this trip, but it is great, soaking fun for the adventurers in your group!

The park itself has an abundant number of shade trees and grassy areas, so folks travelling with kids can easily find a spot to get out of the sun and even lay out a picnic blanket for lunch or a snack.

There are plenty of restrooms and places to buy drinks and snacks in the park (although pricey, they are convenient). All staff we came in contact with were friendly and helpful. You could do all of this in one day, but 1.5 days would be better. Outside the park, the city of Niagara Falls is not worth your time, mostly tourist trap shops and restaurants amid a decaying downtown. An interesting side trip (about 40 min away) is the town of Lockport, where you can see the Erie Canal and visit the locks and a museum explaining the construction of the canal.

Niagara Falls should be on everyone's bucket list.

I have lived in Western New York State for greater than 35 years and have been to Niagara Falls probably upwards of 100 plus times (including on the Canadian side) and The Falls never cease to amaze. The views, the mist, the rapids, all in one place. We’ve been to the Niagara Falls State Park in all seasons and each time it is as rewarding as the prior. Whether it is eating a turkey sandwich on a bench beside The Falls or simply walking around a great time is always had. Parking can be tough, ten dollars to park in one of the state park lots or metered parking on the street but here is a secret - park down the street at Seneca Niagara Casino for free and take the short ten minute walk to one of the park entrances or stop by your NYS public library and borrow the Empire Pass which allows free admission into all NYS parks. The area surrounding the American Falls is not quite as built up as on the Canadian side, but you can still get a slice of pizza and a decent cup of coffee within a few blocks of the park! Winter or summer, spring or autumn, it does not matter, any visit any time will be very enjoyable!

The park is beautiful and the falls are breathtaking. Unfortunately, the visitor center was under construction. Everything is within walking distance. Don’t miss Goat Island. Since we were there in October, we had no desire to do Cave of the Winds due to the cooler temperature.

The American falls are beautiful. The park is fun and has plenty to do. Staff is friendly and helpful. It wasn’t busy and weather was warm.

The park had lots of benches to sit on for us older folks, Walked from the rapids to the falls. Excellent viewing and picture locations. A must do.

The US Niagara Falls State Park service offers top tier site seeing experiences at affordable prices. The park trolley provides access to and from all parking lots, and drop off points to all Falls viewing and entertainment venues.

Loved that it was kept has a natural park with close up views and miles of bike trails and walking. Must go at night to see the color light effects coming from Canada.. While some views may be better from the Canadian side, I enjoyed being able to spend time in a more personal way .

An excellent park that has really been thought out by NY State and is a credit to all that work there. The park is spotless and the staff we spoke with were very good and sociable.

The main event, the falls, we’re exceptional and the experience better than expected. All that natural energy is amazing!

We arrived early,, around 0930, and sailed in from the freeway without any congestion. We found plenty of parking just as you drove into the park and parked near the rapids and walked to both the American Falls and Horse Shoe Falls on Goat Island.

Both falls and the views were breathtaking, one’s that need to be experienced.

The facilities in the park are good and all in all we had a great few hours and a memorable experience.

I have seen Victoria Falls from Zambia and I enjoyed this experience more

We were hesitant to go, because we knew it would be too early in the season for the Maid of the Mist, cave tour, etc, but this was the only time we were going to be in the area. Our hotel was easy walking distance to the park, and there were stroller friendly ramps. I didn't think water falls could be that interesting because I have seen many waterfalls before, but WOW. The force of the river alone, even before the falls, was breathtaking. The falls themselves were mesmerizing, so forceful and vibrant, and this was on a otherwise cool grey rainy day. We forgot all about the weather. There were enough views from the platforms, and you could easily see down to where the torrents of water were smashing onto the rocks, even from a distance you could see huge clouds of mist hanging in the air above the falls. My group aged from adult to 2, and everyone really enjoyed the views. Both fall viewing platforms were different in their own way. Our only issue was one man we ran into in both places standing there doing some sort of prolonged vlog or livestream on his phone, talking and talking, and not moving, making it difficult for anyone to get up to that area to get a view. He was rude and inconsiderate at both sites, but everyone else we ran into was fine. The gift shops, restaurant, and everything else were closed, but we watched both falls, the river, and the odd black squirrels (which were a little pushy), and came back really having enjoyed the walk around. We did not make it back for the evening light show that was supposed to be on the falls (little kids fell asleep), but would have been interested in seeing that too. We had hoped to be able to walk across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada (had our passports, birth certificates, everything), but unfortunately that was not happening because of COVID. I think we were lucky because it wasn't very crowded like it probably is in warmer months, but we were not freezing, and it is certainly a unique site to experience. Definitely worth a stop.

Every thing was great specially falls and hotel’s restaurants best weather also nice saftey so good

No words can describe them. This is a must see for all People of all ages . Please come and séeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee this. You wont regretit

The views from this park are stunning and the staff was super helpful. So glad we were able to take our grandson to the location where his great grandparents honeymooned.

Beautiful falls, water rushing everywhere! Took the Maid of the Mist!
Very efficient and friendly staff everywhere we went. Also had lunch at the restaurant with a view of the falls. So nice!

This was a beautiful park.There was plenty of overlook views of the Niagara Falls. There were many spots for obtaining great pictures. The facilities were clean.

I’ve seen the falls from the Canada side and the views are obviously fuller but the closeness that you get on the NY side is amazing.

Absolutely amazing. Finally got to Niagara and so glad I did! One of my favorite places across the country so far. It's one of those places that you can't really explain- you have to experience it. You can walk all day, it's dog friendly, plenty of shopping and eating and I was even able to walk over to Ontario with my dog. Experience of a lifetime and I want to go back at some point.

This is a great park to explore when you have the time to wander about. You are able to see American Falls and Bridal Falls very well!

The State Park was well kept, cleanliness. Shops are not open late, but keeps you exciting to spend time near the falls and hearing the roar of the water.

Nicely maintained park, plenty of areas to walk or relax near the falls. Easy access from many of the local hotels.

Loved walking. The Falls is always amazing no matter how many times you see it! There's always something new I've not seen. Seeing nature is simply relaxing

Beautiful views of the falls,great for picture taking..at night they light up the falls,but no fireworks due to co vid 19.u can see right across to the Canadian side.

The Falls are spectacular but the guided tour (Beyond the View) was not worth it at all. Everything the guide showed us and told us was publicly available and we did not get anything that made the tour worth the obscene amount of money that we paid.

Great park next to the falls. The observation deck is right on the park grounds. There is a building with rest rooms but it's limited hours. Great paths next to the falls. Beautiful at night time. Can be slick in the winter so bring decent shoes and watch your step.

Very nice area and pleasant surroundings. The grand kids really enjoyed the falls and the amount of water.

Niagara Falls is amazing. You hear it is but when you see it - it’s breathtaking! Will definitely go again and stay another day.

Amazing natural wonder! We thoroughly enjoyed walking in this state park which offered up close views of both the American and Canadial Falls. The park is immaculate, restroom facilities clean and plentiful with well paved and maintained walking paths. It offeres a less commercialized view of this natural wonder than a similar walk on the Canadian side. Both we did. Definitely worth a stop!

Very clean and safe. Only regret is not taking the trolley sooner. Highly recommend the trolley. Fall were of course beautiful. It was nice to have the Cafe/gift shop within the part for a break.

We tried to capture everything the park had to offer without overextending ourselves. We did the Maid of the Mist boat tour--WOW! Only about $20 a pop. Checked out the falls from the Observation Tower (free)--VERY COOL! Drove to Goat Island, parked, and walked out to Terrapin Point to see the falls from the top. Amazing! We could have sat there all day looking at the falls. This was a good mix of things to visit without much duplication and without getting into the touristy stuff.

This was the great birthday trip so far. Has been on my bucket list for years. I would definitely recommend this place it’s beautiful it’s a must see. There is free parking by the ( can’t think of name of building) but go behind where they do the helicopter rides and you will see cars and a tour building or something but can park there and follow the side walk to the falls not a bad walk along the water..
You can park closer for a fee. Or if u get a hotel near by u can park and walk. We stayed at the cadence hotel it’s down town and walking distance to everything! Check out my other reviews for more places at Niagara Falls..
We also did the helicopter tour as our choice of tour def beautiful..
We didn’t go on the Canadian side.. We only stayed the night here but 2-3 days is enough..

We come in all seasons. It is so God awesome. Incredible place. Love the history. Love to bring new people. Enjoy their gasps of OH MY GOD.

Past the falls are some beautiful green spaces and winding trails to explore filled with stunning blooms! Go early to get easy parking without all the lines but leave plenty of time to explore before or after you visit the falls.

Wow! First time that we crossed Rainbow Bridge and visited the Niagara Falls State Park, and we loved it. Unfortunately, since it's winter time, most of the viewpoints that are close to the falls were closed for safety reasons. We will definitely return when they are open. It was still a great experience to see the American Falls from this angle and feel the power!
The views of Horseshoe Falls were not great since Terrapin Point on Goat Island was closed.
Parking in the winter when we visited was only $5 (as opposed to the $35 that you have to pay on a weekend on the Canadian side of the falls).
We parked, then walked to the Niagara Falls Observation Tower, then Prospect Point, then to Goat Island, and back.
We will definitely return, and we'll do Cave of the Winds, and walk to all the viewpoints!

An iconic American must visit. The falls are majestic. Plan time and bring your patience but it’s worth all the aggravation.

The cons:

parking costs a fortune. We were only stopping for about an hour so we found surface street parking - but to stay longer - which you should - be prepared to pay a lot

there are a lot of people - watch your valuables

people linger at the prime photo spots be polite but don’t be afraid to remind people it’s not the spot for a long lingering visit

the restaurants are packed and pricey

Souvenir shops are basically the same with standard items at high prices

The positive: the views of the falls

Bottom line: Prepare yourself but go enjoy

Beautiful! Breathtaking! We came for the weekend with 3 teenagers and a 6-year-old. As someone who had never been to the Falls before, wow! It is beautiful, and we cannot wait to go back tonight to see the lights. We spent a good 2-3 hours here walking around. We walked across the bridge to Goat Island. It is a bit of a walk, but my 6-year-old made it without complaining, so it's doable. You can also drive. We took the trolley back, which was very informative. If we did one thing differently, we would get a passport so we could go to the Canadian side also. We were kind of bummed that we didn't get to do that. The views are beautiful and rainbows all over, which was my favorite part. Don't miss going!

