Fall is fleeting, which means now is the time to start plotting those crisp-weather escapes, colorful hikes, and scenic weekend drives before the season disappears. 🍂
And according to Google Maps data, you don’t have to go particularly far from New York City to find one of the most popular state parks in the country.
Last year, Google Maps data revealed that the most visited state park in the country was Watkins Glen State Park, a Finger Lakes gem known for its dramatic gorge, cascading waterfalls, and winding trails.
This Upstate NY park is packed with waterfalls, gorges, and scenic trails
Watkins Glen State Park may be tucked into New York’s Finger Lakes region, but its scenery feels worlds away from the city. The park’s centerpiece is its spectacular gorge, which stretches for roughly two miles and drops hundreds of feet through layers of rock carved by water over thousands of years.
Along the way, hikers can pass 19 waterfalls, including the especially photogenic Rainbow Falls, where water pours beneath a stone bridge surrounded by towering gorge walls. The Gorge Trail is the park’s signature route, winding alongside the waterfalls and through the gorge itself, while the North and South Rim trails offer higher-up views of the landscape.
And if you’re looking to turn the visit into more than a day trip, the park also offers camping, picnic areas, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool during the summer months.
New York isn’t the only state with a spot on the list
And Watkins Glen isn’t the only New York destination drawing attention from Google Maps users. Letchworth State Park, often called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” has also earned a place among the country’s most visited state parks, thanks to its enormous gorge, waterfalls, forests, and sweeping overlooks.
And closer to the coast, Jones Beach State Park has also made the national list, giving New York multiple spots among America’s most popular state parks. That’s a pretty impressive showing for one state, even if we’re a bit biased.
The 10 most visited state parks in the U.S., according to Google Maps data
- Watkins Glen State Park — New York
- Liberty State Park — New Jersey
- Silver Falls State Park — Oregon
- Starved Rock State Park — Illinois
- Letchworth State Park — New York
- Hammonasset Beach State Park — Connecticut
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve — California
- Warren Dunes State Park — Michigan
- Blue Spring State Park — Florida
- Jones Beach State Park — New York