Journey Behind the Falls

At Journey Behind the Falls, visitors descend by elevator to a series of tunnels bored into the rock behind Niagara Falls. The two tunnels, which extend approximately 150 feet (46 meters) behind Horseshoe Falls, lead to views of water cascades right in front of the open cave entrances. The best part is stepping out on the observation deck for a truly different and incredible perspective—you will get very wet, but it’s worth it!

• Journey Behind the Falls consists of an observation platform and series of tunnels near the bottom of Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian shore.

• Be prepared for long lines, especially during the popular summer months. The best time to avoid the lines is early in the day.

• Plastic ponchos are provided and are fine for keeping dry in summer. But during cooler months, be sure to bring a raincoat and warm layers.

Journey Behind the Falls is located off Niagara Parkway, directly across from Horseshoe Falls. Enter the tunnels through the Table Rock House, which has visitor information.

Journey Behind the Falls is open year-round. The best time to visit is early in the day. During the summer, there’s also a nighttime fireworks show several times weekly.

Niagara Falls is actually composed of three sets of falls: American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls (also known as Canadian Falls). Horseshoe Falls is the cascade behind which Journey Behind the Falls travels. It’s an incredibly popular attraction, whether you’re planning your falls visit from the Ontario (Canada) side or the New York (US) side.

It takes between 30–45 minutes to complete your Journey Behind the Falls. This period includes your elevator ride down to the two viewing portals (Cataract and Great Falls), which you reach via a short walk through a tunnel and a walking on both the upper and lower observation decks at the bottom of the falls.

While you don’t have to book your admission ticket for Journey Behind the Falls in advance, buying ahead is always a good idea. Not only will this save you time waiting in line on the day of your visit—particularly efficient on busy public holidays—but you’ll likely get discounted rates.

Like many popular attractions, it’s best to arrive at Journey Behind the Falls as early as possible—preferably in the morning as soon as it opens. The best time of year to visit is during the spring and summer months of December through April, as that’s when all of the observation decks are open.

Even though you’ll be provided with the biodegradable, bright yellow poncho that’s become the iconic symbol of Journey Behind the Falls, it’s still worth wearing some waterproof trousers and footwear with good grip, as the observation decks can be slippery. You might also want to bring a change of clothes for afterward.

The best parking for Journey Behind the Falls is at the Falls Parking Lot, just across the road from the Journey Behind the Falls. This parking costs around $30 per vehicle for the entire day—you can’t keep your car there overnight.

Yes, Journey Behind the Falls is mostly wheelchair accessible—the only part that isn’t is the lower observation deck due to the stairs. However, elevators bring you down to the tunnel located a third of the way down, and then there’s sloped access to the upper observation deck.