NY did a great job with the falls. The park is immaculate, the trails to the Three Sisters and Luna Island offer incredible views. The Top of the Falls Restaurant has great food. The whole day was excellent. There is access to both the crest of the falls and the bottom.

Being from Florida, this was a great family trip to see upstate new york. Finding the falls was really easy. We bundled up in our snow gear and roamed around the park and took all sorts of photos. The fat squirrels would actually jump on you as you walk by. No boats or tours were running that we knew of. Didn't really find any gift stores open either. Probably because it was so cold and I guess they don't get as many tourist in the winter. We still enjoyed going! Even made snow angles.

Had a cold, rainy day, but we were on a road trip so we went. Went out on goat island and parked free in lot 3.

The area is sweet, nice trails and views everywhere! Nicer weather would have made our stop even better, and I’ll be excited to come back to do and see more. The main gift shop was closed which was disappointing.

Very pretty and would recommend for a visit but only for a two day stay... once you see the falls there is t a lot to do or repeat ....:)

Set your map to the Cave of the Winds and pay the $10 to park here. You can walk to Horseshoe Falls and American Falls overlooks easily. You can see the Canadian side even if you can’t go there right now. It was pretty quiet on that side.

We’ve been to the Canada side many times … because of travel restrictions, went to US side for first time and glad we did! This park is really enjoyable. Fun things to do and interesting things to see.

Well-kept park with free entry (daily parking $10) to enjoy while walking far and wide
You arrive above the waterfalls from different points and with different views
Inside there are various paid attractions including the famous boat
Next to its entrance there is also the passage to go and see the falls from the Canadian side
Inside there are a couple of refreshment points and kiosks, even Wifi (quite common in the USA)
They say it is better on the Canadian side due to the frontal view it offers of the waterfalls. However, I particularly appreciated the possibility of having them so close in a more pleasant place than I experienced in Canada
Ps part of our satisfaction was obviously having enjoyed a beautiful day and reduced crowding

Magnificently beautiful! We also went at night and saw it lit up and were blown away! One of God's great masterpieces! Very well kept and a pleasure to stroll around and shop.

The park is really beautiful and well maintained. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore the park and take in the beauty of it.

Viewing Niagra Falls is awesome and Niagra Falls State Park offers good views. For better, panoramic views, go to the Canadian side. The views near Queen Victoria Park are better.

We were lucky enough to visit this park outside of holiday periods and in good weather. It is pleasant to stroll around there, benches are available, it is clean and there are opportunities to take pretty photos.
A beautiful place next to the falls.

We parked in Lot 2 in the park which started us off right there by Horseshoe and Bridal Veil Falls. Be prepared to get a little wet from the spray coming off the falls.
From there we walked over to American Falls and the observation bridge.
There are good paths to walk on,
side note: We decided to stay on the US side since both of us had been to Niagara Falls many years ago. We really were looking for a day to just get out, see the falls, and get some exercise walking and being out of the car :)

This is a huge State Park with breathtaking views. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring bottled water. There are many things to do inside the park for free or you can choose to purchase tickets which are fairly priced for The Maid of the Mist boat ride which I highly recommend and The Cave of the Winds experience as well. You will get soaked even if wearing the poncho if you go to the Hurricane Deck at the Cave of the Winds, but it's an experience of a lifetime & so worth it to feel the power of the Falls and to see the breathtaking beauty of the water up close.

Had been here during the day but wanted to see the light show , whilst you don’t get the full view of the bridge that you get on the Canada side it’s still a pretty cool experience to see it lit up at night
Definitely worth the visit

Like most parks, they do charge you for pretty much everything. Tours, photos, lots of gimmicky stuff. But the paths are a great walk and getting to go right across the rapids on the bridge was great

If you enjoy walking, amazing views and making memories...this is the place for you! A must for a family to explore together! Enjoy!

Awesome tour with Brian as our tour guide. This was and unforgettable experience of the Falls. Will do it again and be part of Brian's brigade one more time.

Absolute must do in your lifetime. The original and first state park. Its free entrance and there are plenty places of paid parking areas. We enjoyed walking around and viewing the falls. Definitely visit the visitor center for learning more about the history of the falls. The falls are illuminated in the night and they also have a fireworks display. Its very accessible to move around and get different views. There are restrooms and food areas onsite.

Niagara Falls is the oldest national park in the US. Its main attraction are certainly the famous falls dividing the US and Canada.
However, there're many other attractions, mostly natural, for hiking, spending great time in nature, cycling, etc... Plan at least two days.

This was a bucket list item and it didn’t disappoint. The area was safe to walk, walk and walk. Take your passport so you can walk across to Canada if you stay on the US side.

I love coming to this park. I have visited in all seasons, however Fall is my favorite. This year I was fall leaves touring near by and decided to stop by.
With the coronavirus pandemic the park was pretty empty, which was sad, with gift shop and eateries closed.
On the other hand, I got to experience the park almost to myself at times. The experience was unique to be able to see this natural wonder quietly, without the bustling crowds.
The trolley was functioning although with a shorten, modified route. Still, it went to the most important areas of the park.
Walking over the Three Sisters Island was just beautiful.

I left the park this time with a sense of discovery in the palate, and said until next visit goodby friend.

Well, if you want a pretty place, this should be it but there's lots of litter and the attention to detail is not done-- where things should be weeded they are not. Where things should be removed they're not. Where you'd expect to be able to walk, it's "under construction." Meanwhile, there's a trolley but good luck using it because there's only one place to buy the ticket even if you're at the other end and need to use it from there-- ugh. Expect to do a lot of walking in a poorly kept/maintained area that doesn't look world class- it looks typical of Upstate NY: derelict, downtrodden, depressing, forgotten... Ugh. Niagara Falls NY is a dump, which is too bad considering the taxes NYers pay.

National Treasure.

Go directly to GOAT Island and park. It is $10. There is RV parking on the south end of GOAT island a 1/2 mile walk. You can catch a trolley for $3 if you want to.

Expect to do some walking so have comfortable walking shoes and proper clothes for the expected weather.

The is a great picnic area near parking lot 3.

Bring your camera.

Enjoy.

Wonderful park that has so many ways to see the Falls. We enjoyed the park every morning, before the crowds, enjoying the views and Falls.

We loved walking around the park and marveled at how clean, safe and well-managed it is. There are countless viewpoints for the rapids and falls and plenty of places to sit.

Beautiful. We’ve been here in fall and winter; wind was not blowing the falls water onto us. We stayed dry at all the American side falls.

Beautiful, clean, well-maintained, lots of walking paths and benches and overlooks. Many pedestrian walkways and bridges to enjoy the falls and the rapids. A big, tall viewing platform to see (mainly) the American Falls. Nice restrooms, spots for snacks during the on season. Contains Goat Island (reviewed separately), which gives you up close views of the American and Canadian falls (just not the amazing vistas you see from the Canadian side).

I gave it four stars because the Ontario side is five stars and this is wonderful, but not as good. I would recommend seeing both to really get the full experience.

Park walks are well maintained, nicely landscaped. Too bad some of the visitors can not dispose of their trash properly.

This state park is beautifully kept and very clean, which is amazing considering how many visitors are here each day. There is plenty of signage so you can’t get lost, and I appreciated the small stands selling beverages, the reasonably priced trolley service and the free wifi throughout the park. The trails are tranquil and beautiful to walk, affording many different views of the falls and the river, and the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds are both reasonably priced and definitely worth doing. As a bonus, there are fireworks at 10p each night in the summer which you can see from the park.

I was surprised that the State Park was free admission. You can see all of the American side of the falls, and the rapids on the river approacjing the falls on the American side.

Its some of the most amazing views and to be that close to Falls without being on the boat or taking the steps at the very bottom. Great walkways and glad for the restaurants and restrooms there as well. You do have to pay a small parking fee if you drive but its worth it.

Was free parking and free to get in. So beautiful! Had a killer gift shop. The falls were amazing from every angle. Must see.

This was our first time to visit Niagara Falls State Park and my first time in New York. My husband visited the Canada side 2 years ago on a group trip. The park, the falls are so beautiful, relaxing and takes the stress away! We loved everything about it! The park is so big and we were able to go to every spot listed on the map. We took advantage of using the trolley as it was hot the day we were there. We visited the Visitors Center and Jack was very helpful and knows his stuff about the park and surrounding cities. We took his suggestions and visited the other cities too. Our first night there we went back and saw the falls lite up with different colors and the fireworks at night. Another amazing and beautiful sight to see! We also did the Maids of Mist boat tour and the Caves of the Wind. There’s no fee for the park. The trolley is $5 per person for all day they run. There are fees for the attractions, Maid of the Mist and Caves of the wind.

They do a good job with the park. A lot of signs and well kept trails. And the views are spectacular, it's worth a trip there.

Arrived around 9am Friday, June 24 and were pleasantly surprised at how peacefully, not crowded it was! Parking was easy. We got tickets for Maid of the Mist and waited maybe 10 minutes for the next boat and walked right on. Wonderful experience! Walking along the rapids through the park was awe inspiring as well. So glad we did this.

Worth a winter visit- we do not prefer visiting places that typically draw crowds. We actually went for birdwatching waterfowl, but were pleasantly surprised with the park. We were not expecting so many paved surfaces, but the falls are very easy to access. The Three Sisters section was wonderful - the scenery is beautiful, and what fun to watch the ducks riding the rapids. There were quite a few visitors in January, but nothing like I imagine in season. The falls are worth seeing if you've never been. Entry was a little confusing - if you go to the main entrance where you can walk the bridge across to Canada, you pay $5 to park. When you go to another section, you need to press the assistance button for them to let you in, or pay another parking fee. Overall, a nice place for a winter visit. We spent several hours exploring, and the park is pet friendly, too.

This is one of the best state parks that I have ever visited. I visited in the winter, so some areas were closed. However, most of viewing stations were accessible, which offered great views of the waterfalls.

Loved this park! The only problem we had was trying to get a ticket to ride the trolley. The original building to buy your tickets was closed for the season.
The park was clean and so much fun! Beautiful falls!

So beautiful and awe inspiring! We first went on Labor day weekend, and even though there were a lot of people, there was plenty of space to view the amazing views.

