Strawberry Island State Park
🏆🏆🏆🏆 Niagara Island — Small island in the Niagara River between Grand Island and the mainland — part of the Buffalo–Niagara waterway
Strawberry Island State Park is a small island in the Niagara River just south of Grand Island in the Buffalo–Niagara region — part of one of the most powerful waterways in North America. The Niagara River connects Lake Erie (the 4th largest Great Lake) to Lake Ontario, dropping 326 feet over 36 miles — with 167 of those feet concentrated at Niagara Falls! The river carries an average of 750,000 gallons of water per SECOND — the largest volumetric flow rate of any waterfall in North America. Strawberry Island is named for the wild strawberries that once covered the island.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Niagara River, NY |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| River | 750,000 gallons per SECOND! |
| Falls | Niagara — 167ft drop nearby! |
About Strawberry Island
Strawberry Island State Park in the Niagara River near Grand Island provides island recreation just upstream of Niagara Falls — one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls. The Niagara River connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, dropping 326 feet in 36 miles. Strawberry Island sits in the upper river where the current is still manageable, offering unique island recreation with the knowledge that the thundering falls lie just downstream.
Things to Do
Boat-in picnicking and fishing, kayaking the upper Niagara River, bird-watching (the Niagara River is an Important Bird Area for gulls and waterfowl), and enjoying island recreation upstream of Niagara Falls.
Insider Tips
Niagara River: Strawberry Island sits in the Niagara River — the 36-mile strait connecting Lake Erie to Lake Ontario that includes Niagara Falls. Pro tip: The Niagara River carries 750,000 gallons of water per second over the falls — one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. Hydroelectric pioneer: Niagara Falls was where Nikola Tesla’s AC power system first proved itself — the Adams Power Plant (1895) transmitted electricity 26 miles to Buffalo.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: River recreation and falls visits. Fall: Gorge foliage. Spring: High water. Winter: Ice formations at the falls.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much water goes over Niagara Falls?
Niagara Falls carries approximately 750,000 US gallons per second during peak flow — though water diversion for hydroelectric power reduces the daytime flow (especially at night when more water is diverted). The falls are 167 feet tall (Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side). Niagara erodes upstream at about 1 foot per year — 12,000 years ago the falls were 7 miles downstream. Without erosion control, the falls will eventually reach Lake Erie and disappear.
Wildlife & Nature
Strawberry Island SP — on the Niagara River between Lake Erie and Niagara Falls — provides an island accessible by boat. The river island and surrounding waters support smallmouth bass, walleye, and muskellunge. Bald eagles patrol the river. Great blue herons fish the channels. Common terns nest on the rocky shores.
Nearby Attractions
Grand Island — nearby. Niagara Falls — 10 miles downstream. Buffalo — 10 miles south. Beaver Island SP — nearby.
Park Location
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