Devil's Hole State Park
Devil's Hole State Park, July 2016
Devil's Hole State Park is located in New York
Devil's Hole State Park
Location of Devil's Hole State Park within New York State
TypeState park
LocationRobert Moses Parkway
Niagara Falls, New York[1]
Nearest cityNiagara Falls, New York
Coordinates43°08′06″N 79°02′46″W / 43.135°N 79.046°W / 43.135; -79.046
Area42 acres (17 ha)[2]
Created1924 (1924)[3]
Operated byNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Visitors158,816 (in 2016)[4]
OpenAll year
WebsiteDevil's Hole State Park

Devil's Hole State Park is a 42-acre (17 ha) state park located in Niagara County, New York, north of the City of Niagara Falls. The day-use park overlooks the lower Niagara River Gorge.

History

Devil's Hole State Park occupies a location that was historically an important portage used by Native Americans to transport canoes around Niagara Falls and rapids on the Niagara River. It was the location of an early battle between European settlers and Native Americans over control of the portage route.[5]

The park was opened in 1924, and is one of the oldest state parks in the region, although it was preceded by Niagara Falls State Park.[3]

Description

Devil's Hole State Park is a 42-acre (17 ha)[2] day-use park that allows fishing, hiking, picnic tables, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.[1] A popular trail descends into the Niagara River Gorge to allow close access to the rapids below, however off-trail hiking is prohibited due to dangerous conditions.[6]

The park is connected with nearby Whirlpool State Park via the Devil's Hole Trail at the gorge's bottom, as well as a trail along the gorge's rim, which together form a complete loop.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Devil's Hole State Park". NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Section O: Environmental Conservation and Recreation, Table O-9". 2014 New York State Statistical Yearbook (PDF). The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. 2014. p. 671. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Natural Heritage Trust; New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; New York State Council of Parks & Recreation (1975). Fifty Years: New York State Parks, 1924-1974. Natural Heritage Trust. p. 21.
  4. ↑ "State Park Annual Attendance Figures by Facility: Beginning 2003". Data.ny.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Devils Hole State Park". Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, National Park Service. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  6. ↑ Morse, Katie (July 8, 2015). "Man falls while walking off trail at Devil's Hole". WKBW. Scripps Media, Inc. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Whirlpool State Park". NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Retrieved August 11, 2016.

The folklore attributed to Devil’s Hole is covered in Episode 1 of the “I Scream Social” podcast hosted by Abby Schiesser.


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