If you're looking for a unique and peaceful spot in buffalo to get your steps in , the Bird Island pier under the bridge is a hidden gem that's absolutely worth a visit. stunning views of the water. It's a place that feels removed from the city's hustle, yet close enough to see its energy from a distance and see the occasional boats passing by in the summer. I'd recommend coming here around sunset when the light filters through the bridge and casts beautiful shadows on the water--truly picturesque! The pier is well-kept, safe, and feels like a little oasis for anyone looking to relax, take a walk, or snap some unique photos. It's a great spot for locals and tourists alike who want a break from the usual attractions. Highly recommend if you're looking for a scenic, calming experience in the city! read more

Love the walk of Bird Island Pier. The birds really are super cool, and are willing to let people get pretty close. If you turn off your music, the sound of rushing water is extremely relaxing! I'm sad they haven't fixed the walking path. read more

Bird Island Pier - Bird in front of Peace Bridge - Parks Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Best place to walk with a view in the Buffalo area from my perspective. Bundle up because it can be cold! Plenty of parking. Give this place a try and enjoy the views! read more

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While vacationing in Niagara Falls. we visited Buffalo. We spotted this pier from the highway and a quick online search helped us find it. It was well worth the stop! We parked at the nearby parking lot and walked to the bridge. At that point, the pier was "closed" although others had opened the fence to continue walking. We saw several rowing teams practicing on the canal, and people fishing, relaxing, and hanging out. Don't miss it if you're in the area! read more

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A great place to go running in buffalo. A really cool view of Canada and the bridge to enter it. read more

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With breathtaking views of Lake erie and the peace bridge, this pier should not be missed.Be careful of the cracks and uneven pavement. You can enjoy the beautiful waves and boats going by, it's so relaxing. The cool wind is so refreshing on a hot day.Plus you'll see many birds ,as it lives up to its namesake.Theres also a huge lot with free parking. read more

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Great place for a walk especially on a hot day, just be careful of the uneven pavement. Beautiful views of the water and peace bridge.Plenty of birds it lives up to its name.Theres also plenty of free parking. read more

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Wow. I always wondered how to get to the walkway on the water when driving down the highway in Buffalo. Finally googled until I found an article about Bird Island Pier that explained how to get to the park (Broderick Park). It can be reached from the intersection of Niagara and Ferry. What a lovely walk out on the water culminating in a great view. The sounds of wind and waves greet you as soon as you get a short way out. We watched gulls fishing and retrieving small fish from the water. There were also herons, ducks and geese along the way. While it was warm day, the wind kept us comfortable on the long walk. The far end of the pier is obviously less frequented and there were geese lounging on the walkway. (And lots of goose crap). So wear tennis shoes! read more

Bird Island Pier - View of the Peace Bridge from the far end of the pier. - Parks Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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This is a pretty awesome place in Buffalo. They may have similar things in other places, but this is one of only a few I know about. It's a long cool walk on the water. Perfect on a hot summer day. You'll get a much closer view of the water than from most places other than a boat. You'll have the comfort of land and the coolness of the water breeze. You'll have great views. You'll see the underbelly of the Peace Bridge. You'll see the Buffalo skyline from a different view than ever before. You'll get some nice exercise walking (running?) it too. No bikes allowed. Please honor those signs. Easy parking. 15/R-a-D Challenge read more

If you have absolutely no interest in walking out on a little rocky peninsula path right under the Peace Bridge, then you can rename it the Bored Island Pier. For me personally, this wonderful spot which is an extension of Squaw Island Park to the south, is a very romantic place to walk. Take your significant other out here (or just your hand, if you're single), and walk all the way under the Peace Bridge and way out the other side, out into Lake Erie close to the "house on the water" and almost all the way to downtown. It's a pretty spectacular walk. One of the best walks in the city, and one of the most beautiful places you can imagine, in the summer. And in the winter? One of the most hellish! And there's no way back except the way you came... so don't make the walk if you can't make it back! read more

I've been wanting to walk the Bird Island Pier since I first moved to Buffalo a year ago and I finally remembered to do it! I came here on Sunday just before sunset and spent a solid hour and a half walking to the end and back of this beautiful pier. From the moment you start the walk you are surrounded by the peaceful sounds and waves of Lake Erie. Throughout the walk you get to walk under the Peace Bridge, get a good view of Fort Erie, and even a nice view of the Buffalo sky line at the very end. Overall, this is a beautiful walk that I would recommend to anyone who lives in Buffalo or is even passing through, you won't regret it! read more

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This is a really cool place to go for a walk, I don't think there's anything else like it in the area. It doesn't take very long, if you have an extra hour it's worth checking out. read more

Saw this pier while driving back from Niagara Falls. Most of the local Buffaloians do not know he name of it so it was really hard to figure out what this actually was. Recommend putting in Broderick Park for exact location for your gps. I went here on a July morning and it was beautiful. The breeze was blowing and the pier was long enough for you to decide when to turn around. I made my decision when a duck family was sitting on the pier walk Way and claim it as their territory. There were many that took the challenge but not I . read more