It was great seeing and hearing the story behind it and hearing about all the power it provides. Seeing the falls from the USA side is great and I am glad I spent my money in NY. Needing to get Covid check would have cost a lot just to go to Canada. So Visitors be aware!

Niagara Falls State Park is a must see if you are in the area! The park is clean & staff friendly. Miles of paved trails to walk with gorgeous views throughout.

We went to enjoy the view from Goat Island and to dine at the restaurant that overlooks the falls. Unfortunately the restaurant hours are dramatically reduced after labor day, but we still checked out the gift shop and the view of the falls. Entry fee is required, a really nice spot.

There is so much to see and do at the park. If you chose not to purchase the tour package, you can plan out your day to see so many other parts of the park.

The Niagara Falls state park is a great place to see all the falls up close. There is lots of trails to walk around to see these great falls, take a ferry ride on maid of the midst. A fee is applicable for the ferry ride or entry to the park if you are driving. You can also walk or cycle in if you are parked outside. Must not miss this place

The park is walkable with plenty of paths and signs pointing to various sites. The park is where you can access the Maid of the Mist boat ride to the falls and Cave of the Winds where you get up close and personal with the falls! The new visitor center has opened but looks to still need more work to be complete. You can get something to eat, buy souvenirs, and use the restroom at this time. You can also find food, shopping, and restroom facilities on Goat Island.

Entered from the US Side, we were able to walk out to the observatory deck before descending 200ft down an elevator to the Maid of the Mist. You can walk around the state park, over the roaring rapids of the river and over to Goat Island where you can view Horseshoe Falls! Bring a poncho you’re bound to get soaked. We did the maid of the mist first so I kept my poncho on. Parking is $15, there is also a little food truck park with some stores however we did not eat at the park. You can also partake in the Cave of Winds for $21, or the Maid of the Mist for $29. I wish they had more plaques with facts throughout the park.

I just LOVE Niagara Falls!!! Since the Canadian border was still closed due to COVID-19, we enjoyed it from the American side. I could sit and watch the water for hours :-). Walking along the rapids is so cool also. The $10.00 parking fee is so worth the experience!

We come here very often the past few yrs they have done alot of renovations. Maybe just me but I thought there were more trails to see different areas.Its well kept and very nice to visit.Definitely recommend visiting here.

First time to the Falls---Loved walking around this State Park! Besides the people-watching, it was just a lovely spot to spend an afternoon.

A day spent enjoying the park after our "over the falls"tour with Edwardo, tour was great fun and would recommend it to every falls visitor

What a wonderful, beautiful gem! We parked on Goat Island for $10 for the day. We saw the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls, complete with rainbows every time we walked by. We saw the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. We paid the $1.25 extra to go up on the observation deck and see both the Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls at the same time. We walked on the Three Sisters Islands. We did the 1-mile walk around Goat Island. What I found particularly fascinating was walking the entire Lower Grove Trail along the river, starting at the American Falls; the walkway is very close to the river and the churning, tumultuous river was amazing to watch as we walked along. Niagara Falls State Park is a must-see wonder!

Spent 4 days at and around the Park, it was great. The staff were helpful and willing to assist as needed. The biggest disappointment was the litter around the grounds, a sad showing of this national park.

Visited the park on a Friday in August. Crowds were moderate in size. Lots of walking trails and good observation points to see the falls. An all day pass for the trolley costs $3 and is well worth it. Limited food courts, gift shops, and a museum are on site

I have been all over the country visiting state and national parks. This one is second to none when it comes to cleanliness, family friendliness, great staff and plenty of room to handle a very large crowd!

The park was very clean and well kept. The trolley was a huge help in getting around. The Top of the Falls restaurant is a must try eatery.

Loved this park. It will be even better when the new Visitor center is done, but the real showcase are the Falls, so visit now if time allows. There's a Trolley around the Park that stops at the major viewing vistas. Bikes and electric scooters are available for rent right outside the entrance. On site parking is $10/day. There is also a snack bar and gift shop within the park.

This was my fifth trip to Niagara Falls but my first to the USA side. Loved it!! Amazing how close to the water the different observation areas get you! The mist on a really hot day was refreshing. Due to the pandemic the trolley is not running so wear comfortable shoes if you plan on seeing the entire park, we walked over 5 miles while there. We were there during the weekdays and parking lot a was only at about 40% capacity. Sad to see all of the masks littered about.

I really loved this area. Despite the city being rundown, the park is great! There is so much to do and see. It’s easy to traverse with good signage and staff. It’s much more laid back than the Canada side which is good.

A nice park with wildlife o the US side of the falls.
However it's location means most are here to view the Falls. No disappointment there. You can get very close to them and also to the rapids above as the water rushes towards them.
Toilets and cafes nearby.

It's a very beautiful park!
Be sure to visit all vantage points and all beautiful places.
I recommend the following route:
1.Niagara Falls Observation Tower observation deck. Stunning view of the waterfall from above.
2.Take a boat ride to the waterfall by purchasing tickets to Maid of the Mist (they have a discount when buying a ticket to the observation deck and boat at the same time). The boat comes close to the waterfall.
3.Walk across the bridge on Goat Island
4.Walk through all the observation decks on this island: Luna Island, Observation deck view near Nikola Tesla Monument, Niagara Falls Observation Point and Terrapin Point.
5.Must visit Cave of the Winds Lookout. Admission through a small museum and a short historical presentation. In these caves there will be an opportunity to stand under the waterfall. But don't expect to be saved by a raincoat, you'll definitely get wet! But it's a lot of fun!
6.Return to darkness at Niagara Falls Fireworks Displays and enjoy a beautiful evening view of the waterfalls illuminated by colored lights and bright lights on the Canadian side. Fireworks go off in the summer.

It's a really beautiful place.
But there is a chance of getting wet and catching a cold so I recommend to buy and bring with you in advance dense quality raincoats and already over them wear the ones that give out in the park. Two raincoats will be more likely to stay dry.

Niagara Falls as a city is not much to speak of but the state park is amazing! It is clean and beautifully maintained, both in the landscaping and the facilities. We stayed at the Comfort Inn which backed up to the park so we were able to walk out the back door of our hotel and be at the park in short order. We took walks in the morning in the park and visited at night when different colored lights are shown on the Falls. Simply beautiful!

Great scenery and amazing views of the falls and rapids. Lots of places to grab a bite and just have a nice walk.

The American side of Niagra Falls has a great venue in Niagra Falls State Park.
The park and surrounding area is very well done. There are several parking lots to start your tour. The price is reasonable. Shuttles are available if the walk is too much. Most of the Falls can be viewed for free. The Maid of the Mist and Observation Tower require a fee. The viewing areas allow for great views and pictures.
There is a restaurant located at Horseshoe Falls and snacks are available around the park.
Plan on spending some time to walk the park, go to Goat Island and truly see the Falls.
NY has a great state park here.

We decide for a couple day get away. I’m glad we came up to see falls again. The park is clean and well maintained. Sites are amazing and beautiful. Always worth a trip.

Knowing fully well Maid of the Mist etc will be closed for the season, my family and I still planned a visit here in December, because the state park itself is open year round. It wasn’t too busy, and we found plenty of parking - $10 per vehicle, and valid for the entire day, even if you move from parking lot to parking lot.
The gift shop was a tad bit of a let down, but we enjoyed the falls from Prospect Point. The evening illumination and 8 pm fireworks were worth the repeat visit in the evening.

So the park of course is beautiful. I just want to warn people WHERE NOT TO PARK. We parked at “City of Niagara Falls Municipal Parking,” garage. It was one of the WORST experiences ever! Filthy, no working elevators, homeless people sleeping in the stairways, no STAFF to be found, missing people signs on the doors….just plain scary! And expensive to be such a disaster. The place needs to be SHUT DOWN. I’d feel safer in Syria…as the place is in such poor shape it reminded me or Syria. Please pleasE FIND A BETTER PLACE TO PARK!!!!!!!! And the CITY should be ashamed.

Walked through a section of park, so many great shady sidewalks. Tons of people. Really a nice place to stroll and look at the Falls.

Our hotel was 1-1/2 blocks away from the State Park. It was so close that we walked for several hours around the park. When we got tired later in the day, and was looking for a place to have a meal we took the trolley. The cost of the off and on trolley was only $3 per person. All the trolley operators need is to see a yellow wristband and they'll take you at any of the trolley stops. The park is great for taking a picnic either on a bench near the falls or on a picnic table near the visitors center. There are only 2 places to grab something to drink or eat in the park so I suggest to bring your own water bottles and snacks.

The park has many paved walkways, a bridge to walk over the river to go to other areas within the park & many platforms to view the various falls. Even though there are trees, there are not too many, so grass is growing underneath them. But there are various falls, platforms & areas to enjoy the falls. Much better than the Canadian side!!!

We loved the park, it was beautiful! We arrived for the lighting and fireworks. While we waited, we read the stories of those who have tried to go over the falls. We go back tomorrow for Maids in the Mist and Cave of the Winds!

The Falls and surrounding area makes a nice day trip. We enjoyed our visit, you get a nice view of the Falls from the New York side. Parking was $10.00 not bad at all. We went back at night to see the colors, I think you see that better from the Canadian side, we saw plenty of skunks out at night so we stayed maybe 10 minutes at night. The little shopping/ souvenir area was ok, we were there around 5-6pm and a lot of things were closed. The Falls for me are a one time thing but I would love to see the from The Canadian side.

The park is very large and beautiful. There are a lot of walking trails so you can walk everywhere once you get there. Including all of the falls, the gorge, the islands and the aquarium. Do your homework before you go. Check out the map of the area and know where the parking lots are and how to get to them, so you don't end up paying $25 a day to park downtown. Decide what you want to do and book in advance if you can. The lines are LONG! They are building a new visitor center right now and it is blocked off and a mess. Take the trolley ride it is only a couple bucks and it helps you get your bearings as far as where everything is before you start walking all over the place, and the tour guides are very nice and informative. Ride all the way around once and then get off the next time around when you know where you want to go.

Went here on a tour ticket which included Goat Island - see separate review with pictures. Awesome Sunday visit, beautiful weather. The Park is well maintained, nice places to grab some food and souvenirs.

