Niagara Falls - The American Side - Waterfall and Camping Guide
Written by Nancy Carter of Making My Own Lane
Niagara Falls - The American Side - Waterfall and Camping Guide
Niagara Falls is the oldest State Park in the country, being established in 1885. Like Watkins Glen, I could have stayed all day at the falls just taking in the beauty and the majesty of the water and the rock formations.
Niagara Falls State Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the father of landscape architecture, who also designed the Biltmore Estate Gardens in Asheville, NC, and Central Park, NY.
This park is about 400 acres of rapids, waterfalls, islands, 15 miles of hiking trails, and the Niagara Gorge. About 140 of the 400 acres is under water.
How long does it take to walk through Niagara Falls State Park?
I got there early on a Sunday morning, and there were rainbows everywhere, and the crowds were already starting to form.
I spent about three hours walking the falls and through the park.
It is a lot of walking, so be sure to wear comfortable, non-slips shoes. There are many areas where the ground is wet from the waterfall spray and mist.
I did not see a place to stop and get a map, nor was I offered one at the ranger station/parking area.
However, there were large signs with maps, and I took a picture on my phone so I knew where I was and where I wanted to go.
A couple of times I did get a little lost. The first time I found myself exactly where I was looking to go, even though I thought I had to walk further.
The second time I got lost was on my way back to my car, and I had to walk a little farther than I originally had thought.
Luckily, I had a bottle of water, and an Uncrustables, my go-to hiking snack, with me to save me.
Are pets allowed on the trails?
Pets are allowed on the greenspace and footpaths, but they need to be kept on a leash no longer than six feet long.
I did not bring my dogs on the trails, as it was a little hot out and I didn’t know how much walking I would be doing, or if dogs were even allowed.
As with the other New York State Parks I’ve been to this year, if you do decide to bring your dog, or cat, be sure to bring copies of their recent rabies certificates, with the expiration date (not the metal tags)
Is there an entrance fee for Niagara Falls State Park?
There is a parking fee of $10 per vehicle ($20 for RVs and on the weekend) between May 24th and September 3rd, unless you are camping at a New York State Park. Then your camping pass also serves as your parking pass.
I parked at Parking Lot 3 at Goat Island, used my pass from 4 Mile Creek Campground and saved $20 to park my Jeep.
The parking is RV-friendly, with separate parking for cars and RV’s/buses.
The parking fees are the same for cars and RVs.
Where should I begin my hike?
My first stop was Horseshoe Falls at Terrapin Point. Almost 682,000 gallons of water rush over Horseshoe Falls every second.
Next I walked over to Cave of the Winds, but I didn’t go in. You can learn more about Cave of the Winds in the next section.
From there I crossed over to Luna Island for some amazing views of Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls, which have approximately another 76,000 gallons of water per second between the two falls.
Bridal Veil Falls
American Falls
I followed that water down to the American Falls pedestrian bridge that crossed over Green Island, and walked up to Prospect Point near American Falls.
I kept walking and followed the signs to Maid of the Mist, where I walked out onto the observation deck for more beautiful views of all the falls.
After the observation deck, I backtracked over the bridge at Green Island, and made my way to the Three Sisters Islands.
What else can I do on the American side of Niagara Falls?
Some of the popular things to do at Niagara Falls State Park are:
Maid of the Mist - Put on your (provided) blue rain poncho and head directly to the falls! By the time I got there, around 10 am on a Sunday morning, the line was already stretching out onto the walkway. It looked like it was at least an hour wait, so I decided not to do this. The boat ride is open from 9 am to 6 pm seven days a week.
Observation Tower - Instead, I paid the $1.65 entrance fee to the maid of the mist observation walkway, where you can walk out over the river for some great views of the falls. If you do the Maid of the Mist boat tour, the price of the observation deck is included with your admission.
Cave of the Winds - You will take a ride in an elevator 175 feet down, be given a yellow poncho to wear, and walk a series of wooden boardwalks to the Hurricane Deck to get an up close experience with Bridal Veil Falls. The cave is open from 9 am to 8 pm, but these hours may be different in the winter.
Three Sisters Islands - Three small islands connected by footbridges to Goat Island, where you will see the most beautiful views and really experience the power and force of the water of the Niagara River.
Rainbow Bridge - you can walk or drive over the Rainbow Bridge from the United States to Canada. You will need a passport for everyone in your vehicle. I did think about doing this; however, the Canadian side looked very commercial, so I stayed on the less commercial US side and enjoyed the many walking trails and American-side views.
Niagara Scenic Trolley - Take a 3-mile, guided tour ride where you can hop on and hop at some of Niagara Falls state park attractions. The price of the ticket is $3. I did see the trolley, but I decided to walk on my own instead of riding the trolley.
Niagara Helicopters and Rainbow Air - Helicopter rides near the falls.
Falls Illumination - see the lights shine from three different locations along the falls every night of the year.
Fireworks nightly display at 10 pm from May 17th to October 14th.
Is there any wildlife on the Niagara Gorge Trail?
I saw a black squirrel, but they say you may also see Peregrine Falcon and American Bald Eagle.
Where did I stay in Niagara Falls?
I stayed at 4 Mile Creek State Park, about 30 minutes northwest of Niagara Falls, right on Lake Ontario, the first the five Great Lakes on my RV Road Trip.
The site I chose had an amazing water view of Lake Erie from my front window, which I parked to face the lake. I didn’t have any electric, water or sewer hookups, but I did have one of the best views in the park, and lots of sunshine to fill my batteries back up during the day.
There was a dump station and a place to fill your tanks with potable water, if you needed to do so.
Book your campsite as far in advance as possible. They allow up to nine months in advance. I had no trouble finding a site four months in advance, but there was no additional availability during my stay, except for non-electric sites.
There was a 2-night minimum in all of the New York State Parks that I stayed in.
If you have dogs, be sure to bring copies of their recent rabies certificates, with the expiration date (not the metal tags).
The sites were large and fairly spread out, and I had plenty of room to unhook and store my tow dolly. They have a great camp store where you can get firewood and other camping related items.
The roads were paved, but narrow. And they warned me at the front desk that the main road in the non-electric area was not good. There were some potholes, but nothing like some of the roads I experienced in West Virginia or western North Carolina
This campground did not have a pool, but many people were swimming in Lake Erie, even though the signs warned against it.
Fort Niagara State Park was just a short ride away, but it was packed with a line to get in, so I decided to turn around and go back to the campground.
There are places to eat near 4 Mile Creek Campground. I stopped in at Youngstown Marketside and got a delicious corned beef reuben sandwich. They also have pizza, baked goods, coffee, local produce, and basic grocery items.
Is it worth going to the American side of Niagara Falls?
YES! The park itself is clean and well-kept, and the views of Niagara Falls were so beautiful I could have stayed forever.
If you have any comments, suggestions or questions about the American side of Niagara Falls, or if you would like to know when I publish a new article, you can message me here.
Thanks for joining me as I continue Year 2 of this full-time RV life.
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Hi there! I'm Nancy.
In 2023, I ditched my heels for hiking boots, sold my house, and decided to travel the US full time in my 2005 Lazy Daze Class C RV.
I love to share the places I travel to and what it's like to live in an RV full-time.
If you have ever thought about hitting the road and traveling in an RV, either in your free time or full time, you are in the right place!
Follow along for weekly blog posts about my adventures as I travel the US with my two dogs, Rufus and Willie, and my cat, Katie.