The best state parks in the nation call infinitely explorable New York home. From a lakeside gem that looks like a sand castle on steroids to a stunner filled with waterfalls and mountain lakes, the Empire State is dotted with bucket list-worthy state parks. But which of New York’s whopping 180 state parks are the best? Here are the top 15 state parks in Upstate New York: Watkins Glen State Park 1009 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen When you’re looking for the “wow factor,” Watkins Glen hits all the right notes. For 2 miles, visitors along the Gorge Trail are treated to waterfall after waterfall, each one seemingly more beautiful than the last. While the award-winning Finger Lakes park is open year-round, the popular Gorge Trail is open seasonally from mid to late May through the early days of November, depending on snowfall. The short season makes catching glimpses of these natural wonders even sweeter. The trail is filled with stairs which can be slippery due to waterfall mist, so make sure to wear proper shoes. Each year, visitors come by the busload to this Upstate New York town to stroll the scenic waterfall trail surrounded by 200-foot cliffs. If you’re hoping to get some quiet time on the trail, arrive early. Chimney Bluffs State Park 7700 Garner Road, Wolcott There is something delightfully otherworldly about Chimney Bluffs State Park. The park gets its name from the dramatic, eroding cliffs that form chimney-shaped spires towering up to 150 high over the southern shore of vast Lake Ontario. The natural sculptures are comprised of sand, gravel and rocks deposited by glaciers thousands of years ago and sculpted over time by harsh weather. While Chimney Bluffs features a mix of trails, the short path along the rocky beach below the bluffs is the top draw. The popular park is a favorite among photographers and has been dubbed one of America’s favorite secret beaches. Minnewaska State Park Preserve 5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson The Shawangunk Mountains (aka “The Gunks”) are known for their world-class rock climbing in the east, but you don’t need helmets and ropes to enjoy the expansive Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Minnewaska can also claim celebrity status, having recently been seen in the popular Apple TV+ series “Severance.” Though located just south of the Catskills, this Hudson Valley park feels like a different world with its unique forest of pitch pines and mountain laurels alongside gigantic piles of boulders that can make hikers feel like tiny ants scrambling over them. The park also has ice caves, countless waterfalls and lakes for swimming when lifeguards are on duty. The popular Sam’s Point Area, where you will find ice caves, waterfalls and the Sam’s Point lookout, requires parking reservations on weekends and holidays from April 15 through Nov. 15. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-800-456-2267. Glimmerglass State Park 1527 County Highway 31, Cooperstown Like all good parks, there’s plenty of beauty to be found at Glimmerglass State Park. Along with a pristine beach on glittering Otsego Lake, the park 8 miles north of charming Cooperstown features quiet woodland trails. But what makes Glimmerglass State Park a standout are its historical landmarks. The park is home to the Hyde Park Covered Bridge, the oldest remaining covered bridge in the United States. The wooden Burr arch-truss bridge built in 1825 spans a creek and is covered in decades of names carved by visitors. Glimmerglass State Park also hosts Hyde Hall Mansion, a tourable 19th-century neoclassical mansion overlooking Otsego Lake. Saratoga Spa State Park 19 Roosevelt Dr, Saratoga Springs New York State Parks offer opportunities to see, hear, smell and feel the natural world, but few let you taste it like Saratoga Spa State Park. Saratoga Springs gets its name from the area’s naturally carbonated mineral springs, the only ones of their kind east of the Rocky Mountains. By the mid-1800s, the town had become a wellness destination, drawing visitors seeking healing through its waters. By taking the Geyser Trail through the park, you can sip and savor 12 different mineral springs, each with their own distinct flavor. The waters can range from tasting pure and fresh to, as one ranger described it, “like a nosebleed,” thanks to its strong iron and salty taste. You can still see many of the grand bathhouses from the Gilded Age or enjoy a mineral soak yourself in one of the park’s bath facilities or its scenic public pool. Letchworth State Park 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile There’s a reason the Grand Canyon of the East is considered one of the best parks in the United States. Letchworth State Park sprawls across two Western New York counties. The surreally beautiful park follows the Genesee River as it forks between cliffs up to 600 feet tall and cascades over three major waterfalls. The park offers outdoor fun in all seasons, from hiking and cross-country skiing to whitewater rafting and kayaking. The most daring adventurers even opt to take hot air balloon rides over the gorgeous (pun intended) park. Along with plenty of places to camp, Letchworth offers visitors a chance to eat a memorable meal in the park’s historic Glen Iris Inn and explore the nation’s first Autism Nature Trail. Green Lakes State Park 7900 Green Lakes Road, Fayetteville The turquoise water that colors Green Lakes State Park‘s two glacial lakes looks more like the Caribbean than Central New York. Green Lake and Round Lake are two of only six meromictic — or non-mixing — lakes in New York. The lakes are considered to hold evidence dating back to the last ice age. The blue-green lakes beloved by kayakers are far from the park’s sole gems: Over 1,000 acres of the state park are classified as old growth. Scientists aren’t the only ones who love Green Lakes State Park. The park features a sandy beach for swimming, miles of hiking trails and an 18-hole golf course. Chittenango Falls State Park 5241 Gorge Rd #13, Cazenovia Viewing a 167-foot waterfall has never been easier, thanks to the proximity of the parking lot to Chittenango Falls in Cazenovia. Just a short walk from the lot, you can view the stream and the top of the falls, cascading deep into the gorge. The gorge trail