This realistic Fort Niagara State Park Guide helps you plan your next adventure in this historic and picturesque fort.

Fort Niagara is a state park in Upstate New York. It protects historic Old Fort Niagara that dates back to 1700s. Fort Niagara is in the shadow of Niagara Falls, the main attraction of this region.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Fort Niagara State Park has a handful of modern amenities: a pool, boat ramp, and soccer fields. But there is not a single doubt that Old Fort Niagara is the centerpiece of park.

You should visit Fort Niagara to walk around its structures and learn more about their history. Most visitors to the region do not make it to this park. As a result, you could explore it at your own pace.

The Fort has a loop walk that starts at the Old Fort Niagara Visitor Center. Red brick walls, wooden stake fences, and endless lawns will be the first things you see on the walk.

This part of Old Fort Niagara looks a lot like Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Puerto Rico. Except there are no iguanas climbing on the walls of Old Fort Niagara.

You will get a glimpse of the main fort structures right from the Visitor Center. Parts of the French Castle, North and South Redoubts are visible from behind the brick walls.

But you would need to go inside the walls to see more of Old Fort Niagara. Do not forget to buy a ticket at the Visitor Center.

There are two gates for you to choose from. The Gate of Five Nations is the more pompous of the two. Since the walk is a loop, just pick a gate to enter the fort. You could exit the premises via the other gate.

1. Inner Yard

You will find yourself in the Inner Yard of the Fort as soon as you pass through the thick walls. The no name gate reveals the French Castle, Blacksmith Shed, and a cannon.

It is one of the many cannons you will see at Old Fort Niagara. But this cannon is quite memorable due to its strategic placement. You would need to walk in front of it for a nearly a minute as you enter the fort.

You will also see a well, Provisional Storehouse, Powder Magazine, and log cabin. There is no shade in the Inner Yard. Bring sunscreen and a jacket to withstand the cold winds from Lake Ontario.

2. French Castle

The French Castle is the main building of the fort. It does not look like a typical castle in Ireland or the United Kingdom. But the French Castle has its unique appeal.

It is a good idea to start your Old Fort Niagara visit by exploring the French Castle. It holds the titles of the largest and oldest buildings at the fort. The Castle dates back to 1727.

Despite a poetic name, the French Castle was the house for the fort soldiers during most of its time. The building and its floors are now open to self guided exploration.

3. Trade Room

You will find yourself in the Trade Room if you enter the French Castle through the center door. Old Fort Niagara is the oldest military site in the US. But the Fort was more than a military stronghold.

It was also a major trade outpost. The Trade Room displays items from the 1700s and 1800s. You will find fur, fabrics, gold, silver, and other precious metals. Many household items were also sold at Fort Niagara.

The French Castle has a number of other rooms beyond the Trade Room and the Barracks. You could visit the Guard Rooms, Officer Quarters, and a chapel. All three floors are open to public.

The Castle also had its own bakery, storage, and powder magazine. They were useful if the Fort found itself under attack. Soldiers would not need to run to the main Storehouse or Powder Magazine.

There are few other exhibits inside the French Castle. You would not feel like as if you are touring a house museum, like Nichols House in Boston.

The inside of the French Castle resemble the Irish Castles a lot more. Cahir Castle and Blarney Castle are the closest comparisons to the interior of the French Castle.

4. North Redoubt

You could explore the buildings of Old Fort Niagara in any sequence you see fit. But it could be a good idea to walk along the lakeshore to the North Redoubt next.

This defense building dates back to 1771. The North Redoubt has three stories. Just like the French Castle, you could enter the North Redoubt. All floors of the building are open to public.

You will see a few cannons and barrels inside. There are no exhibits to speak of in the North Redoubt. But do not skip the third floor. It has some of the best views of the fort and its surroundings.

5. Lake Ontario & Niagara River

Entire Old Fort Niagara is on full display from the observation deck of the North Redoubt. You could see the Inner Yard, French Castle, Bake House, Provisional Storehouse, and Land Defenses.

The North Redoubt is right on the shore of Lake Ontario. You will also see the confluence of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario behind the French Castle.

A difference in water color will tell you the exact place the river ends and the lake begins. And do not forget: the buildings and trees on the other side of the waterway are already in Canada.