We returned to the U.S. side of the falls after discovering this during Covid. Before, we always went to Canada. This time was even more special because Carole Manson took the time to inform us about so many things to see and do here! We stayed an extra 2 days and will definitely return soon and looking forward to visiting Fort Niagra!

We had an amazing adventure to the Niagara Falls State Park. Just a short walk from our hotel, the park was free and we were able to enjoy all of the beauty of the natural surroundings of the falls. We were very impressed by how clean and by all of the nature in the park. All of the falls were also amazing to complete our outstanding experience.

Not a bad little water fountain falls. The boat was cheesy but a good time. Some hot chicks in yoga pants was awesome. The elevator ride was okay.

Great views from this park. Potentially lots of walking to check out all the vantage points. Might not be a good visit if the weather is bad. There was a trolley that it appeared could take visitors to the various points within the park. We couldn't figure out how to get on it and saw very little activity. Perhaps in prime tourist season it is more active. You always hear that the views are better on the Canadian side and we did go over there too as we had passports and were vaccinated but the views from the park are absolutely great.

This FIRST state park of the US is just gorgeous! Wonderful walking paths, picnic areas, and views of the Niagara River and the Falls...Spectacular!

Gorgeous land and lovely, easy trails to make it an active visit. You can even hike down to the gorge and see more than just the waterfalls or see the rapids from Three Sisters Islands.

This place was really nice and clean. Beautiful place to visit. plan on tacking a lot of amazing pictures.

Incredible views and activities. Wonderful and beautiful trails. One problem: food. Overpriced and average (or below). Not even a good hot dog and fries. Not having a good lunch put a slight damper on the day. However, the overall experience is very worthwhile.

It’s 10.00 to park, unless the gate is up in the off season. We went in April while the gate was up and the visitor center was under renovations.. this also meant there was no power to the park. Even with this bad timing, the park is beautiful and very walkable. See all 3 falls. They are stunning. Great viewing areas. The observation platform at Maid of the Mist was free, but maybe that’s because there no power. If you have never been here, it’s worth the trip. Pictures do not do justice to the scale of these falls.

They do have short term parking, though. My car was there a bit longer than the 20 minutes allowed per the sign. It was not crowded (March visit), so maybe that’s it. If you’re not sure about this place, try out the short term parking.

They do have restrooms and picnic tables, though we didnt use them.

We were in and out, saw the falls, as much as you could see with so many of the trails and walkways cordoned off due to snow and ice. And couldn’t do the boat tour, so this was it. It took about 30 mnutes, tops, to see everything they have at this park
Kind of a let down, but it seems the whole Niagara Falls town is a let down. Nothing I’d travel out of my for again, and NY coyoddo much better on this park.

How can you rate one of the most dramatic pieces of American scenery? How can you put a price on this magnificence? You can park in one of the many municipal lots, and it's free to walk everywhere around the two falls. You can even walk across the rainbow bridge into Canada. As of this writing you need an enhanced driver's license, (or passport), proof of vaccination, a rapid covid test within 72 hours, and all of this downloaded on the Canadian app. Otherwise: back to America! Anyway, there is no place grander than Niagara.

Went on a weekend on an afternoon, there was a bit of a crowd but still manageable. Plenty of parking and the park is very clean. The view of the falls from USA side it's beautiful; there's opportunity to capture great pictures. You can walk straight to Canada from here.

We toured a bit of this park several days ago while on a day-long tour with Over the Falls Tours (5-Stars), and decided to go back and see what we missed. Niagara Falls State Park, NY, is truly amazing and we would highly recommend it to anyone! The views are spectacular and the history is deep!

This review is related to Beyond the View walking tour with combo in Cave of the winds. The walking tour was very informative and well structured. Our guide was Krista and she was very enthusiastic and knowledgable! We learned a lot during the tour.
The Cave of the winds experience is much fun and an activity you need to do when visiting Niagara Falls State Park.

Many things to do here. Beauty everywhere you look. Once in a lifetime experience. You get an up close view of this awesome wonder.

A wonderful experience. Beautiful grounds and so much to see and enjoy. A bucket list item to check out.

one the the oldest or maybe the oldest park in the states, real beauty, and well maintained , and the best part it's free,.
feels great to be an American …

The falls are a natural beauty. The view is better from the Canadian side as you can look directly at them as opposed to the side views you get from the American side. Currently the hours and availability are limited due it being Fall and in the middle of COVID. Even without using a single facility it is still worth a stop to just marvel at nature.

We visited in late November and it was practically empty so we could see everything without fighting crowds. It was still gorgeous and awe inspiring. Would highly suggest visiting.

Very beautiful state park. The falls were everything I expected and more. I will visit again if I have the chance.

This park is something different and we enjoyed walking through each part of it and viewing the falls from different angles.

We have noted an increase in the number of visitors over the last few months. The Park has a significant amount of space and a number of facilities making the visit pleasant. The Cave tour provides a different view of the falls but be prepared to get wet if not soaked. Parking is $10.00 but is well worth the cost.

Niagara Falls State Park is an absolute natural wonder. I’ve never experienced the views as they change throughout the day and into the evening.

Great paths and plenty to see. Plenty of parking. A nice break from the busy falls area with wooded areas and seating.

The park is very walk friendly an such a hilke. When I was there it was not hot, my tour was walking to see the falls,and it was right at the top the walking trail.

My husband and I visited Niagara Falls State Park on our recent trip to see the Falls. This park sits atop the American Falls and has beautiful trails with walkways to see the falls from the top, as well as the waterways leading to them. It also has two activities to experience Niagara Falls in unique ways - via boat (Maid of the Mist) and via walkway (Cave of the Winds). Parking can be a bit difficult but isn't expensive, once you find a spot. I would definitely make time to take this park in!

This was our first visit to Niagra Falls, and to say the least, it was an awesome spectacle. We only observed from the American shore, but the intensity of the flowing water was pretty amazing.

We visited on a Friday in late October. Per suggestion from the official website, we decided to travel through town and park at the aquarium city lot. It was not crowded at all at around 10am and only cost $5.00 for the day. We walked along the river parkway to the falls and continued to walk around Goat Island. It was not crowded at all, and the parking areas in the park were not full either.

The falls are spectacular, but the parkway and Goat Island are very pretty at this time of year. Given the opportunity, it is place everyone should experience at least once. We hope to return and view from the Canadian side someday.

The day started off terrific as being over 70 granted me free parking at the State Park. $10 saved is a great way to start the day. The park is nice and quiet right as various attractions are closed now with all the restrictions because of the China Flu. Not that many people either as one would expect in mid July.
It's quite a beautiful park with the highlight being the falls of course. Several good vantage points to view.

Such a wonderful and breathtaking place. It has excellent views and amazing spots to take photos. We really liked our time here.

This park is a great place to re-energize the body and mind while in this place. A must to everyone who visits the city.

Excellent experience. Falls are great. Don't forget the night lights. Plenty of pictures will be taken and hiking around the falls is breath taking.

My wife and I visited the park which was a wonderful contrast to the run down city around it. There was plenty of parking in the park and walking between the falls was easy. We had the good fortune of arriving late in the afternoon when we could see the falls during daylight and dark conditions. Unfortunately, we were too late to ride the Maid of the Mist. It was easy to see that Canada has the much more magnificent view, but thanks to US covid restrictions, we couldn't easily go across and come back. Nonetheless, it was incredible to see The Falls in person. TV and pictures can't do it justice. Another bucket list item crossed off.

We didn't choose to do the boats, so got on the trolley and went throughout the park. The views are amazing and you can get as wet as you want, depending on where you end up on the various trails. It's everything it's been billed as, although I was disappointed that no-one went over the falls in a barrel......

They have done a great job of positioning this park around the Falls. The park is clean and tons of area to walk around. It's easily accessible from the hotels and tourist areas. Walkways all over the park!

Our family of 5, with 3 kids, 12-15 really enjoyed this park despite a rainy day. My experience started off positively prior to the trip when writing the park regarding confusion on attractions tickets and timing. The rep, Haley, who corresponded with me, was throurough in her response and friendly, so that was a good first impression, customer service experience. Most of the staff once there were friendly as well.

As with any super popular attraction, the early bird gets the worm holds true, so we arrived right around the opening time. We had to back track, so were a few minutes after 9 arriving at the supposedly best/ideal parking lot 1/Prospect St by the Welcome Center on a Monday. Apparently they run out of parking in that lot if you don't get there early, but we had no issue with parking with plenty of spots left shortly after 9. However, that may only be due to rain keeping others away. The rain part was a bummer, but may have improved our experience as crowds were much lower than anticpated, making lines shorter as well.

The web site says get Cave of the Winds tix on arrival first thing in morning (in the summer this can be done at Welcome Center or at the attraction by lot 3/Goat Island). Due to the forecasted thunderstorms, we switched things up a bit and got in line for Maid of the Mist so we wouldn't miss that experience and then went back to Welcome Center once we knew we had enough time before storms hit and were luckily able to still get the Cave tix, which are timed unlike Maid which is first come first served. We did Maid and then once hearing it was a 20 minute walk, got Cave of the Winds tix for around 11. The 20 minute walk is a good thing as you are walking through beautiful sites and experiences in route to Cave.

The park was clean, with many points of interest. I was relieved for us, others and a couple getting married by the falls that the rain held off until late morning and we got to do most of what we wanted there until thunderstorms hit around noon. Once there was a slight break in the thunderstorms, we ended with Three Sisters Island where you can see the rapids up close. There was also parking right by that section so it was just a short walk in our ponchos, in the rain, to see it. We were able to to do Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, walk to and through different vantage points, Goat Island, Three Sisters, Observation Center, see a wedding, eat a quick snack in the car during storm etc. in 4 hours on a partly rainy Monday in July. I doubt that would be possble if the forecast were better. Also, as an FYI, it is all day in/out parking so once you pay for one lot, if you don't want to walk to the other side of park, you can drive and you aren't paying again for a new lot. My only disappointment aside from weather was I thought there was hiking there (maybe there was and we never saw it) and there did not seem to be and Welcome Center staff seemed confused by my question. I'd say we did a nice, "nature walk" or two while there. For lower crowds, don't let rain deter you. You will be getting wet anyway if you do either of the two attractions we did anyway. Just keep your ponchos. The kids preferred the rain to the heat and full sun, interestingly.