here is just a 0.36-mile loop, but as you walk the stairs down to the footbridge at the bottom, there are many lookouts and photo ops to get every angle of the waterfall. The falls are also said to be the only place in the world where the endangered Chittenango ovate amber snail lives. This park is popular in both summer and fall with its many picnic areas and beautiful autumn foliage. Niagara Falls State Park 332 Prospect St., Niagara Falls Did you know Niagara Falls is the oldest state park in America? Formed in 1885, the roaring Niagara Falls is visited by millions of people from around the world every year. The American Falls are imminently photogenic and are part of the “most Instagrammed” state park in America. Niagara Falls State Park offers a variety of ways for visitors to view the famous waterfall. That ranges from the Maid of the Mist, a boat ride that brings visitors close to the American and Horseshoe Falls, to the Cave of the Winds, which allows poncho-wearing adventurers to get soaked on a hurricane deck close to the falls. Taughannock Falls State Park 1740 Taughannock Blvd., Trumansburg Central New York’s favorite waterfall delights in all seasons, from when it freezes into a mammoth icicle in winter to when it thunders in spring. Taughannock Falls is at the heart of a nearly 400-foot-tall gorge outside of Ithaca. At 215 towering feet, it is the highest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. The waterfall can be viewed from two main vantage points: the overlook on the North Rim Trail or from the flat Gorge Trail, which takes visitors right up to the pool at the base of Taughannock. The parking lot for Taughannock Falls State Park is across the street from the lakeside Cayuga Lake State Park, giving visitors a chance to knock out two great parks in one day. Robert G. Wehle State Park 5182 State Park Rd, Henderson Once a training ground for the United States Armed Forces and then a private estate, Robert G. Wehle State Park in Henderson is one of the newest parks in the Northern New York region, opening in 2004. Located along rocky cliffs on Lake Ontario, one of the nation’s Great Lakes, remnants of the site’s military history, as well as Wehle’s sculptures of his beloved Elhew Pointers, a breed of sporting dogs, remain at the site. The 13 trails are also given names for champion dogs. In addition to the beautiful coastline and rocky shores you can walk along, you can also rent the former summer home of Robert Wehle and wake up to the waves crashing against the cliffs. Visitors can spend the day exploring the park and have dinner in a nearby historic town, Sackets Harbor. Wellesley Island State Park 44927 Cross Island Road, Fineview Island vibes are strong at Wellesley Island State Park, a gem of the Thousand Islands. The island park — which is accessible by car or boat — boasts 432 campsites, making it the biggest camping complex in the beloved vacation region. Wellesley Island offers a mix of rustic and cabin camping. A stay on the island doesn’t require campers to rough it, however: The park has a full-service marina, a camp store, a laundromat and an arcade. While its boat launches and sandy beach make Wellesley Island a great place for swimming, boating and fishing, the state park also hosts a nine-hole golf course. John Boyd Thacher State Park 830 Thacher Pk Rd, Voorheesville Just a short drive away from Albany and Saratoga Springs lies John Boyd Thacher State Park, located along the Helderberg Escarpment. One of the richest fossil-bearing formations in the world, this park is home to 6 miles of limestone cliff-face and rock-strewn slopes with panoramic views. The historic Indian Ladder trail is open seasonally and allows visitors to walk under waterfalls and over a stream as they explore the rocky formation. Even on a hot summer day, you can find a nice breeze among the cool rocks and caves along the path. In addition to the beautiful nature center, the park has an additional 25 miles of trails for hiking, biking and more. Rock climbers can also practice their sport on a reserved part of the escarpment with a completed John Boyd Thacher State Park risk climbing waiver permit. Learn more via the Thacher Climbing Coalition. Robert H. Treman State Park 105 Enfield Falls Road, Ithaca If taking a dip in a swimming hole is on your bucket list, Robert H. Treman State Park can help make your summer wish come true. Housed in gorge-abundant Ithaca, Robert H. Treman is home to 12 waterfalls — including the 115-foot Lucifer Falls. With 9 miles worth of trails, it is a hikers’ paradise. The centerpiece of Robert H. Treman, however, is the swimming hole that pools below Enfield Falls. Visitors can swim in the stream-fed pool below the waterfall in an area monitored by lifeguards. For a light thrill, daring swimmers can spring off a diving board into the swimming hole. Midway State Park 4859 NY-430, Bemus Point New York State Parks are lauded for their natural beauty, but one park in Western New York pairs scenic views with history and family fun. Midway State Park in Bemus Point was established in 1898 as a trolley park. Today, it’s one of the longest-running amusement parks in the United States. While the park is open year-round, its rides and attractions operate seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Set along the shore of sparkling Chautauqua Lake, the park features carnival rides, classic games, cotton candy and more, offering a nostalgic, family-friendly experience. Want to ride the carousel over and over? You can even reserve it by the hour for private parties. The park also includes tributes to comedian and TV icon Lucille Ball, who was born in nearby Jamestown, and showcases historic relics of its past in an on-site museum. Want to check a few of these parks off your list? Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee between $6 to $10 dollars per day during peak season. Historic sites generally charge an admission fee between $1 to $6. Information on parking fees and hours can be found by contacting the facility directly. If you’re planning to spend your summer in state parks, visitors also have the option to purchase an Empire Pass, which gives you unlimited access to New York State Parks for a season or for a lifetime. View the varying passes at the New York State Parks store.