Bird Island Pier - Parks Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Bird Island Pier is accessible from Broderick Park in Buffalo. As of this review, the Ferry Street Bridge is again open and it's unnecessary to park at Unity Island Park to access the pier. To access the pier, there's a gate at the southern end of Broderick Park. From there, it's a pretty nice walk all the way to the end. The walkway is about wide enough for two people to walk side by side, so if there are people coming from the other direction, or bicyclists, it's necessary to walk single file. The views are worth it! You get to walk underneath Peace Bridge, and you can often see rowers practicing in the water on the left. You also get a lakeside view of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed boathouse, which is a treat to see from the pier. There are lots of ducks and other waterfowl foraging around, so a good birdwatching area. Finally, the pier comes to an end, and it is another end. Right around this spot is where Lake Erie "ends" and becomes the Niagara River. There's access to the breakwall here, but it's somewhat hazardous, so I think it's a great place to turn around and head back. read more

I can't believe I've missed this view my whole life. Best way to get here: Park at Unity Island Park and make the complete walk, passing through Broderick and onto the Pier. You'll hit the end of the Pier within an hour. It's a lot of walking but I don't know of an easier way to get to the end of the Pier without it taking some time (from the nearest access point, Broderick Park, it takes 25 minutes to reach the end of the pier, so make sure you do this trek with enough time to complete it. As Fox said, there's only one way back.) The views, the walk, the gushing water, the sun beating down on you, passing under a bridge that connects two countries... it's all a part of this amazing experience right on this pier. You'll have to dodge your fair share of geese droppings, but again, all part of the experience. This is BIRD Island Pier... who do you think runs this place?! ;) Let's talk about the views. You get a decent view of Buffalo, but I think the best view is looking back at the Peace Bridge and how far you walked to get there. Also looking beyond the pier, you can see the windmills off of Route 5 churning in the distance. I was mesmerized and stared at the twisting mill. How amazing! How beautiful! Something I passed by in the car was now being looked at from a different perspective. There's not really a walk like this one in Buffalo. You get all of the views and feel the heart of the city, all in one walk. It's special, and kind of hard to articulate. I would encourage any person to make the walk, be it a tourist or a lifelong resident. It takes awhile to get to the end, but well worth it. I'd recommend the walk with a loved one... I'm sure you'll have your own introspective thoughts that will flow easily with a significant other. It's that kind of place. If not with a loved one, the walk is great alone as well. Sometimes, becoming self-aware of the beauty around you is just as important as experiencing it with a loved one. read more

Bird Island Pier - Just a bird and his squad. - Parks Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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This is a super unique and very cool park/attraction accessible from Broderick park in Buffalo. I love the walk all the way from the river under the peace bridge, and nearly to the inner harbor. The views of the river and lake are fantastic and the power of the Niagara River is on display here unlike anywhere else in the Upper river. This is a great spot for fishing off the pier and the land side of the park often features team boating competitions and races. The view at the end of the pier is just the best with a really unique perspective on downtown Buffalo and looking out into Lake Erie and Canada. Birds galore on this wonderful pier as well including Geese, common terns, ducks, herrings, cormorants, and gulls galore. Unfortunately, when I visited most recently, the pier was closed for reconstruction due to the damage it sustained during the most recent winter. This happens a lot due to the pier's position on the river and it's position above the ice boom meaning it takes a beating from the ice and snow all winter long. But once it's open again make sure you stop by for a visit the view and walk is more than worth it! read more

Absolutely beautiful! They recently fixed up this park. If you live on the West Side and want a quick fix of nature: the river, rowers, birds, trees, and a spectacular view of Canada, this is it. The actual park, including the long pier that juts out into the river separating it from the Black Rock Canal, is usually dotted with people fishing. To reach the Bird Island Pier, head west on West Ferry through the light on Niagara Street. It will be just ahead, across the bridge. Here's some extra info from buffaloah.com : In 1825, New York State passed legislation (Chapter 277) for Erie Canal Commissioners to build canal from Squaw Island to Buffalo Creek. The Bird Island Pier would carve out the canal from the rapidly flowing Niagara River. Bird Island Pier P. M. Eckel, Botanical Notes on Squaw Island, Niagara River (online June 2014) The southern tip of Squaw Island is connected to a long, narrow stone pier that extends south or upstream from the Island, under the Peace Bridge and into the mouth of the Niagara River, or the northeastern corner of Lake Erie (across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada). This pier (presently called the Bird Island Pier), although rebuilt and extended southward in the Twentieth Century, was in existence in 1860. "Vessels driven by storms and failing to gain an entrance to the [Buffalo] harbor find a capacious and sheltered retreat in the harbor of Black Rock, formed by a mole [Mole: A massive, usually stone wall constructed in the sea, used as a breakwater and built to enclose or protect an anchorage or a harbor] from Bird Island to Squaw Island, a distance of 2915 yards. [Ed. note: emphasis in bold added to emphasize the historical difference between the two islands that are now connected as one.] This, with the islands, forms a harbor 4,565 yards long and from 88 to 220 yards wide, with an area of 136 acres. Besides affording an exceedingly convenient harbor, with an average depth of 15 feet, this work secures a water-power of about 4 1/2 ft. A ship lock is constructed at its foot; and it is on the line of the Erie Canal." (French, 1860 p. 284). read more

Gorgeous views of the Niagara river! When visiting Buffalo, one must stop by this place if weather is permitting. I went to walk the bridge but I saw many people on bikes and some even came for fishing. I highly recommend this pier!! read more