6. Toronto Skyline

The mouth of the Niagara River is not the only scenic view from the North Redoubt. There is another and, arguably, even more exciting attraction.

Toronto, Ontario is right across the lake. And the skyscrapers of the largest city in Canada are on full display on a clear day. The city skyline is visible from the third floor of the North Redoubt.

You should be able to see the CN Tower with a naked eye. In the end, it is the highest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere.

One World Trade Center in New York City and Willis Tower in Chicago come in close second and third places. But you will not be able to see them across the lake in another country.

A camera with a zoom lens could be helpful to see other buildings. You could also use the coin operated tower viewers near the Redoubt. All of these tools will allow you to feel even closer to Toronto in Canada.

7. Land Defenses

Once you finish exploring the North Redoubt, you will have a few options to continue your visit. Fort Niagara State Park has a few other structures for you to explore.

• You could walk back to the French Castle and visit the nearby buildings.
• You could walk across the yard to the Provisional Storehouse.
• Or you could take the stairs to a path atop of the fort walls and land defenses.

There is no right or wrong option when visiting Old Fort Niagara. But you might not have another reason to walk on the walls of the fort. This could make the third option a frontrunner.

This path follows the curves of the walls. Once there, you could only exit it via a few staircases. Without a doubt, it is not the fastest path to the South Redoubt. But it is possibly the most scenic.

This part of Old Fort Niagara looks just like forts in Continental Europe. Kastellet in Copenhagen, Denmark and Kosciuszko Mound in Krakow, Poland have the most similar land defenses.

8. South Redoubt

You will reach the South Redoubt when you leave the path atop of the land defenses. This building dates back to 1770. Like the North Redoubt, it was built by the British.

The South Redoubt also has three floors. The ground floor has a massive gate. The second floor was a guardroom. And the third floor of the South Redoubt still houses a few historic cannons and guns.

This building is further inland from both the lake and the river. As a result, the views from the South Redoubt are a bit worse than from its North companion.

9. Gate of Five Nations

Whatever the South Redoubt lacks in views, it makes up for in history. The Gate of Five Nations is right next to the South Redoubt. It is another prominent building of Old Fort Niagara.

This stone gate is relatively new. It was built in 1930. The original wooden Gate dated back to 1756. It did not last long and was closed in early 1800s.

The name of the Gate of Five Nations honors the Iroquois Confederacy. Five Nations is another name of this Native American union.

You might wonder how many countries held Old Fort Niagara over the years. In fact, there were only three countries that controlled the fort. They included France, Great Britain, and the United States.

The Gate, both Redoubts, and the French Castle now display the Coats of Arms of each country. Here is a British Coat of Arms on the South Redoubt.

10. Dauphin Battery

A loop path will bring you from the South Redoubt and the Gate of Five Nations towards the Niagara River. This area is home to the Dauphin Battery.

The battery was part of the defense system of Old Fort Niagara. You could still see cannons on display at the Dauphin Battery.

11. Provisional Storehouse

The placement of the Battery had another important reason. It protected the Provisional Storehouse. This was the main source of food and supplies for Old Fort Niagara.

The Provisional Storehouse is also the longest building of the Fort. You cannot go inside the Provisional Storehouse. But it is worth admiring the design of this warehouse from the outside for a few minutes.

Take a look at the wooden roof shingles. They look a lot like other historic structures throughout the United States.

You could find similar design elements in the Oregon Caves Chateau in Oregon to the Haas-Lilienthal House in San Francisco.

12. Bake House

The Provisional Storehouse is next to other utility buildings of Old Fort Niagara. The Powder Magazine and the Hot Shot Furnace played a role in the fort defense system.

But the Bake House was key for feeding the garrison. You could still go inside the Bake House. It is a good opportunity to learn more about the life in the fort.

Volunteers are often present in this building. They fire up the oven and explain how bread was made back in the day.

13. Fort Niagara Lighthouse

There is one final structure at Old Fort Niagara you should not miss. The Fort Niagara Lighthouse is across the parking lot from the Visitor Center.

This 5-story building dates back to 1871. The lighthouse looks just like a miniature building from the fairy tales. But it has been helping with Navigation on the Niagara River for over 100 years.

Continue with this Fort Niagara State Park Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Fort Niagara

Fort Niagara State Park is in Upstate New York. The park is on a triangular shaped peninsula between the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. Fort Niagara is right next to the international border with Canada.