Finally, I agree with reviews that the views are certainly better on the Canada side, but you get a better, natural, serene setting on the NY side. We stayed in Canada, which turned out real well, but as Americans, were sure to visit to US side first and enjoyed this side the most for the park aspect and Canada for other reasons. Cave of the Winds was our fav experience at this park and likely of whole trip. We highly recommend both paid attractions at the park and walking around the park.

Nice park with plenty to do. We stayed at the Hyatt and it was an easy walk. We enjoyed the maid of the mist and cave of the winds. The views from the observation tower were great. Could also get nice closeup views from may viewpoints. The American falls, bridal veil falls, and the horseshoe from terrapin point all had great up close views. Really enjoyed our couple days in Niagara Falls.

So much fun! We went on a warm day and also been on a cold day. The Canada side looks way better and offers more lodging, restaurants, and attractions. Be sure to take a poncho, and a picnic. Lots of grass with shade to sit and eat. But don't go in winter because snow covers everything, but falls is cool to see in winter as well, It's just really cold because of the humidity, and wind.

I can’t count how many times I’ve been to Niagara Falls on the American side, and visited the state park, but the visitor center has been updated since we last visited. There is a state of the art visitor center at the state park that has elevators and two floors. There’s a café in the visitor center as well as a gift shop. And you can buy tickets for the trolley that goes around the state park which we did. The trolley is very nice way to see the sites of Niagara Falls on the American side. And you can get off the trolley and get back on at various stops on the same ticket which is great. Some of the stops included the aquarium as well as Goat Island.
In October 2024 when we went part of the state park was under construction over near the bridge that goes over to Canada. So keep that in mind.
As for parking, there is like $20 parking at the state park but often it fills up so you have to park further out in the little town or city that’s there for cost, of course.

The park is a beautiful place. It is very serene and relaxing. It is also home to a monument that should be much more well known than it is. There a plaque that contains a quote by Chief Clinton Rickard that should be mandatory reading today.

This park is in two sections. One you can board the Maid of the Mist and the other you can visit the Cave of the Winds. You pay $10 to park, but it transfers to either side all day. I think the best views of the American Falls is from the platform leading to and from the Maid of the Mist. The observation tower is now closed. I liked the other side of the park (Goat Island) for up close and personal to the bridal veil falls and viewing the horseshoe falls. Lots of gorgeous hiking trails. Food was available on Goat Island.

We were in town for a long weekend and spent part of each day in the park. It is full of excellent views and easy-to-walk paved paths. The plant beds are beautiful, and although we did not see any workers on duty, the grounds were trash-free. The large, well-placed maps made it easy to make on the spot decisions about which way to go next.

Niagara Falls State Park is a beautiful state park on the American side of Niagara Falls. It has amazing views and tons of things to do. I highly recommend!

Great View if Niagara Falls. Unfortunately there were a few areas of construction while we were here. Make sure to see the falls at night!

We stayed at a hotel right in the Park (Comfort Inn at the Pointe) so we could walk to the falls easily. The park is always nice & when the weather is nice, there are more things open such as restaurants, ice cream & snack stands, etc. We had a nice time!

This was my first visit to Niagara Falls and I loved it. We walked the entire park and when we got tired of walking, we bought the $3 ticket for the trolley which was a great ride. View areas get you right up to the falls. We are at the cafe and the food was good, the ice was great. There are a lot of restaurants and food trucks within walking distance and we had a few meals from the food trucks. The entire park can be scene in a day, take 2 days if you want to take it slow. We rode the Maid of the Mist 3 times. We found there are no lines for the boat if you go later in the day. We also went to Cave of the Winds first thing in the morning and did not wait at all. We went in August and we felt the crowds were manageable. Every staff member we talked to were friendly and attentive. Definitely make seeing Niagara Falls something you must see.

The state park is a great place to visit the Falls. We especially loved the Cave of the Winds, and the various observation areas. We visited Terrapin Point, Three Sisters Islands, Luna Island and ate at Top of the Falls restaurant. Definitely worth a visit!

Real highlight of our US trip so far, we spent 4 hours on US side, including Maid of the Mist, then drove across to Canada side to view from the north side.
Overall, you can spend most of a full day here, and prices are not silly.
Boat trips from the Canada side are slightly cheaper but we noticed the boats were significantly busier, so we preferred the Maid of the Mist on the US side. Lovely walk around the US side and Goat Island.
Visitor centre is being refurbished so there was a lack of history/ story during our visit, but still a 10 out of 10 for the sheer awesome scale of the falls

This is a very nice park with excellent viewing platforms. Good parking options but easy walk from the downtown hotel zone.

We visited both sides of Niagera Falls. While the views from the Canadian side are magnificent; we enjoyed the United States side even more. You can get up close and personal with the falls. You can feel the rumble in your chest and can stand just a few feet from the top of the falls. We loved Cave of the Winds. We could have stayed there all day. We liked this tour better than the Journey Behind the Falls on the Canadian side. You can get so much closer and truly get to experience the Hurrican-like winds and water. (Note: Do this right away in the morning and save the trails for later in the day. We arrived at Cave of the Winds when they opened and didn't have to wait very long. We noticed the lines were very long later in the day.) We also enjoyed the trails on Goat Island, especially the Three Sisters Islands. You can get up close to the water and truly see the vastness of the water before it goes over the falls.

The star park is all of the falls stuff you want to see. The grounds are well maintained, there’s a couple grills and picnic tables near lot #3. Ride the trolly for $3 pp

To me it is the most overrated place in the world. Viewing points and embankments are not designed to accommodate such huge crowds. Traffic is horrible. Attraction to view the waterfall from below works as a conveyer: two hours in a queue, get on the boat, 5 minutes on the boat, get out. The whole area is created with one purpose - get as much money out of people as quickly as possible with little services provided in return.

The nice place to spend time with family and it has cool view of the falls. Took a boat ride to see waterfalls closer and took awesome pictures.

The Niagara Falls State Park has some stunning views and supposedly the American side isn’t as scenic as the Canadian side, which says a lot.
There is plenty of parking (paid) but there is lots of walking, so if that’s an issue, you may want to search their site for a game plan before you arrive.
Not sure how long it will hold kids interest, but it is truly a beautiful park and the seeing of the falls from several stunning angles.

My 6th time in Niagara Falls and never fails to impress me! This park is awesome and lots of things to enjoy in it! The falls can be appreciated from the USA side by coming to this park which is free. Highly recommended

Visited when it was re-opened. What a delightful experience,when it is still not crowded. Never the less the public parking lot was full, therefor try to get there early.

I love a state park so of course I'm going to love the first! It was beautiful. We explored the entirety of it. I cannot recommend enough visiting here for the history and the beauty especially if you're interested in learning about environmental history. Visiting the park is also free!

Much to see and do. October weather is the best and less tourists. Best time of year for a visit especially for fall foliage.

This is the place to be when you first get to Niagara Falls. The park is beautiful and very clean. Terrapin point let’s you stand about 2 feet from the brink of the Horseshoe falls. It is breath taking. All trails are well marked and the pathways are clear. Don’t miss this.

This is an absolutely beautiful, breathtaking, one of a kind park that everyone needs to experience in their lifetime. There is no day of the week or time of day it's not crowded and parking can be a bit tricky at times so give yourself plenty of time and bring your patience and a good camera with you. Parking in the main lot has went up to $25 this year so be prepared if you plan to park there as well. There are tons of neat little stands and shops to check out and a never ending list of things to do- or just stand and look at the falls and take it all in. We make the time to stop every time we are within an hour of the area because it is such a beautiful place.

Wow an amazing place to see and walk around just beautiful well kept grounds. A definite need to see. The
Museum was closed as there was a lot of construction going on.

Some parts were under construction but it was really a nice place to walk around. There is a lot of history here and Peter our guide was well informed.

My opinion might have changed if we were able to get the maid of the mist or cave of the winds tickets but car trouble held us up and we were too late to get tickets (you can only get tickets in-person, day-of, first come-first serve). So we walked the entire length of the falls (I think it was about 6 miles round trip). I think I was expecting a lot more than what it actually was, so we were disappointed. I bought the "Discovery Pass" in advance thinking it would save us time while we were there, but I don't understand why we even needed it now. So I wouldn't waste your money on it. I had received a recommendation to go to Devil's Hole and liked Devils Hole/Whirlpool much more than Niagara.

What a difference between this superb, very well-appointed park (and its superb views overlooking the falls) from the bustling and exhausting Canadian side!
Both sides are to be done (with your Esta and your passport!) But this State park is fabulous!

This State Park is absolutely beautiful! It is located right along the Niagara River, so you can get very close to the falls, within feet of the falls, which is an amazing experience. The views are just breathtaking. The State Park has a walkway along the Niagara River that is also lit up at night for evening walks... Again, the views are breathtaking... I missed those evening walks each night... really missed that after returning home. The park is also quite large so there is lots of space for everybody. It is very relaxing, very enjoyable to be able to get so close to the falls, this is the closest you can possibly get! Beyond the State Park there is a casino, great places to eat, and other places to also visit... including Goat Island, which is right over the bridge. You can walk there from the State Park, simply cross the bridge, cross over the Niagara River, and you are there. There is also an awesome lookout area too, part of the State Park, if you wanna see some great views, great so long as you are not afraid of heights, no cost for admission. In the State Park, you pay only for parking, if you are parking there. There are also a bunch of hotels within walking distance, which is great. If you stay at a hotel further away, the State Park has a large parking lot; there is a parking fee, but again, that is the ONLY charge you pay in the State Park. It is very nice, well-maintained, could not have a better location! Bring your camera for sure! I went end of March. For the most part the weather was good, and it was fairly warm. I actually considered that a great time to go as there was not much traffic, far less people, although some eateries are seasonal, were not open yet, but many were still open. It was amazing to see large chunks of ice falling over the falls, then floating down the Niagara River. It was a very enjoyable short vacation, 4 days, 3 nights... a great getaway! I highly recommend it... very relaxing, very enjoyable, the falls are beautiful ANY time of year. Enjoy!

Of course it was amazing. There is no place else like Niagara Falls. Everyone should see it at least once, even if it means just standing on the Welcome Center overlook.

