Creating Breathtaking Views of Niagara Falls

Project To Extend Walkway From Gorge to Prospect Point

Part of Governor Hochul’s Summer Campaign to Help Kids and Families “Get Offline, Get Outside”

Renderings Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced construction is set to begin on the extension of the ‘Crow’s Nest’ at Niagara Falls State Park. The expansion project includes the construction of new stairs and an overlook structure which will connect the existing ‘Crow’s Nest’ feature to Prospect Point at Niagara Falls State Park, providing a new close-up view of the Falls. Today’s announcement builds on Governor Hochul’s summer campaign to help kids and families “Get Offline, Get Outside.”

“Niagara Falls State Park is the perfect place to get outdoors, get offline, and enjoy nature,” Governor Hochul said. “This project will provide another opportunity for New Yorkers to put their phones down and take advantage of all the beautiful natural resources that our state has to offer.”

The ‘Crow’s Nest’ is a set of stairs located alongside the American Falls that allow visitors to climb halfway up the side of the Falls for breathtaking views of the Falls before requiring visitors to go back down into the Gorge and return to the upper level via the Maid of the Mist elevators. When complete, the project will provide visitors with a new option to experience the Niagara Gorge and relieve pedestrian congestion in the lower gorge during the busy season, where the only current means of egress is the elevator inside of the observation tower. The stairs will be operated as a one-way egress from the lower gorge during the busy season, and as a two-way access to the overlook during a portion of the off season.

Work will begin in early September and be complete for the 2026 season. The $9 million project is being funded by State Parks capital funding, The Maid of the Mist Corporation, The Niagara River Greenway and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Governor Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign builds on her efforts to promote healthy living among young people and families across New York. Governor Hochul recently signed nation-leading legislation – the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and New York Child Data Protection Act – to protect kids from addictive social media feeds and shield their personal data from online platforms. Learn more about Governor Hochul’s Get Offline, Get Outside campaign.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 79.5 million visits in 2022. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the OPRHP Blog.