Canada · United States · Great Lakes
Niagara Falls
Three falls in one — Horseshoe, American, and Bridal Veil — move more water per second than almost any other falls on Earth, funneled from the entire Great Lakes basin. Boat tours and the Cave of the Winds put visitors directly inside the spray at the base.
Three falls in one — Horseshoe, American, and Bridal Veil — move more water per second than almost any other falls on Earth, funneled from the entire Great Lakes basin. Boat tours and the Cave of the Winds put visitors directly inside the spray at the base.
Niagara Falls drops 51 metres (167 ft) across a face roughly 1203 metres wide on the Niagara, inside Niagara Falls State Park / Niagara Parks. It is a block-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Niagara Falls, with IAG the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Summer gives full flow and boat tours; winter ice formations draw a different crowd but Horseshoe Falls rarely fully freezes.
What you can do here
Helicopter flights
Some falls are simply too wide to see from the ground. Twelve minutes in the air solves it.
Jet boat
Purpose-built shallow-draught boats that run right up into the base spray and spin out of it.
Zip lines
Cable-crossing a gorge at the height the spray reaches, usually with the falls in your peripheral vision the whole way.
Boat cruises
The classic approach: come at the falls from the water, usually at sunset, usually with a drink.
Hiking
From ten-minute boardwalks to multi-day approaches through cloud forest.
Photography
Light angles, moonbows, spray management and the hours that actually work.
When to go
Summer gives full flow and boat tours; winter ice formations draw a different crowd but Horseshoe Falls rarely fully freezes.
Entry: State park free; Maid of the Mist and attractions extra ~$25-30 USD
Getting there
- Base townNiagara Falls
- AirportIAG
- CountryCanada, United States
- RegionGreat Lakes, North America
- AccessEasy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
On the map
43.0828, -79.0742
Quick answers
How tall is Niagara Falls?
Niagara Falls drops 51 metres (167 feet), across a face about 1203 metres wide. It is a block-type waterfall on the Niagara.
When is the best time to visit Niagara Falls?
Peak flow is June to September. Summer gives full flow and boat tours; winter ice formations draw a different crowd but Horseshoe Falls rarely fully freezes.
What can you do at Niagara Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: helicopter flights, jet boat, zip lines, boat cruises, hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Niagara Falls?
The usual base is Niagara Falls, and the closest airport is IAG. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. State park free; Maid of the Mist and attractions extra ~$25-30 USD.
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