Visiting Niagra Falls is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When you look at the falls, it feels like you thought the world was flat and now you know it’s round. We took a tour to Maid of the Mist, Horseshoe Gorge, the Whirlpool, Hurricane Deck, and Three Sister’s. The boat tour to Maid of the Mist (American side) and Horseshoe Gorge (Canadian side) we’re very misty- and when we say misty, we actually mean raining cats and dogs. We got poured on and it wasn’t the most fun experience. We got so wet because we were on the upper deck. I never knew there was so much mist surrounding Niagra Falls and I thought they’d be clearer to see. My favorite part was seeing the top of Horseshoe Gorge and my husband’s favorite part was looking up at the Maid of the Mist falls from below (before getting splattered on Hurricane Deck right below the falls). If I were to do this trip over again, I would’ve worn rain boots and wore my own rain jacket instead of only using the poncho they provided for free.

This area affords a beautiful view of the falls, but it is also more than that. Take your time, walk around and enjoy.

Great place to see and taking a walking tour is a must do activity. There are several daily. Some free others that cost. Very interesting history.

So many are likely making the move to the scenic FALLS views in Canada but we thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the NY side

I am pleased that the carnival atmosphere of Niagara Falls is kept on the Canadian side. This park was designed by the same landscape architect as designed NYC Central Park and the National Capital's Mall. There is no mistake of the beauty and thought put into this elegant space. The shuttle allows for quick access to the various points of interest. The Maiden of the Mist boat ride was a delightful and awesome experience. Unfortunately the park's restaurant is only open on the weekends. Plan on a minimum of a full morning or full afternoon to experience. Parking is not an issue.

We visited on a sunny fall day. The State park puts you right between the American and Canadian falls. Your in the sound and mist. A short path from the parking lot leads to either falls. There are plenty of photo opportunities, but the angles from the tops of the falls are not as good as from the Canadian side. However there are some neat views. The park has picnic areas, a restaurant, a shuttle bus, a gift shop and hiking trails. We went up stream and walked out on the 3 sisters islands. It was not crowed on a weekday morning. Everyone should see it at least once and its worth a return trip.

Beautiful area, easy walking with trolly service available from Horseshoe falls, goat island and to the acquarium. The falls never, just never get old as you stroll to all areas available. Folks wear masks generally during Covid in areas with heavy traffic. Most are very considerate. Very impressed.

This was an absolutely beautiful adventure the day we took and spent here. I have been to the falls on the Canadian side two times in the past, but this was the first time on the NY side and I have to say this was a magnificent gem. I loved how close you could get to the viewing areas. For the most part it is handicap accessible, but if you are a walker like me, you will love this and easily walk at least 3-5 miles. You almost can't help yourself because you want to see more and more. There is a trolley, very inexpensive to ride--it was running when I was there, but unfortunately, not all stops were on the route so be prepared to walk. My partner had never been to the falls--and he was amazed at how much there was to see and how magnificent the view was--he took a ton of video and photos--a photographer's dream really. Easy to park, but it costs money to park be prepared for that and any activity you do such as Maid of the Mist or Cave of the Winds. We didn't participate in those as I am still recovering from a spine surgery. Overall, it is so worth it, if you love the magic of the falls and beauty of nature.

Beautiful park! Well maintained, plenty of parking, clean and safe. Good signage getting around the park. Friendly staff.

Had never seen Niagara Falls so when we were near, we went. Amazing natural wonder with breathtaking scenery. Awfully crowded, but worth it.

An incredible park with so much to do and see. There are free activities as well as paid activities and you can find out about all of it at the visitor center. In the lower level of the visitor center there is a cafe so you don't have to leave the park to eat. There is also a cafe near cave of the winds gift shop and there is a restaurant over next to the point. So many beautiful sights!!!

Another amazing trip to Niagara Falls State Park! This time with family and friends! This park allows visitors to feel the force of the Niagara River right as it descends into the lower gorge. It is absolutely breathtaking every time I visit!

We parked near the park and came by to see the falls. The park is actually quite big but we were just n the area beside the river and the viewpoint for the American Falls. The paths were very clean and there were a couple of view points in the area to get a nice view of the falls.
The observation deck was free to enter and you can get a glimpse of the Niagara Falls from there. The water plumes were very visible though. The walkway across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada is also nearby, just remember to bring your passport.
The park also has pedestrian access to Goat Island, which we didn't go to. It gives a nicer view of Niagra Falls from the American Side.
We went during winter so there were a few paths that were closed off, presumably for maintenance.

Save this view for the nighttime. It's close to all the hotels and worth seeing the different colors on the falls. Niagara Falls Park is amazing!

The falls took my breath away. I highly recommend doing behind the falls tour and the boat ride into the falls. We spent two nights and had one full day there, and that seemed to be the perfect amount of time. Lots of wineries in the area too!!

This park is so nice. You can walk right beside where one of the American falls is going over, it is amazing. The walkways are all paved and there are benches for resting! There is a statue in the middle. It was all very clean and well maintained. Please take a few minutes at least, to walk around the park area after you have seen the falls. It’s wonderful.

A very nice park, beautiful paths and very clean. It would be a great place to throw down a blanket and have a picnic lunch.

Niagara Falls makes this park over the top awesome. Seeing the falls in person is definitely a sight to see. You can feel the roar of the water as it flows over the edge. If your there on a sunny day there are constantly rainbows to be seen due to the mist created by the falls.

We revisited Niagara Falls after 30 years and the park is fabulous. The grounds are well kept and it is so peaceful to stroll the paths and see the falls from different vantage points. The trees are spectacular and there is wildlife to enjoy as well. A much more relaxed side that the Canadian side

A nice state park along the river and falls. There is plenty to see and paved trials to follow along the river for several miles. It also includes Goat and the Three Sister islands. There are plenty of benches to rest if walking. If driving there a re multiple parking lots. This park is billed as the first state park in the nation. There is plenty to see and do. Allot of the attractions in the park are reviewed separately. Seeing the falls lit up at night is a must see. I would say you need multiple days to take it all in,

Remarkably nice place. Great views of both the US and Canadian Falls. They have some free tours that aren’t well advertised. Check their website. The cafe is pretty good. The menu is a little limited, but there’s plenty for most anyone. Skip the fireworks. It’s an ok show, but nothing to write home about.

Simply amazing.

Well-maintained with some amazing views of the American Falls. Great views during the day, night and nightly summer fireworks.

Lot of walkable paths, even with a stroller.

Easy walk from the hotel/casino areas. Very safe.

The park i very clean, and well kept. There are lots of maps to show you where you are so it is easy to get around.

We first visited Niagara Falls on the Canadian side 51 years ago on our honeymoon. This time we decided it was too much trouble to go to Canada so we visited the American side of the falls. It's beautiful, but Canada has the best view. It was just a short walk to the State Park from our hotel. Stop at the Visitor Center to pick up some information, then continue on to the Falls. Tickets can be purchased on the way to the Falls for the Maid of the Mist boat tour and the viewing deck. Stroll along the falls to Goat Island and other places clearly marked on the information boards. It's a beautiful place for a stroll. We stayed until after dark to see the Falls lit up. It wasn't very impressive. Just one set of lights on the Canadian side focused on the falls. The Park is clean and well-manicured. It's a beautiful place to spend a few days.

My family loved the state park. I was worried after reading some reviews but it was the perfect family day. We spent 5-6 hours and walked almost the entire park. We enjoyed being able to go to the islands for different views and we had a wonderful picnic in the park. There is some construction going on but it didn’t bother us. The workers we spoke with were kind and helpful. Gift shop was reasonably priced

I walked in Niagara Falls State Park twice during my visit to Niagara Falls in April 2022. Each time I walked from my hotel, the Sheraton, past the Observation Tower to a bridge. The bridge took me over the rapids to Goat Island. I went on the first walk to visit The Cave of the Winds (separate review). Then I went to the viewing area for Horseshoe Falls. It was blocked off due to slippery conditions so you could only go so far. It was still a great view of Horseshoe Falls. I took some photos and a video. I then walked to the viewing area for American Falls and Bridal Falls. You can get fairly close to the top of the falls here and also have views of the rapids and the Rainbow Bridge and Observation Tower in the distance. Again I took photos and a video. I then walked back, crossed the bridge and walked back to my hotel. I believe that each time I walked around 3-4 miles. I really recommend this walk and it is very enjoyable. If you do not like to walk then there is a Hop On Hop Off trolley that you can take for a small fee. I plan to return to Niagara Falls State Park and do this walk again.

We came here recently, as it was about 45 years since I last visited Niagara Falls. They charge $10 to park in the park, which is reasonable, as everything is a close and quick walk. The falls are beautiful. We used the overlook as well and the views from there are even better. We only visited the US side on this trip, but I heard from many others that the Canadian side offered much better views. This side also seemed rundown and not really kept up very well.

This is a nice, mid-sized State Park run by the State of New York and right on the Niagara River and Niagara Falls. You get wonderful views and can learn a lot about the Falls, how they were made, how powerful they are, etc. The park also gives you nice lawns, shade trees, and access to viewing decks. It's here that you can pay to go on the Maid of The Mist Boat, to the Observation Promenade, and to a walkway alongside the American Falls (water-proof ponchos are available!).

Loved Goat Island and Three Sisters Islands. Beautiful views. Also loved Cave of the Winds tour. Whole place was beautiful!

Breathtaking views of the falls, the water is so clear its amazing. Many more trips planned for the future.

The is the only part of Niagara Falls, New York, that is clean and nice to visit! The rest of the town is a very sad reflection of the neglect by the State of New York and the USA. The park is large and has great walkways, good amenities, a wonderful old trolley that takes you to Goat Island and around the park. They are building a new visitors center which should be nice when it is done.

I just love going here,but it is not entirely handicap I and my husband had to walk down a lot of stairs to get a good view of the falls.This I believe is because of the pandemic we are going through,the building with the elevators was closed due to this.But overall a beautiful day.

I’ve been to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls many times since I was a kid and it was only this October when I finally visited the American state park for the first time. It certainly won’t be my last! The state park is a lot more natural and tranquil than the glitzy commercialization on the other side. Although the view of the falls might not be as full as the Canadian side, it is just as impressive as you can get much closer to it on the broken bridge, which can be accessed for free after hours. Goat Island is a great place for a walk. It was easy to find parking, albeit that was probably due to my visit being in the afternoon of a chilly late October day. The one issue, though, was the difficulty of finding public washrooms in the later afternoon, after the visitor centres had closed. Some portable washrooms would have been helpful.

