Visit Niagra Falls
Ticked off in December 2014
Ride a boat into the thundering mist of Horseshoe Falls, then walk through tunnels behind the curtain of water.
The adventure
Niagara is pure power. More water pours over these falls than almost anywhere else in the world, and standing at the brink of Horseshoe Falls you feel it in your chest: a deep, endless roar, a curtain of green and white water and a cloud of mist so thick it rains on you on a sunny day.
Then you go closer. Pull on a poncho and take the boat right into the horseshoe, where the spray blots out the sky and the deck pitches in the churning water. Walk the tunnels on the Canadian side that open out behind the falling water, or stand on the decks of the Cave of the Winds on the US side, where the torrent crashes just metres away. At night the falls are lit up in colours, and in summer there are fireworks over the gorge.
Why it’s epic
- Three waterfalls, Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil, with Horseshoe Falls about 670 metres wide.
- Boat trips into the mist with Maid of the Mist (US side) or Niagara City Cruises (Canadian side).
- Journey Behind the Falls, with tunnels and an observation deck at the foot of the falls.
- Tightrope walker Charles Blondin crossed the Niagara Gorge on a rope in 1859.
What it is
Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls on the US–Canada border, with Horseshoe Falls the largest.
How to do it
Visit from either side, take the Maid of the Mist or Hornblower boat, and walk behind the falls on the Canadian side.
Top tip
Bring your passport if you want to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Need to know
- UK visitors need an ESTA for the USA and an eTA to fly to Canada, and crossing the Rainbow Bridge needs your passport.
- The boat tours run roughly from spring to autumn, while winter brings frozen mist and ice but fewer attractions.
- Toronto is about an hour and a half away by car, and Buffalo is closer on the US side.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £750 to £2,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days
- Best time to go
- June to August
- Fly into
- YYZ airport
Boat rides and attractions are reasonable, so flights to Canada or the USA are the main cost.
Do it yourself
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My experience
Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.
Over to you
Is “Visit Niagra Falls” on your bucket list, or have you already done it? Tell me in the comments, and if you've got a question about it, ask away and I'll answer.