Hi there!
So you want to go see the best of New York outdoors in Western New York!
There are a number of New York state parks in the area that come with amazing views.
There are great scenic places to be seen in several state parks in Western New York!
Some of these are state parks with campgrounds.
More below about some of the best state parks in New York with amazing views!
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There are many videos below. If you can’t see them, you can watch the Western New York video playlist on youtube.
Now…
What are some of the best state parks in Western New York?
1. Niagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls State Park is one of the most famous state parks in New York, and it’s in Western New York!
This is where you can find the best things to do on the American side of Niagara Falls.
This includes the scenic viewpoints of Prospect Point and Terrapin Point that will give you the views of Niagara Falls.
It also includes the ultimate Niagara Falls experience from the bottom of the waterfalls of Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist.
There is free entry to Niagara Falls State Park, but there is a parking fee of around $10.
There is no campground at Niagara Falls State Park.
See more about this Western New York state park: Things to do in Niagara Falls NY
2. Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park is another one of the Western New York state parks with waterfalls!
There’s also the Letchworth State Park campground.
In addition to campsites, Letchworth State Park is another one of the New York state parks with cabins.
To enter Letchworth State Park, there is an entry fee of $10 per car. See current fees.
The Letchworth State Park camping fee ranges from around $27-30 a night.
The cost of a Letchworth State Park cabin ranges from around $33-142 per day to around $132-568 per week.
Letchworth State Park camping reservations (and yurt reservations) are made through reserveamerica.com.
See more about this Western New York state park: Things to do in Letchworth State Park
3. Whirlpool State Park
The Niagara River is the river that Niagara Falls flows along.
And another way to experience the Niagara River is the Niagara Gorge.
And one of the New York state parks that you can go to in order to experience the Niagara Gorge is Whirlpool State Park!
You can see the Niagara Gorge from above, and you can take the stairs down to hike along the Niagara River too.
Whirlpool State Park is a FREE New York state park.
It’s very reasonable to go to Whirlpool State Park alongside a trip to Niagara Falls State Park.
You can also get to Whirlpool State Park without a car by taking the free Discover Niagara shuttle.
There is no campground at Whirlpool State Park.
See more about this Western New York: Things to do in Whirlpool State Park
4. Devils Hole State Park
Devils Hole State Park is another New York state park that you can go to in order to experience the Niagara Gorge and the Niagara River.
Devils Hole State Park is a FREE New York state park.
It can also be reasonable to go to Devils Hole State Park alongside a trip to Niagara Falls State Park.
There is no campground at Devils Hole State Park.
5. Golden Hill State Park
Lake Ontario is one of the Great Lakes.
Golden Hill State Park is a New York state park with a lighthouse along Lake Ontario.
This is located about an hour west of Rochester.
Once you enter Golden Hill State Park, there is no additional fee to walk directly around the grounds of the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse.
It’s possible to go inside the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse and climb up to the top to see vast views of Lake Ontario!
There is a fee to walk inside Golden Hill State Park, which is around $1 per person and requires a tour. See current fees.
The hours that the lighthouse is open varies, so if you are interested in walking inside the lighthouse, it would be good to call ahead of time to confirm it will be open when you go. Also confirm that you can can climb up to the top of the lighthouse. For example, when I went in July 2021, lighthouse hours were 12-4pm on one day, and 1-4pm on another day.
The listed phone number is (716) 795-3885.
Golden Hill State Park is a place you can go for camping near Lake Ontario.
At night, you can see the lighthouse flashing!
There is no swimming at Golden Hill State Park.
In addition to campsites, Golden Hill State Park is a New York state parks with yurts.
To enter Golden Hill State Park, there is an entry fee of $8 per car.
The Golden Hill State Park camping fee ranges from around $15-31 a night.
The cost of a Golden Hill State Park yurt is around $90 per day.
Golden Hill State Park camping reservations (and yurt reservations) are made through reserveamerica.com.
See more about this Western New York state park: Lake Ontario lighthouses
6. Fort Niagara State Park
Fort Niagara State Park is located where you will find the other end of the Niagara River, where it meets Lake Ontario.
At Fort Niagara State Park is also where you will find the Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site.
This is where you can take in the history of many countries, including the United States, Canada, France, and Britain, along with Native American tribes.
To enter Fort Niagara State Park, there is an entry fee of $8 per car. See current fees.
To walk around the grounds of Old Fort Niagara, there is an additional entry fee of around $17 for adults and $12 for kids age 12 and older. See current fees.
Once you enter Fort Niagara State Park, there is no additional fee to walk directly around the Fort Niagara Lighthouse, which is at the Old Fort Niagara parking lot.
If you go to Fort Niagara State Park alongside a trip to Niagara Falls State Park, you’ll want to be mindful of the Old Fort Niagara hours so you will have enough time to properly explore.
You can also get to Fort Niagara State Park without a car by taking the free Discover Niagara shuttle.
There is no campground at Fort Niagara State Park.
7. Evangola State Park
Lake Erie is another one of the Great Lakes.
Evangola State Park is one of the New York state parks along Lake Erie.
There is a swimming beach at Evangola State Park.
There’s also the Evangola State Park campground.
In addition to campsites, Evangola State Park is a New York state park with cabins.
To enter Evangola State Park, there is an entry fee of $7 per car. See current fees.
The Evangola State Park camping fee ranges from around $15-27 a night.
The cost of a Evangola State Park cabin is around $60 per day and $420 per week.
The cost of a Evangola State Park yurt is around $90 per day.
Evangola State Park camping reservations (and yurt reservations) are made through reserveamerica.com.
See more about this Western New York state park: Things to do near Lake Erie in New York
8. Buffalo Harbor State Park
Buffalo NY is at one end of the Niagara River where it meets Lake Erie.
And one of the ways you can experience Lake Erie in Buffalo is at Buffalo Harbor State Park along the Buffalo waterfront.
You can go for a walk with views along the Buffalo Harbor.
There is no campground at Buffalo Harbor State Park.
See more about this Western New York state park: Things to do in Buffalo around the outer harbor
9. Four Mile Creek State Park
The reason to go to Four Mile Creek State Park is to go camping near Lake Ontario.
Four Mile Creek State Park is located directly along Lake Ontario.
In addition to campsites, Four Mile Creek State Park is a New York state parks with yurts.
There is no swimming at Four Mile Creek State Park.
The Four Mile Creek State Park camping fee ranges from around $18-34 a night, depending on whether you go for a campsite with or without electricity.
The cost of a Four Mile Creek State Park yurt is around $90 per day.
Four Mile Creek State Park camping reservations (and yurt reservations) are made through reserveamerica.com.
See more about this Western New York state park: Lake Ontario state park camping
And those are some ideas for day trips in Western New York!
The quick list (and more pictures!) of some of the best state parks in Western New York:
- Niagara Falls State Park + more
- Letchworth State Park with campground
- Whirlpool State Park
- Devils Hole State Park
- Golden Hill State Park with campground + Lake Ontario lighthouse
- Evangola State Park with campground + Lake Erie
- Fort Niagara State Park
- Buffalo Harbor State Park + Buffalo outer harbor
- Four Mile Creek State Park with campground + Lake Ontario camping
HAPPY VISITING SOME OF THE BEST STATE PARKS IN WESTERN NEW YORK!
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