The Most Visited State Park in America is in Upstate NY — With 19 Waterfalls, 400 Foot Gorges & 800 Stone Steps

If you’re planning a nature escape this fall, you might not need to travel far. 👀🍂 According to new Google Maps data, the most visited state park in the entire U.S. is right here in Upstate New York . The recent ranking is based on direction requests made on the platform since Memorial Day 2025, and topping the list is Watkins Glen State Park : a Finger Lakes gem famous for its dramatic gorge, cascading waterfalls, and winding hiking trails . With a gorge that drops 400 feet across two miles , the park packs in 19 waterfalls that you can hike past, behind, and even under. One of them being the gorgeous and extremely photogenic Rainbow Falls , where you can catch sunlight striking the falling water just perfectly, creating rainbows on many late summer and fall days. Looking for a scenic hike? The Gorge Trail remains the most popular route, but the North and South Rim trails offer equally scenic views and even connect to the 800+ mile Finger Lakes Trail. Beyond its natural beauty, the park also offers camping, picnic areas, and even an Olympic-sized pool in the summer , making it a destination for both day-trippers and weekend travelers. If you’re looking for a full breakdown of trails, when to go, and where to eat and drink nearby, check out our complete Watkins Glen State Park guide for everything you need to plan your visit. Watkins Glen wasn’t the only New York entry on Google Maps’ list of the most visited state parks in the U.S either. Letchworth State Park — often nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the East” — landed at No. 5, and Jones Beach State Park rounded out the list at No. 10. Take a look at the full list below. The 10 most visited state parks in the U.S., according to Google Maps data -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Watkins Glen State Park — New York 2. Liberty State Park — New Jersey 3. Silver Falls State Park — Oregon 4. Starved Rock State Park — Illinois 5. Letchworth State Park — New York 6. Hammonasset Beach State Park — Connecticut 7. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve — California 8. Warren Dunes State Park — Michigan 9. Blue Spring State Park — Florida 10. Jones Beach State Park — New York Source: https://secretnyc.co/most-visited-state-park-in-us-google-maps-2025-watkins-glen-state-park/