Journey Behind the Falls

Journey Behind the Falls is run by Niagara Parks and takes visitors down inside the rock beside the Horseshoe Falls, on the Ontario side of Niagara Falls. The entrance is at Table Rock, at the brink of the falls, and from there an elevator drops through the bedrock to a system of tunnels cut into the cliff of the Niagara Gorge. A short walk through the passages leads to portals that open directly behind the curtain of falling water, so the view is a wall of white and green rushing past a few metres away.

Tunnels behind the falls have been part of the Niagara visit since the late nineteenth century, when Victorian-era tourists were led into the cliff to see the cataract from behind. The modern attraction keeps that idea but adds proper observation platforms, lighting and interpretive panels. The passages are damp and loud, and the roar of the water fills the rock. Rain ponchos are normally handed out at the start, and they are worth wearing, because the mist reaches the portals and the wet cave floor is slick.

The second half of the experience is outdoors. An observation deck at the base of the Horseshoe Falls puts you beside the plunge pool, close enough to feel the spray on your face and see how much water is falling into the gorge. Seen from here, the scale of the falls looks different from the promenade above: the crest is far overhead, the river below churns, and the Niagara River runs on toward Lake Ontario. On clear days the Maid of the Mist boats are often visible working their way into the mist.

The geology explains why the place is so dramatic. The falls have been cutting upstream through the Niagara Escarpment for thousands of years, and the hard dolostone caprock here sits over softer shale that erodes away beneath it. The tunnels run through that layered rock, and interpretive displays along the way describe how the gorge was formed.

Because it sits at Table Rock, the attraction combines naturally with a walk along the Niagara Parkway promenade and a look at the falls from above. It suits families, photographers and anyone who wants to feel the water as well as see it. Expect steps, wet surfaces and crowds in summer, so shoes with grip are a sensible choice. Nearby you can continue to Queen Victoria Park, the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory and the busier tourist strip of Clifton Hill. Because the experience is a short loop rather than a long outing, it fits easily into a day of sightseeing around the falls. Early morning visits are generally calmer than the middle of the day, and the mist often produces rainbows when the sun is low.