Joseph Davis State Park
Joseph Davis State Park Construction Notice
Please be advised that an ongoing capital improvement project may restrict access and amenities throughout the park. The project will be ongoing through spring 2025.
4143 Lower River Road
Lewiston, NY 14092
- General Information: (716) 754-7766
Joseph Davis State Park has facilities for a wide variety of recreational activities. The terrain is generally flat, with fields, woodlands and ponds. Anglers can fish for largemouth bass in the pond near the park entrance or for a variety of freshwater fish from the fishing dock on the lower Niagara River. The park also has a nature trail, as well as cross-country skiing/snowshoeing and snowmobiling trails and a 27-hole frisbee disc golf course along with a 9-holde disc golf course.
History of Joseph Davis State Park
The Hopkins family operated a fruit farm on the land until 1961, when the State of New York purchased the 260 acres as parkland in 1964, the park opened to the public under the name of Lower Niagara State Park. Five years later, an additional 98 acres were purchased from the Riverview Land and Improvement Co. In 1970, the park's name was changed to honor Joseph Davis, who served as president of the Niagara Frontier State Parks Commission for 21 years. As chairman, director, and member of many organizations. Joseph Davis was influential in shaping the future of the Niagara Frontier.
Governor Thomas E. Dewey
named Joseph Davis to the Niagara Frontier State Parks Commission in 1948. At
that time, the commission had only a few state parks under its jurisdiction.
With the addition of many more parks, the Niagara Frontier Region parks system
grew into a multimillion-dollar program under Joseph Davis's capable
leadership. Davis also served on the State Council of Parks and Recreation
Pavilion Information
Joseph Davis has three pavilions. The day use price varies and can accommodate up to 50 people. Check availability at ReserveAmerica.com.
Pet Policy: A maximum of two pets are allowed in day use areas unless prohibited by sign or directive. Pets are to be supervised at all times and either be crated or on a leash not more than 6-feet in length. Proof of rabies inoculation shall be produced if requested by staff. Pets are not permitted in playgrounds, buildings, golf courses, boardwalks, pools and spray-grounds or guarded beaches (this does not apply to service animals).
Hours of Operation
- Park is open year round.
Key BCA Criteria:
- Migratory concentration site
- Diverse species concentration site
- Species at risk site
The Joseph Davis BCA is part of Joseph Davis State Park. It includes approximately 1,400 feet of frontage on the Niagara River and 31 acres of underwater land. About two-thirds of the BCA is successional shrub land. Mature second growth forests are found in the eastern portion of the BCA and along the Niagara River shoreline. Other ecological communities represented in the BCA are old fields, open water and wetlands.
During spring and fall migration, songbirds concentrate along major rivers. The habitats along the Niagara River shoreline support an exceptional diversity of migratory songbirds during spring and fall migration. The vegetation, including several species of berry producing shrubs at Joseph Davis provide significant food sources for migratory birds. The fields host Northern Harrier, Horned Lark, Savannah Sparrow, Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlark. Species at risk include state threatened Pied-billed Grebe, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier and Common Tern and state species of special concern, Osprey, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawk, Common Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will, Horned Lark and Yellow-breasted Chat. Joseph Davis is also one of the best spots in the Niagara Region for wintering Eastern Bluebirds.
Download a copy of the BCA map.
Attention Hunters: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (i.e., "bird flu") has recently been detected in New York State in a variety of waterfowl species. Although the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) has stated that avian influenza rarely spreads to humans, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is encouraging hunters to take extra precautions while processing harvested waterfowl. For more information on best practices for hunters to minimize risk of exposure, please read NYSDEC Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - What Hunters Need to Know (leaves State Parks website).
For general information on Avian Influenza, please see: Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine - Avian Influenza Fact Sheet (leaves State Parks website).
For additional updates on Avian Influenza, including current updates, see NYSDEC - Animal Diseases (leaves State Parks website) and NYSDOH - Questions and Answers about Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) (leaves State Parks website).
Friday, May 16, 2025 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Joseph Davis State Park
Amenities Information
- Amenities
- Boat Launches * Kayak/Canoe/Car-top boat launches
- Disc Golf
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting * seasonal- small game hunting only available during pheasant season
- Pavilions and Shelter Rentals
- Playgrounds
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing/X-Country Skiing