It’s amazingly well designed and maintained. We bought trolley tickets for $3 each, good for all day. You can hop on/hop off (you get a wrist band). We walked along the water and it was amazing to see how the flow picks up. Best of all, it’s free!

Niagara Falls State Park is much more enjoyable than doing the Canadian side, which is cluttered with commercialized hotels and casinos. Canada was nicer than the American side Years ago, but not anymore. We enjoyed hours of touring the park as well as walking pretty much of the grounds.

Absolutely a "must see" - I mean after all, it IS one of the 7 Wonders of the World and it lives up to that moniker in superb fashion. We had a wonderful vacation there - save for a lousy hotel experience. But that had nothing to do with the incredible sights to see nor the wonderful people running the park - which I might add is pristine in it's care and upkeep. Wonderful experience that was on our bucket lists and it was something we'll not soon forget - if ever..!!

Walkable State Park, very clean and safe. Ideal stay a days. Maximum 3 day stay. Having also been to the Canadian side in the past, I found the New York Side/US to be much more peaceful.
There are less dining options although you can easily walk across the bridge if you have a valid passport. We packed layers bc it was forecasted to be 68F days and 55F nights but it was sunny and pleasant. Light sweatshirt at night was perfect. The sun was shining everyday with very light drizzle in afternoon. A light packable rain coat is a must for the mist.

It’s a nice State Park but compared to the Canadian side, it needs a bit more beautification. Such as beautiful hedges and flowers.

This place is gorgeous, no doubt about it. However, it is crowded and overly priced. It's worth a trip in any case. Also, it is interesting that the city of Niagara Falls is very run-down, which is a stark contrast to the beauty and upkeep of the Niagara Falls State Park.

We enjoyed the park very much. We spent 3 days in the park walking around, viewing the falls. and enjoying the extras (theaters, shops, etc)

Please don’t believe any jaded travelers who will tell you that Niagara Falls State Park is overrated. It is most certainly not. You can easily spend 5 hours here and not get bored as there is so much to see. We didn’t even get to see the main falls until 3 hours after we parked because we were so mesmerized by other things the park has to offer (Terrapin Point, the rapids, Three Sisters Islands). Parking is cheap and from what I understand, the park is open all night. 100% would go back. There’s a cool international food court across the street too! Just don’t eat at the American food stand. Worst chicken fingers I’ve ever had!

This was a wonderful experience. I expected it would be crazy and difficult to find parking, but that wasn't the case. Also, if one wanted to drive to Goat Island instead of walking, there are parking areas there too. Very nice

Great place to park and view the falls on the US side from a variety of perspectives. Niagara Falls is a mesmorizing place from most any view. We enjoyed walking along the path and stopping at different outlooks.

Inexpensive to find parking and so many parts to explore and walk around and see. Beautiful views of the falls from many points of view.

While visiting Niagara Falls in Canada in May 2025, my wife and I decided to walk across the bridge to the US to spend a day exploring the Niagara Falls State Park. We walked the entire loop around Goat Island. We visited the viewing platforms for the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls. The park was not crowded at all on a Tuesday in May. The best views were looking over as the American Falls plunged to the gorge below. Excellent video. You could see a wall of mist rising up the side of the gorge each time the wind picked up. We went out on the Three Sisters trail to each of the small islands. While the viewing of the falls is better on the Canadian side, the park on the US side was nicer. The Canadian side did not have a park, just a wide sidewalk along the falls next to the road. It was a perfect compliment to our Canadian Niagara Falls trip.

We arrived at 10:00 pm to see the falls in the dark. It was packed with people. So much energy and excitement. The falls are lit up at night with reds, whites, and blues. Plenty of good places to see the falls, the Niagara River, and Canada. We parked for free in the Rapids lot.

By the time we got there, the public parking lots were all full so we had to find private parking. Visited all the scenic spots in the park. Waiting in line in the hot sun for Cave of the Winds was miserable (took us an hour to get down to the cave). Suggest to prepare for some shade or carry sunscreen with you. The ice-cream booth was a rescue after we took the elevator back up. They have good variety to offer! Taking the Maid of the Mist was a breeze in the evening when it is much less crowded. Guess the strategy is either arrive early or stay late!

Amazing experience, got so close the the falls. Love Maid if the Mist, Cave of the Winds, the Trolley is a must. Most favorite was Luna Island!!! Great time perfect weather no crowds. Don’t eat the fried food at Top of the River though!!!! Skip it and go a mile or so away to The Polish Nook!

The American and Horseshoe Falls are of course the big draw, but do not overlook the rest of the park. Visit the rapids, numerous smaller waterfalls, and three sister island. It is also very clean.

Visited the New York side of Niagara Falls in July 2016. This time it was November 2021. Yes, it was cold.
The park, the Falls, and the river all had their own charm and uniqueness in this season.
No crowds. A handful of people visiting, which was, personally speaking, more enjoyable.
Lots of activities were closed due to it being off season, but it was still enjoyable to visit the park and take in a different scene of Niagara Falls.

Beautiful park with Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds attractions. Great views of the falls especially at Terrapin Point. Clean with paved walking paths. Restaurants and snack areas. We spent 2 half days.

I highly recommend coming here when the weather is nice. The views were spectacular! Next time I’d love to see the Canadian side when they allow the un-vaccinated. So much more to eat and to do on the Canadian side.

My wife and I got married on Saturday. We honeymooned in Niagara Falls. Great experience made better by our guide dog Tim! He was more than helpful and made our trip extremely special!

A nice state park along the river and falls. This park is beautifully kept and very clean, which is amazing considering how many visitors are here each day. There is plenty to see and paved trials to follow along the river for several miles. There are lot of benches to rest if walking, and plenty of sign boards so you can’t get lost.

Beautiful park , liked more than the Canadian site, the experience of getting close to the water fall is unique and amazing.

We found the part to be very nice with great views of the falls. The welcome center was under construction so we couldn’t go there.

The park is huge with plenty of walking paths, benches, and convenience. (eg. bathrooms and snack bars.) The grounds were meticulously kept. Wonderful place.

Cave of the Winds was excellent
Also enjoyed Maid of the Mist.
Only disappointment was that Over the Falls restaurant was out of Logonberry creme Brule

Wonderful pathways and very safe cliffside walks along the edge of the Niagara River as it flows over the Falls. An amazing, lifetime memory. The Park is well-run and very clean.

Must see and experience the power and be left awed. We found a free parking in NY state park police parking lot for free. It’s a mile walk from the falls you can use a park trolley for free to reach the nearest stop to the falls entrance (2 min walk). If you can and willing to walk around you will see great views and experience the nature. Words can’t describe the sight and the sound, it must be experienced.

Nick and Joe were very friendly and knowledgeable. Beautiful to visit in the snow and ice! Some observation areas closed due to snow but still well worth it.

Was nice that it was still chilly and Covid, it wasn't busy at all.
The park was clean and seemed safe. If you run into the squirrels, they're super friendly!

I disagree with those saying the Canadian side is more beautiful. The US side is spectacular and beautiful views from the paved path alongside the falls and river are truly stunning. We walked from State Park parking lot 1 to Goat Island and back in a couple hours, taking our time at many viewing areas. If you don’t take a boat ride, pay the 2.50 to just visit the observation platform and take the elevator down for a super view from below. I visited 30 years ago on the Canada side but this visit on the US side was far more special and spectacular. $10 is a bargain to park all day in the state park lots.

It was great! Our tour guide was awesome! We got to see a lot in one day very amazing . Moe was awesome and the kindest tour guy!!

One our bucket list items was to see Niagara Falls.

We drove to goat island on a Wednesday. Traffic from our hotel outside of town was surprisingly light. Only made one wrong turn, easily fixed and we were pulling up to a nearly empty Goat Island parking lot.

Cost to park is 10 dollars. Parked near the front and went in search of bathrooms. Nearest open bathroom was in the Cave of the Winds visitor center. Big and clean.

Since we were close we walked over to the American Falls first. Be prepared for five flights of stairs. On the Luna Island platform you are less than 10 feet from the water. So clear you can see the bottom.

Back up the stairs and across to Terrapin Point and the much larger Horseshoe Falls. Mist was thick and we got wet, but totally worth it.

We spent about an hour or so. Then back on the road to our next stop.

Grounds are nicely landscaped. Signage easy to read.

Highly recommend going during the week as the crowds were very light.

Great place to visit the falls. Loved watching the rapids as they approach the falls. Also a great place to view the fireworks at night.

Parked at the State Park for $10, walked the Niagara Falls State Park grounds, and saw the stunning American output of the Niagara River as it cascaded over the precipice.

Absolutely beautiful park with spectacular views. It was nice to cross the various little bridges to see what is above the Falls.

Definitely worth a visit for everyone at some point in their life. The park is easy to navigate and impressive even if you don't pay for the boat ride or Cave of the Winds. We were there on a Friday in September and it was busy but not overly crowded.

The park you pass through to get to the waterfalls is nothing special, crossed by several asphalted roads, unkept vegetation and also the presence of rubbish here and there

Excellent place to view falls from different angles, have a picnic, eat from food trucks and just relax. Soothing and enjoyable

No other way to see the falls than go through the park. We spent about 30 minutes in the park and 30 on maid of the mist

The bestttt sighting I have ever seen! I really love the cave of winds and Maid of Mist. Love the lighting of the falls at night and seeing the mist from my hotel.

Observation tower closed…gift shop closed…visitor center/restaurant gone.
12/22/21 2:00 pm
A simple posting to the web site with this information or at the park entrance before the fee is paid to get in would be helpful and appreciated

The view of the horseshoe falls is amazing. Alot of viewing areas and photo ops. Alot of trails to walk. A must see!

Pictures do not do this place justice. The Falls are a must-visit and something I always wanted to visit. We got to see them both at night with the lights and during the day.

A lovely park with well kept grounds. Very pleasant place to walk around and enjoy impressive views.

Used tp be private but the government bought it long ago for 200K. Wuite a deal.

