New York State offers 180 diverse parks, from Atlantic coastlines to glacial lakes. Many parks feature spectacular waterfalls, deep gorges and rugged mountains. They provide a wide array of activities, lodging and accessibility, with some close to New York City. Notable examples include Niagara Falls, the oldest and most popular; Allegany, the largest; Letchworth, famed for its dramatic gorge; Bear Mountain, with extensive trails; Minnewaska, featuring a clear “sky lake”; Hither Hills, offering affordable beach access; Watkins Glen, famous for its deep gorge and more. Visitors can use the the New York State Parks Explorer App for to help with planning their trip. Travelers should also consider arriving early to parks, particularly on holidays and weekends, and bringing essentials.
Everett Potter is a Contributor at Forbes, where he has been sharing insights for over a decade. He specializes in travel and tourism, focusing on adventure travel, luxury experiences, and breaking news in the travel industry, including notable trends like a Netflix billionaire purchasing a ski resort. He is featured in National Geographic, SKI, Yahoo, and his own publication, Everett Potter’s Travel Report.