Niagara Falls Ontario Journey Behind the Falls

Why visit Niagara Falls Ontario

The Horseshoe Falls drops more than 50 metres, and together the three falls carry the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world.

The city offers more than the water. You can walk behind the falls through tunnels, ride a cable car over a whirlpool, climb a tower for a skyline view and wander gardens run by Niagara Parks along the river.

The falls and the river edge

Horseshoe Falls and Table Rock

Table Rock sits beside the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, so you look straight into the curve as the water leaves the crest. The Table Rock Centre has a welcome centre, and it is the point where the two WEGO bus routes meet.

Queen Victoria Park

This garden-style park along the Niagara Parkway is the classic first view of the falls and the best place to watch the nightly illumination. Fireworks run every night in summer and only on Fridays to Sundays in late spring and early autumn.

Journey Behind the Falls

Elevators take you from Table Rock Centre down to an observation deck and two tunnels that reach about 46 metres behind the falls. Plastic raincoats are provided because the deck is sprayed by the cascade.

Boat cruise to the foot of the falls

Seasonal cruises, usually running from about May to October, leave from the dock at the foot of Clifton Hill and take you into the spray at the base of the falls. A funicular carries passengers down the gorge to the boarding area.

Towers, wheels and Clifton Hill

Skylon Tower

This 160-metre tower opened in 1965 and has an observation deck with views over the American Falls, the Horseshoe Falls and the Niagara River. Two restaurants sit on the tower, so you can pair the view with a meal.

Clifton Hill

This short, steep street runs from the Niagara Parkway up to Victoria Avenue and is packed with arcades, wax museums, haunted houses, gift shops and restaurants.

Fallsview and the Falls Incline Railway

The Fallsview tourist district climbs the hill above the falls and is full of high-rise hotels with views. The Falls Incline Railway, a funicular, descends about 60 metres and works as a shortcut between Fallsview and Table Rock.

Along the Niagara Parkway

White Water Walk

A boardwalk of about 305 metres runs beside the rapids at the bottom of the Niagara Gorge, where the river is squeezed into one of the most powerful currents anywhere. It opens seasonally, so check dates before you go.

Whirlpool Aero Car

This cable car, designed by Spanish engineer Leonardo Torres Quevedo, carries up to 35 standing passengers over the Niagara Whirlpool. The ride crosses into United States territory and back, but riders need no immigration clearance.

Butterfly Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

About 9 kilometres north of the falls, the Botanical Gardens cover themed gardens and an arboretum, and the grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk.

Floral Clock and Niagara Parkway gardens

Further north, the Floral Clock is made entirely of flowers and is free to see. The nearby Centennial Lilac Garden is best in May and early June.

Food and local flavors

The cool Niagara climate makes this region a leading source of icewine, a sweet dessert wine made from grapes frozen on the vine. Ontario produces more than 90 percent of Canada's icewine, and Canada makes more than any other country, so a small glass is a fitting taste of the area.

Look for butter tarts, the Canadian pastry filled with butter, brown sugar, maple syrup and egg. Peameal bacon, an unsmoked pork loin rolled in cornmeal and served on a bun, is another Ontario classic.

Where to stay

Fallsview is the choice for views. High-rise hotels in this district look over the falls, and the area suits couples and anyone who wants a skyline room.

Clifton Hill puts you among the arcades, attractions and nightlife, and it is a short walk to the Niagara Parkway. Families with older children and groups tend to like it.

Lundy's Lane is a long strip of hotels and businesses away from the falls.

Best time to visit

Summer is bright and sunny with occasional rain, and storms are seldom severe. From April to October the parkway and Queen Victoria Park can be very crowded, so go early or late for photos.

Autumn is mixed, with rain and cloud common and first frost expected around late October. Winters are cold and clear with moderate snow, and some attractions, such as the boat cruise, pause while most others stay open and mist freezes into ice near the falls.

Getting there and getting around

Toronto Pearson is about a 90-minute drive away, Hamilton airport is about 70 kilometres from the city, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport across the border is a 20 to 30 minute drive. Niagara District Airport at Niagara-on-the-Lake has bus links to Pearson.

By car, the city is about two hours from Toronto in good traffic. Take the QEW, then Highway 420, which becomes Roberts Street and leads to Falls Avenue. The VIA Rail station is about 4 kilometres from the falls, the Amtrak Maple Leaf calls at it, and weekend GO trains run from Toronto.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start at Table Rock and Queen Victoria Park, walk through Journey Behind the Falls, then take the cruise if it is running.

Second day

Head north on the parkway for the White Water Walk and the Aero Car, then continue to the Butterfly Conservatory and the Floral Clock.

Third day

Take a half day trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake for wineries and the historic main street, then spend the evening in Fallsview watching the falls light up from above.

Practical tips

• Bring a rain jacket or poncho for the tunnels, cruise and viewing decks because spray reaches far beyond the edge.
• Check the Niagara Parks website for seasonal opening dates before you travel.
• Visit the main viewpoints early in the morning to avoid the thickest crowds.
• Ask a welcome centre about combination passes that bundle several attractions with WEGO bus travel.
• Wear comfortable shoes because some roads and walkways are steep.