The Most Breathtaking National And State Parks To Visit In New York

In a part of central New York known as the Finger Lakes, named for the long, skinny bodies of water that splay across the land like slender, elegant fingers, this park is also a huge draw for water admirers. More precisely, the waterfalls here are a sumptuous sight, formed by the flow of Buttermilk Creek making its way along the valley floor as it pushes forward to Cayuga Lake. 

The cascades appear in various guises, gently dropping down terraced layers of rock, cutting through other parts of rock to create curving gorges, and sliding down slopes to create frothing torrents. Some of the pools that the falls empty into are perfect for swimming — a cooling tub of natural water that is a glorious recipe for relaxation on a hot summer's day. Elsewhere, visitors can find a number of trails that slice through the woods or along the edges of the gorge, and even see an area of wetlands.

Located east of Rochester, on the shores of Lake Ontario, Chimney Bluffs State Park has a name that gives visitors a hint of what to expect. While the opportunities to look over the never-ending expanse of the lake are reason enough to visit, the views of the jagged, pointy rock formations along its coastline make this a truly hypnotic spectacle. Rising like church spires, or the craggy teeth of a prehistoric beast, this park is a realm of sculptural beauty, rocks eroded and shaped by the elements, extending out along bluffs that meet the water's edge. 

The contrast between the sharp, elevated features and the flat, blue water below is a scintillating combination — and one that almost defies belief. The bluffs themselves are accessible via trails from the parking area. For a truly unforgettable visual feast, try to visit them at sunset from a vantage point that looks west to see the fading sun cast a warming glow on their haunting contours.

A national park that sits just off Long Island, Fire Island National Seashore is home to 26 miles of shore — and some of the finest beaches anywhere along the U.S. East Coast. For residents of New York City, Fire Island is a familiar, beloved summer destination, just an hour away from the Big Apple, and beautifully natural. A visit here can include a stop at the lighthouse, walks through old forests, and strolls around the homes of people that played a key role in American history, like William Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

Of course, there is always the beach. Since this national park can only be reached by boat, with no paved roads anywhere along it, waterfront areas aren't blighted by the disheartening beach traffic that many other beaches in and around Long Island might suffer. Fire Island is also known as a hugely welcoming destination for the LGBTQ+ community, even spawning a film called "Fire Island" that premiered in 2022.

Sitting just south of the soaring skyline of Manhattan's Financial District, where the East River and Hudson River meet, Governors Island National Monument is a living vestige of the city's history from two centuries ago. The island was a military stronghold, with the circular Castle Williams and the angular Fort Jay playing important roles in the defense of the city from possible naval attacks, part of a larger network up and down the coast to protect the country's marine borders. 

Since then, the island has served as an army headquarters and even a Coast Guard base. Nowadays, visitors are likely to come for the Civil War era re-enactments, to lay on large grassy lawns, or to cycle around the island's winding paths. A trip onto the island, only accessible by ferry, promises a fascinating look at the past, as well as striking views of the present — the towers of Manhattan are clearly visible in the near distance.

A couple of hours drive north of New York City, Minnewaska State Park Preserve is a delight for the active-minded, as well as anyone in search of some finely weathered mountain territory. The park sits along the ridge of the Shawangunk Mountains, a range extolled by climbers in the area, and its elevation allows for expansive views of the surrounding natural canvas. And those views are quite breathtaking, sometimes on bluffs that survey the tops of trees or along ridge lines that rise above lakes.

There are many waterfalls, cliffs that allow visitors to feel like they are on top of the world, and forests spliced by hiking trails — with 50 miles of paths that can be hiked or biked. There are also places to swim, climb, and even scuba dive. For those who like their adventure light, a trip here is immensely satisfying; you can simply sit by a waterfall that drops over a wall of rock into a crystal-clear pool to witness nature distilled down to its purest best.

A short drive north of Albany, the capital of New York State, this slash of greenery sits surrounded by water, where the Mohawk River and Hudson River meet. There are lots of walking trails that criss-cross Peebles Island State Park. When venturing inside the woods, visitors might feel like they are miles from civilization. It's an extremely peaceful place, with some paths running along the river's edge.

For such a small destination, there is surprising variety. Walks can go through broad fields, dive into dense forests, laze past bubbling river rapids, and rumble along elevated sections that tower above cliffs. There is plenty of wildlife, such as deer, hawks, and skunks. The island is one of many at the confluence of these rivers, and even though urban areas lie close by, there really is a sense of total escape, which is the whole point of visiting a park, isn't it?

Yes, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, which can be reached from the heart of New York City in less than an hour, does refer to the powerful American family. This patch of land was once part of the Rockefeller empire, an expanse near the Hudson River, formerly known as the Pocantico Hills and Rockwood Halls estates. Now, more than 1,700 acres form this park, where the terrain ranges from hills populated with dense woods, to picturesque valleys and tranquil country fields. The pathways here were former carriage roads made of crushed stones to form a network of almost 50 miles that are a walker's dream.

Wandering along the trails, visitors might encounter a placid lake, the gentle flow of a river, bridges made both of stone and wood, cliffs, and of course, plenty of trees, with oaks, poplar, and beech among them. Birders also prize this destination for the rich avian life — more than 200 species of birds have been spotted here.

If any single image is representative of the United States, it would be the Statue of Liberty, an icon that most visitors to New York yearn to see. Lady Liberty stands proud on the self-contained, 12-acre Liberty Island, south of the island of Manhattan in New York Harbor. The towering sculpture was, as the familiar story goes, gifted to America by France in the 1880s before officially being commemorated in its present location in 1886.

Beyond being a landmark beyond compare, the giant figure is certainly an impressive piece of work. It stands more than 150 feet tall, and, at one point, was the tallest man-made structure in the world. During high winds, the statue even sways, with the torch above moving up to 5 inches back and forth. The interior of the statue is a real feat of engineering, with soaring columns made of iron providing the foundation that secures an inner frame and 300 sheets of copper laid on top. Climbing to the crown requires ascending a lot of steps, but the views are worth it.

At times, when ambling around this park also in the Finger Lakes, visitors might find themselves sighing in complete contentment — such is the all-consuming beauty of this natural gem. The twisting canyons and gorges at Watkins Glen State Park can feel otherworldly at times. There are terraced layers of rock sometimes topped with moss, other times moistened by small streams of water falling from above, with the main glen waterway continuing to cut its way through the rock.

The water runs along 2 miles of gorge, gradually dropping 400 feet in the process. There are 200-foot cliffs that help create 19 waterfalls as the water travels along its journey. Trails hover over falls, or sometimes pass below them, and, on one occasion, even pass through an area where the spray of a cascade provides some welcome relief from the heat. Since the gap between the banks of the river is small and the gorge is compact, the walk is often shaded, even on a sunny day.