Niagara Falls is not super well known for its hiking trails.
It is a world-famous destination, with 3 massive waterfalls that span the border between NY and Ontario, Canada. There is ziplining, jet-boating, the Maid of the Mist and plenty of other exciting things to do.
But there are also quite a few hiking trails, and while they don’t climb mountains, they go along the beautiful Niagara River Gorge, and are worth checking out. They have hiking trails for every level of hiker, at several different state parks along the river in western NY.
- Good to Know: This article is focused primarily on Niagara Falls hiking trails in NY State, although there is some mention of hiking in Canada.
Year visited: 2025
Time of year: May
What’s in this Article:
- Niagara Falls Hiking Trails Overview
- Niagara Gorge Trailhead
- Niagara Gorge Rim Trail
- Whirlpool Rapids Trail
- Devil’s Hole Trail
- Other Good Hikes Nearby
- Best Time of Year to Visit
Niagara Falls Hiking Trails Overview
There are quite a few Niagara Falls hiking trails. Though that can be a bit misleading, as most of the trails are not technically “in” Niagara Falls State Park. There are actually three different state parks where you will find trailheads, with the best trails being at the other two parks.
You can download a map of all the trails from any of the state park websites.
The three most popular trails are:
- Niagara Gorge Rim Trail
- Whirlpool Rapids Trail
- Devil’s Hole Trail
All three state parks are located along the edge of the Niagara River, and are connected via the Gorge Rim Trail.
There are some other hikes in the area, like the Great Gorge Railway Trail, but the trails all tend to overlap with each other, so I consider those three the most important to understand.
How to Get to the Niagara Falls Hiking Trails
There are several ways to get to the trailheads, if you are looking to go hiking in Niagara Falls.
- Car: There are parking lots at all of the main trailheads, if you are driving. Parking is free at the Niagara Gorge Trailhead, Whirlpool State Park and Devil’s Hole State Park.
- Bike: You can rent a bike and bike along the trails through all of the state parks. There are Reddybikes stations at the trailheads.
- Shuttle: The Discover Niagara Shuttle will transport you from all the points of interest in Niagara Falls to the hiking trails. The free shuttle runs seasonally, from Memorial Day-Columbus Day, and covers everywhere from Niagara Falls State Park to Old Fort Niagara State Park!
Niagara Gorge Trailhead Center
A good place to start in search of Niagara Falls hiking trails is at the Trail Center. Which is not to be confused with the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center (also known as Great Lakes 360)…
Both the Discovery Center and the Trail Center are located off of the same (free) parking lot.
The Discovery Center is the Great Lakes 360 building. It is a part of the Aquarium of Niagara, and displays local marine life from Lake Erie and the Niagara River. Admission to the aquarium is $25, and includes both the main aquarium and the 360 building. You can purchase tickets at either entrance, and easily walk between the two.
Contrarily, the smaller building across from the Great Lakes 360 building is the Trail Information Center. There are bathrooms, trail maps, and bikes available here. The information booth is only manned seasonally.
You can get the Niagara Gorge Rim Trail here, and follow this path to Niagara Falls State Park to the south, and Whirlpool State Park to the north.
You can also walk past the ruins of the Schoellkopf Power Station here, and take the elevator down to the ruins at the bottom of the gorge. The elevator is open most days in May-October.
Niagara Gorge Rim Trail
The Niagara Gorge Rim Trail is 5.4 miles total. It runs from Goat Island in Niagara Falls State Park all the way up to Devil’s Hole State Park.
Quick Facts:
- 5.4 mile trail
- Easy hike
- Good for walking & biking
- Pick up trail in:
- Niagara Falls State Park
- Niagara Gorge Trail Center
- Whirlpool State Park
- Devil’s Hole State Park
The trail is mostly a flat, paved path, which is easy to bike on, though, to be honest, parts of it are a bit boring as far as hiking trails go.
You can pick up the trail at any of the three state parks, or at the Niagara Gorge Trail Center.
The hike between Niagara Falls and the Trail Center is the least interesting, in my opinion. The trees are pretty in the spring, but the trail walking path runs along the more developed part of the river into the city of Niagara Falls, whereas the other hiking trails are more remote.
Personally, I would park at Whirlpool State Park (more information on that below), and hike the section of the trail from there. The Gorge Rim Trail goes through the woods, with beautiful views of the turquoise water below. It is much more fun and interesting than the paved walking path, as well as quieter and more serene.
- Pro Tip: You can park at Whirlpool State Park and hike the Gorge Rim Trail to Devil’s Hole State Park, and then take the free shuttle (Memorial Day-Columbus Day) back to your car.
Whirlpool Rapids Trail
The Whirlpool Rapids Trail is the most difficult of the hiking trails in Niagara Falls. To reach it, you have to climb down… a lot… of stairs. But you are rewarded with a fun hike along the edge of the beautiful Niagara River.
Quick Facts:
- 1.7 mile trail
- Challenging hike
- Has stairs
- Pick up trail in: Whirlpool State Park
Whirlpool State Park
Whirlpool State Park is free to enter and park. There is a good size parking lot at the entrance, as well as plenty of picnic tables, grills and a playground. A seasonal visitor’s center has bathrooms and information about the area.
- Good to Know: The bathroom is gender neutral. Everyone goes in the same bathroom, but the stall doors go floor to ceiling, and are completely private.
