Luna Island – The Best Kept Secret of Niagara Falls, NY

The island is connected to Goat Island by a footbridge. There are wonderful walking paths in it, and the location provides amazing views and opportunities for photos. Luna Island is included in Niagara Falls State Park.

Picture taken from helicopter showing where Luna Island is
How Luna island looks like and a picture of people viewing American fals from the island.

Luna Island is located on the American shore of Niagara Falls, between the waters of Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls. Mainly rocky, it is smaller in size than Goat Island reaching only 110 meters by 40 meters.

The name of the island, which in the past was Prospect Island, comes from the natural phenomenon of lunar rainbows, which are seen on clear nights. This unique phenomenon is seen rarely because of the night lights illuminating the waterfalls.

How to Get to Luna Island

Luna Island can be easily accessed on the New York side of the river. The island can be reached by driving to the Niagara Falls State Park, where you’ll find a car ferry that takes you across the river to Luna Island, as well as to Goat Island. Alternatively, if you’re staying downtown, you can take the pedestrian ferry, which will take you to the State Park, from where you can walk to Luna Island. The walk from the State Park to Luna Island takes about 10-15 minutes, and is a very easy stroll along the river’s edge.

History

Through the decades, erosion had a major impact on the rocky soil and led to the closure of Luna Island for visitors from 1954 to 1972. After the flow to American Falls was stopped for several months in 1969, this provided time and opportunity to strengthen the island’s foundations to avoid possible incidents or its gradual destruction.

Luna Island gives you the opportunity to be meters away from Bridal Veil Falls, and only after a few steps you can feel the splashes of the American Falls.

Originally referred to as Prospect Island, it was renamed Luna Island in the 1800s because renowned lunar rainbows were seen above there on moonlight evenings. Because the Falls are lit up at night, moon rainbows aren’t seen as often as they used to be.

The island was closed to the public in 1954. This is because the bedrock underneath the island had become unstable, and people were afraid that rocks might fall from the island. Luna Island was closed to the public until 1972. When the water was taken out of the American Falls in 1969, work could be done to stop erosion, such as removing loose rocks, which helped stabilize the island.

Luna Island on the map

See Luna Island on Virtual Tour

FAQ

Can you walk on Luna Island?

Once you’re on Luna Island, you can walk around and look at the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. Niagara River, Niagara Gorge, and Canada on the other side of the river! Luna Island isn’t very big, so it doesn’t really matter which way you go. Luna Island has a trail that goes all the way around it.

Which Island divides Niagara Falls?

Known as “Luna Island,” it separates The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

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