The Oldest State Park In The U.S. Is Expanding With 150 Acres Of Hiking Trails, Overlooks & Waterfall Views

Niagara Falls has always been one of the state’s most stunning natural headliners. The roar, the mist, the ponchos, the photos that somehow never capture how loud it actually is. But quietly—and very strategically—New York State has been rewriting the script for America’s oldest state park . Niagara Falls State Park , first established in 1885, is officially expanding , and not in a “new gift shop” way. This is a full-on glow-up that turns the Falls into the anchor of a massive, connected gorge experience stretching nearly five uninterrupted miles along the Niagara River . Niagara Falls State Park is absorbing two neighboring parks ----------------------------------------------------------- After being announced years ago at this point by Governor Kathy Hochul, Whirlpool State Park and Devil’s Hole State Park are officially being folded into Niagara Falls State Park as newly designated “zones.” Together, the merger adds about 150 acres and two miles of new trails , creating one continuous park corridor from the Niagara Scenic Parkway all the way to the Niagara Power Vista Visitor Center . Translation? What used to feel like three separate stops now functions as one long, scenic adventure —connected by gorge-side paths, clearer signage, and dramatically better wayfinding . State officials say the reason is simple: millions of people come for the Falls, but most never realize what’s just a mile or two north. “Niagara Falls State Park, that is the name that people recognize. They don’t recognize ‘Whirlpool.’ They don’t recognize ‘Devil’s Hole’ as much,” Mark Mistretta , the New York State Parks Niagara Regional Director, told 7 News WKBW. “We actually did surveys, and a lot of people really didn’t make the connection and understand that there’s a couple more parks up there, so we want to do a better job marketing that.” Five miles of gorge views (and way fewer crowds) ------------------------------------------------ Once complete, the expanded park will offer nearly five miles of continuous shoreline overlooks tracing the Niagara River. That includes views of the Whirlpool Rapids, Devil’s Hole Rapids, and some of the most dramatic Class V whitewater in the entire region . It’s also where things get noticeably quieter. While Niagara Falls State Park pulls in roughly 9 million visitors a year , Whirlpool and Devil’s Hole combined see fewer than a million. The state’s goal isn’t to move the crowds—it’s to spread them out, giving visitors a reason to linger longer and explore deeper into the gorge . A new staircase fixes one of the falls’ biggest bottlenecks ----------------------------------------------------------- One of the most tangible upgrades also happening is the long-awaited Crow’s Nest extension , currently slated for completion during the 2026 season. The project extends the iconic staircase near the American Falls up to Prospect Point , creating a continuous loop that lets visitors move through the area without doubling back or clogging the Maid of the Mist elevators. This will result in easier circulation during peak season and a brand-new overlook that offers an unusually close, slightly heart-racing view of the American Falls—previously inaccessible to the public. Despite the rebrand and expansion, officials say there are no current plans to add parking fees at Whirlpool or Devil’s Hole, which have traditionally been free to enter. The idea is to bring more people north and not put up new barriers. Future amenities like overlooks, concessions, and play areas may follow if visitation increases, but the core promise stays the same: more access, better flow, and a much bigger sense of scale . Source: https://secretnyc.co/niagara-falls-state-park-expanding-spring-2026/