You can access the best part of the Gorge Rim Trail here, as well as the challenging Whirlpool Rapids Trail. There is also a viewpoint that looks out over a bend in the Niagara River, that is accessible for everyone. You can see the Whirlpool Aero Car cross over from Canada, or the Whirlpool Jet Boats face the rapids below!
Hiking Trail(s)
To be honest, I thought I was on the Whirlpool Rapids Trail, until I got home and realized no, it was just the Gorge Rim Trail looking down on the river (where the actual Whirlpool Trail is). This section of the Gorge Rim Trail was my favorite! It’s one of the best spots for hiking in Niagara Falls.
I started down the Whirlpool Stairs to see where they went… and they just go to more stairs. Like, a lot of stairs.
So I turned around (before I was too far gone!) and climbed back up. After I was passed by the guy running up the stairs…!
- Fun Fact: I met a man on the trail (the Gorge Rim), who had just had a knee replacement (and was waiting on the other one). He was out “stretching his legs,” and he told me he had tackled the stairs earlier. Needless to say, I was impressed. But also, all that to say that the stairs are doable. Just not for me…
If you are doing the Whirlpool Trail, follow the stairs off of the Rim Trail. The hike takes about 3 hours to do round trip, and is not recommended for children under age 8.
You can hike all the way to Devil’s Hole State Park and take those stairs up to follow the Rim Trail back to Whirlpool State Park. Or you can take the shuttle during the summer season, or rent a bike to get back to your car.
- Good to Know: A section of the trail between Whirlpool Rapids and Devil’s Hole is currently closed, so you can not hike all the way through at this time.
Devil’s Hole Trail
Devil’s Hole Trail also hikes along the base of the Niagara River, but it is not as challenging as the Whirlpool Rapids Trail. It is reached by taking the Devil’s Hole Stairs down from the Gorge Rim Trail above.
Quick Facts:
- 1.5 mile trail
- Moderate hike
- Has stairs
- Pick up trail in: Devil’s Hole State Park
Devil’s Hole State Park
Devil’s Hole State Park is the smallest of the three parks, and has a fairly small (free) parking lot. There is a bathroom a little ways down the trail (toward the stairs).
Hiking Trail
Like the Whirlpool Stairs, I started down the Devil’s Hole Stairs and saw how far they just kept going (and going). I mean… they do go all the way down to the base of the river…
I decided those stairs were not for me, so once again I stuck to the Gorge Rim Trail at the top…
The Devil’s Hole hike should take about 2.5 hours round trip, and is not recommended for children under 8. It is more moderate than the Whirlpool Rapids hike, while still offering beautiful views of the rapids and river.
Map of the state parks and Niagara Falls hiking trailheads:
Other Good Hikes Near Niagara Falls
There are several other popular hiking trails near Niagara Falls that are worth checking out:
Eternal Flame Falls
The Eternal Flame is a popular hiking spot for locals in Buffalo. It is a fairly easy trail, just over a mile long. There are stairs leading down into a river bed, which you then follow a short ways to the falls. You can smell the sulphur from the “eternal” flame as you approach.
The worst part of the hike is the climb back up (but easier than Whirlpool Rapids and Devil’s Hole!). It’s good to know that you will probably get your feet wet hiking through the stream.
Niagara Glen (Canada)
For hiking trails on the Canada side of Niagara Falls, visit the Niagara Glen. A good place to start is the Niagara Glen Nature Centre, where you can get trail information, snacks and souvenirs, and even join a guided hike.
There are several hiking trails throughout the Niagara Glen. They are similar to the trails on the US side, as they run along the opposite river bank. This article has some helpful information for hiking there.
Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park is an hour and a half drive from Niagara Falls, and is one of the best places to go hiking in western NY. It has been recognized as the best state park in the country. There are plenty of easy hiking trails, accessible viewpoints and other things to do in this stunning state park.
Best Time of Year for Hiking in Niagara Falls
The best time to go hiking in Niagara Falls is early summer or early fall.
The free shuttle runs from Memorial Day-Labor Day, which is also when you will have the best weather, making those months ideal for hiking.
I would aim for early June as one of the best times to visit. NY schools don’t get out until mid-late June, so hopefully the trails and falls will not be crowded. Plus, summer is the absolute best time to visit Niagara Falls and other attractions like Old Fort Niagara.
May, September and October can also be good times to visit. Some things will be closed, and the weather may… or may not be good. Fall is stunning in western NY & Canada. And I visited on a beautiful 80 degree (F) in May!
Further Reading:
I’ve been to Niagara Falls a bunch of times (and in every season!). Here are some more resources to help you plan your trip to the area:
- The Complete Guide to Niagara Falls (US & Canada!)
- 25+ Things to Do in Niagara Falls
- The Historic Old Fort Niagara & Youngstown, NY
- 40+ Things to Do in Buffalo, NY
- The Best 1-Week Road Trip from Niagara Falls, NY
Any more questions?
If you have any questions about hiking trails in Niagara Falls, feel free to email me or comment below, and I will do my best to answer them! Or if you have any suggestions about hiking in the area, please share those in the comments below!
Planning a trip?
If you’re planning a trip to the Niagara area, be sure to save one of the pins below for future trip planning:
Julia is a travel blogger with a Bachelor’s Degree in photography from Indiana Wesleyan University. She worked as a professional photo-retoucher for seven and a half years, before leaving the company to work in the travel industry. She now works at a historic 1800’s hotel. When she’s not working, she’s reading fantasy novels or classic literature, and planning trips to magical destinations.
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