SO incredible. I can't say how beautiful and well managed this park is. We loved Frank in the tourist center - he's a volunteer that gave us some great information to help us plan our day. Also Jon and Will, guides who took us on a tour of the park, were very fun and knowledgable. The whole park is so clean and easy to navigate. The facilities look new and are well maintained. The trolley for $3 is very worth it. We did A LOT of walking, too, but the trolley will save you on a hot day if you're up at Horseshow Falls. The photos don't do it justice. Overall, this is one of the most beautiful parks/places we have ever visited. HIGHLY recommend and hope to return!

Passing through to points further East, we made Niagara Falls our first stopping point of the trip! And it didn't disappoint!! We found free parking on the Riverway Drive. Then walked the trail into the park. It was a beautiful sunny weekday and not too hot during the noon hour...the perfect opportunity to sit and relax, enjoy our picnic lunch, watch people, and marvel at the Falls! Truly one of nature's greatest gifts! It doesn't matter how many times you've seen Niagara Falls, it is truly amazing to watch and listen to the powerful water passing over!! Walk over to Goat Island for more views and some historical sites. If you have the time and the inclination, the Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist and the Observation Deck experiences are worth it.

Parking was like $10 per day for our sedan.

Plenty of paved parking. Includes electric and handicapped. Sidewalks were also paved.

There's lots of foliage and some beautiful statues.

Some benches here and there.

There's a trolley that takes you between the park and Goat Island.

My husband and I were blown away by Niagara Falls State Park. The falls are gorgeous and giant and the parking, snacks, restrooms, and trails were great. More importantly, it’s a very accessible park which is important because I was very pregnant this visit.

Niagara is a must see. There is a fair amount of walking in the park. There are a few options for food. Be advised that the parking lot fills quickly so staying overnight within walking distance at one of the hotels there is your best bet. The Maid of the Mist is worth every penny. Do not skip it...

The area surrounding the Niagara Falls had to be built in such a way to accommodate thousands upon thousands of visitors each day. While the entrance to the state park is free, expect to pay $10.00 for parking. The panhandlers will watch for you, as you exit your vehicle. They will aggressively approach your personal space, not wearing a mask or distancing, asking you for your money. As the parking lots fill up fast, have a contingency plan in place. Wear appropriate footwear. You will traverse upon wet, dry, and hot surfaces in the summertime.
Staff are employed to constantly clean the lavatories. There is no limit to the number of people who may enter the bathroom facilities at the same time. As some of the public lavatories are a bit dated, fans blow around inside air to circulate the air.
Be aware that not all visitors will socially distance or wear masks where the popular views are located. I know that while I waited my turn to go up to the railing to see the view, many tourists cut in front of me at a distance of three feet or less.
From an aesthetic point of view, the American side needs some improvements. Weeds oftentimes block the views of the Niagara Falls. These weeds need to me trimmed, and the area needs to be landscaped. The lawns need to be reseeded. Other than those points, it’s fun to view the various falls.

Niagara Falls State Park has tons of visitors - but it doesn’t feel like it. It covers a large area, is spread out, and the lines go fast. Here’s a place who can handle crowds (Disney: take notes). My eleven year old son had a blast, we did a lot during our day - the Maid of the Mist, the Cave Wind tour, the lookout, rode the trolly, walked around, and even stayed for the fireworks at 10pm. Only complaint was that the food options were virtually non existent (stopped for dippin dots at a snack shack, but the restaurant was closed so we got both lunch and dinner outside the park). There are a bunch of places to eat by walking across the street, but they were crowded and we had walk to them and when you’re hungry and your feet hurt a 20 minute walk isn’t very appealing to a child. Next time I’ll bring a picnic and plan better. But overall the park was great, so glad we went!

The state park is very pretty, especially mid to late October, when leaf colors were at their peak. A few of the gift stores were closed, trolley only runs until 4:30 in October. One major issue we had was the construction going on to complete the new visitor's center. It looks to be very nice when finished. but right now it keeps you from really seeing the whole park and you have to walk around to get to the falls. They needed to turn on the park lights after dark, so we had to be careful navigating the pathways.

Plan your time so you can see the falls with the lights at night. The next morning we returned to enjoy the attractions. There are multiple overlook areas. Check out the paved hiking trail along the rapids leading to the falls. The water is roaring by it's so powerful and dangerous. If you are taking the trolley for the transportation, it will save time walking. But, if you want to hear the tour.......good luck. The speaker is not audible with everyone talking around you. Park is clean. Plenty rocks or benches to rest and take in the views. Be sure to pay admission to walk out on the deck which gives you a better look at all the falls. Still the Canadian side has the best views but suprised how much we enjoyed this side of the falls too.

Great to see the falls. Off season had much of the park closed. Rennovations are done until 2023.. so we will be back in 2 years.

We strolled around the park. There are several areas to sit and rest and enjoy the area. Beautiful spot.

The view is amazing, you can walk, or there is a free trolly stopping around the park. It was windy, cool and wet, but we expected the mist from the falls. By afternoon it looked so different with the sun shining, the mist had cleared somewhat. You pay $10.00/day to park. Most of the walkways were open, but they were building some. The view from the ariel platform is well worth the $1.25/person, and ride the elevator down to walk the "crows nest" walk way to see the water coming over the falls and the rainbow. It was not a busy day, but patience is a virtue that will improve your sightseeing at such a popular place. Many internationals and the signage is only English.

Pleasantly surprised and impressed! Close up views of the falls. Beautiful grounds. Lots of walking with enjoyable views.

Wonderful park to Walk. The path to the Niagra whirlpool was worth the walk and beautiful! Lots of places to sit on benches or rocks to take in all the beauty!

Stunning, will absolutely be going back to watch them light the falls at night. The park is huge, could literally walk around for hours, and not get bored. We had so much fun even though it rained!

Seeing the Falls lit up at night was a spectacular sight:) The Maid of the Mist Boat ride was like nothing we have ever seen before ( or will again). The majesty of it was like out of a fairytale-brought tears to our eyes - It was unreal. It was like the entire world stopped for those moments when Horseshoe falls surround you - It is truly an unforgettable experience:)

Wonderful falls view and neat s well as well designed and maintained park areas. You can walk around but there is also a trolley-train with some stations

We went on a nice sunny day in September 2020. Big well-kept up park. The Falls are beautiful and the amount of water moving is incredible. We had a picnic lunch and spent a few hours just exploring the different areas of the park. Easy parking (the only pay area to get into park, $10, you can probably get free parking on nearby streets?). I'm in wheelchair and found most things very accessible (can't do Cave of the Winds but honestly didn't feel left out). I think the crowds were lighter due to COVID travel restrictions (on that note, nearly everyone wore masks when appropriate and distancing was easy, felt very safe). Worth a visit, and when the Canadian border opens again, would love to explore that side. Also while you are in the area, I highly recommend driving up the Niagara River gorge -- there are small state parks along the way. Really pretty views. All accessible on top, but there are also hiking trails (non-accessible) going down into gorge (my husband says they are very cool!).

Beautiful area and very clean. We arrived around 9:00 am and found a great parking spot. We walked the American Falls area and then walked over to the Horseshoe Falls area. It was a nice walk with plenty of vantage points to view the falls.
We didn’t get to go over to Canada because of COVID but we did see the falls at night.
The parking lots were open after 5:00 so it was nice to go back in and find easy parking to watch the falls light show.

Had a great time. The falls were beautiful, the park was clean and the trails were enjoyable to walk. Whether you have an hour to spend or an entire day, there are things to do at Niagara Falls State Park.

Parks are well maintained and its peaceful and tranquil at best. You can walk and stroll without leaving the side of river.

You can't get the best views of the Horseshoe Falls from this Park, but you also can see both the American and Canadian side of the Falls without having to go to Canada, so that's pretty pretty nice! The Park itself is picturesque with many paved paths and a footbridge to an island.

Park was very clean and well maintained. Had awesome views of the US falls. The walk was not far from the Canadian side, only a half an hour but the park takes longer to complete. Two sections were closed but it was enough on what we saw. Didn’t do the trolly but did do caves of the winds. Unfortunately, the stairs were falling apart but still had to experience it. Overall great park. The weather was perfect too.

Niagra Falls state park has beautiful easily walkable trails along the Niagra river and Falls. There is a cafe, gift shops and restrooms along the way. There are maps posted along the way to show you where the attractions are. We walked the trail from goat island and back. Free to enter but there is a parking fee. We paid $10 to park for the day.

Niagara is a place of natural beauty - no exaggeration. Had a really good time there. Ideal parking would be the parking garage P1 closest to the park. It was full when we reached, so we parked in a nearby covered garage - $30 for the whole day. But to our surprise P1 opened up again so keep an eye on it. There are a lot of restaurants around the park, we went for a buffet lunch at Zaika which was decent. There were no fireworks. The night lights start by 8.30 pm but it takes another hour or so to appreciate them.

I have never been to the American side & I am glad I did this side. My sister did not get her passport in time so we were forced to stay on the American side. What a good thing! We would have not done this otherwise. In my opinion it is better than the Canadian side. It has parks & is a lower keyed area than all the hustle & bustle across the border. They do have the normal shops & restaurants & food trucks. Plenty to do in & out of the park. Will be back.

It was an awesome ride! I couldn't get to the Canadian side but apparently the only advantage is the nightlife which seems much more interesting than what exists on the US side. It is very nice and worth it for one day... I wouldn't do it for two days because there isn't much to do anymore.

it's AMAZING, most see. I love everything, the air , the water the falls, the statues and all the information to help you understand the history of the park.

Loved my time here. Happy I started on the Canadian side, more to do, however, there are still lots of trails here and some are even FREE parking.

The park is well maintained and has good signage. The paths and roads are in good condition. I was a bit disappointed that more people didn't have masks on, but that is not the fault of the park. There were also a lot of people with dogs which I was not expecting, hard for children to not want to pet a strange animal. That could be a problem for some.

If you like nice level walks, this is the place. The State Park is beautifully maintained and relatively flat. You can not only see and witness the Falls but you get to see lots of trees and green grass while viewing different perspectives of the Falls. Highly recommend a morning walk!

We did the budget visit to Niagara Falls State Park. Instead of paying for the boat ride or caves tour, we just paid $1.25 each for access to the observation deck and the elevator to the base of American Falls. We walked the trails for the best views of Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls. Even my 18-year-old enjoyed it. We had a great experience without spending a lot of money.

Niagara Falls State Park is beautiful. There are the falls and there are islands. The river is really great