Niagara Falls and Buffalo are the closest cities to Fort Niagara State Park. It takes 20 minutes to get to the park from Niagara Falls. A trip from Buffalo is over twice as long.

You are in luck if you enjoy public transport. You could take a free shuttle from Niagara Falls to Old Fort Niagara. The shuttle usually runs from April to mid October from Friday to Sunday.

Buffalo Niagara (BUF) is the closest airport to the park. While it has a fair share of flights, it is not an airline hub. You might need to look into other airports if Buffalo Niagara does not work out.

Toronto, Ontario in Canada (YYZ) is the closest large airport to Fort Niagara. It is 1.5 hours from the park. But you have to budget time to pass through the border. Pack your passport and relevant documents.

Cleveland, Ohio (CLE) and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (PIT) are other airline hubs somewhat close to Fort Niagara. They are almost 4 hours away. Add another 40-50 minutes if you avoid toll roads.

This location makes Fort Niagara State Park quite challenging to visit. This state park works best as an addition to a longer trip rather than a standalone destination.

It is best to make a stop at Old Fort Niagara a part of a larger Niagara Falls trip. You could also pair Fort Niagara with a visit to Finger Lakes in Upstate New York.

Where to Stay near Fort Niagara

There are virtually no places to stay next to Fort Niagara. You would need to drive to Niagara Falls or Buffalo to find a place to stay.

Niagara Falls is closer to Fort Niagara State Park. But you would need to compete with the crowds visiting the famous waterfalls. It is quite difficult to find a nice place to stay within budget.

Most of the time you will be better off staying in Buffalo. Take a look at Hampton Inn Buffalo – Amherst. This chain hotel has nice reviews and flexible payment terms.

Outside of Buffalo, your lodging options will depend on your next destination. You could stay in Lockport or Rochester if you are heading east. Erie, Pennsylvania has a few places to stay if you travel westbound.

Most of these options are much further away from Fort Niagara State Park. Niagara Falls, Ontario is the only exception. If you are comfortable clearing the border, you could often find a good deal there.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Fort Niagara State Park is open from sunrise to sunset year round. Old Fort Niagara has a different, reduced admission schedule.

The fort is generally open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. but opening dates differ by season. You should confirm that Old Fort Niagara is open before your visit.

• April through mid October: open daily; opening times are extended to 5 p.m. in July and August.
• Mid October to December: open Wednesday through Sunday.
• January to March: open Friday through Sunday.
• Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Days.

The Fort closes admission 30 minutes before the posted time. There are no exceptions to this rule for late arrivals.

Fort Niagara State Park has an entrance fee of $8 per car. You might have to pay additional activity fees if you use amenities, such as pools or soccer fields.

This fee does not apply if you visit Old Fort Niagara. This unit charges a different admission fee. And you will soon wish you paid the $8 per car fee.

You have to pay $20 per adult and $12 per child to visit Old Fort Niagara. Seniors, military, and AAA members get a $1 discount. They still have to pay $19 per adult and $11 per child, respectively.

Such high admission fees makes Old Fort Niagara one of the most expensive state parks to visit. To make things worse, Empire Pass, a pass to New York State Parks, is not valid at Old Fort Niagara.

Similarly, America the Beautiful annual pass is of no use in this park. You need to pay out-of-pocket to visit this picturesque fort.

It is nearly impossible to break even when visiting Old Fort Niagara. A $20 per person fee adds up quickly if you explore this fort as a family or an adult group.

Takeaways: Fort Niagara State Park

Old Fort Niagara State Park is an interesting destination. High per person admission fees and a detour from Niagara Falls could cast doubt on the visit to this park.

You would be right to question a decision to visit Fort Niagara. If historic structures are not of interest to you, $20 per person are hard to justify.

But if you like history, admire architecture, and can afford the entrance fee, you will not regret a visit. Rich 300+ year history, beautiful structures, and scenic views make up for part of the price paid.

This peaceful and well-preserved park shows the customs of a different era. In a way, you pay to go back in time and see the fort from the 1700s.

High admission price acts to control the number of visitors in a way. You are unlikely to run into crowds at Old Fort Niagara no matter when you visit. This allows for a peaceful and thorough exploration.

Take a look at this Fort Niagara State Park Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

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