Niagara Falls is one of Canada’s top vacation destinations, thanks to the spectacular sight of the powerful falls and all of the fun activities found around them.
Spanning across two countries, it’s possible to visit Niagara Falls from both Canada and the USA–however, the best view of Niagara Falls is from Ontario which boasts unique vantage points and attractions like ziplines, jet boats and helicopter rides.
Whether it’s by air, land or water, here’s how to enjoy the best Niagara Falls views on the Canadian side of the river.
Niagara Falls views from the sky:
Niagara Helicopters
Arguably one of the best Niagara Falls views is by helicopter, where guests get to hop on board and take flight to hover 457 metres above the falls.
The experience starts from Niagara Helicopter’s headquarters which is only a 15 minute drive from Table Rock Centre, and in no time at all you’ll find yourself soaring above the Niagara River and the wild Whirlpool Rapids.
Pass over Queen Victoria park and the Rainbow Bridge as you head toward the American side of the falls, and admire the awe-inspiring view looking straight down at Horseshoe Falls as the pilot expertly navigates its curves allowing guests on both sides of the chopper to enjoy the birds-eye view.
Niagara Helicopters operates year round, and their flightseeing tours are weather dependent so be sure to call ahead and confirm the choppers are flying before heading over. Flights are on a first come, first served basis and the whole experience lasts about 15 minutes.
Book with GetYourGuide:
Book with Viator:
Skylon Tower
One of my favourite spots for photos is the Skylon Tower, which offers some of the best views of Niagara Falls from above.
This skyline fixture has an outdoor observation deck and rotating restaurant with vantage points from 775 feet above the falls, offering panoramic vistas in all directions.
The experience starts with a ride on the glass-enclosed ‘Yellow Bug’ elevator (stand close to the door if possible for the best views), which is actually on the outside of the tower so guests can soak up views of the water, gorge and city skylines during the 52 second trip up.
Head out to the deck to see Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, the Whirlpool Bridge that connects two countries, and an aerial view of attractions at Niagara Falls like the SkyWheel, mini golf course, hotels and casinos. Click here to book
For an elevated experience, enjoy a fantastic, multi-course dinner at the Revolving Dining Room. It rotates enough that most guests will get a 360-degree view during their dining experience to take in the scene from every angle, and on a clear day visibility is up to 125 kilometres.
Globe Guide tip: Admission up to the tower is included with a dinner reservation, which makes it a good value. Try to reserve one of the tables directly beside the windows for the best photo-ops; there are also plaques along the windowsill with trivia about the falls, so be sure to pry your eyes away from the view to read them occasionally!
Book with GetYourGuide:
Book with Viator:
Niagara SkyWheel
Another way to get a Niagara Falls sky view is hopping on Canada’s largest observation wheel, which towers 53 metres above the city for great skyline shots and a Canadian view of Niagara Falls.
The Niagara SkyWheel ride is in the energetic Clifton Hill area, which is kind of like a cross between an amusement park and the glitzy lights of the Las Vegas strip.
The ride itself lasts about 10 minutes, and those who head up during the day will have great views of the water and surrounding area. At night it’s harder to see the water; however, those who time it perfectly to get on board at 10 PM are rewarded with a front row seat to the nightly fireworks show.
Book with GetYourGuide:
Book with Viator:
WildPlay Zipline
Want a bit of excitement combined with a unique Niagara Falls view from Canada? Head up the WildPlay Zipline, where riders are strapped into a harness then glide along one of four ziplines running parallel to the falls.
The experience starts from a 67 metre high vantage point overlooking the water, and the ride down lasts about one minute. Admire the panoramic view of the waterfalls to your left as you zoom down, and be sure to wave at everyone who’s watching from along the Niagara Parkway.
It’s worth noting that there’s only one zipline versus a course, and it doesn’t go quite as fast as ziplines in places like Costa Rica, the USA and New Zealand so the thrill level isn’t quite as high.
However, this is a great activity for kids aged seven and up, and there’s another option to up the ante: go at night to ride while the falls are illuminated and the fireworks are shooting off!
Book with GetYourGuide:
Globe Guide notes: For safety reasons, absolutely no cameras/phones are allowed unless you bring a GoPro attached to a harness. Photos and videos of the ride are available for purchase at the base for about $40.
It can sometimes take more than an hour of waiting in line for a turn on the zipline, so budget at least a couple of hours for this activity unless you’re one of the very first people in line in the morning or reserve a skip-the-line ticket.
Best views of Niagara Falls from land:
Table Rock Centre
The most popular Niagara falls viewpoint is from Table Rock Centre, right in the heart of the action and just three metres away from the brink of the falls at its base.
Most tourists gather for selfies outside at the overlook beside Horseshoe Falls, where you can feel the spray of the water and feel the force as it cascades 156 metres down into the gorge. On sunny days chances are you’ll see a vibrant rainbow arched overhead, making for a picture-perfect scene.
The historical building has been transformed inside, boasting shopping and dining options and the entrance to Journey Behind the Falls (more on that below).
Grab a window seat at Table Rock House Restaurant to soak up the view while noshing on farm-to-table fare, and enjoy the nightly illumination which lights up the three waterfalls into a colourful masterpiece.
Journey Behind the Falls
Imagine being able to get right next to the falls, hearing the thunderous roar as the water plunges over the edge and feeling the refreshing spray.
That’s exactly what visitors at Journey Behind the Falls get to experience, and a trip here is the best way to see Niagara Falls from a different vantage point.
RELATED: 10 unique things to do in Niagara Falls on a rainy day
This year-round activity starts with a 125 foot elevator ride from Table Rock Centre down into a short tunnel, leading to two portals cut straight through the bedrock where visitors get an unforgettable view of the freshwater crashing down right in front of them.
Two outdoor observation decks have magnificent views from the side of Horseshoe Falls, which makes this one of the best things to do during a Niagara Falls trip. Click here to book
Book with GetYourGuide:
Book with Viator:
Niagara Parks Power Station
One of the newest Niagara Falls attractions is the Niagara Parks Power Station, an immersive experience into what was once the first major power plant on the Canadian side of the river.
Originally built in 1905 and decommissioned in 2006, the engineering marvel was reopened as an interactive museum with artifacts and exhibits highlighting the history of the building and power generation.
A glass-elevator heads 180 feet down to the half-mile long Tunnel, which was excavated using only rudimentary dynamite, shovels and pickaxes.
It leads to a new observation deck with a sweeping, unobstructed view of the falls and the boats sailing by.
Book with GetYourGuide:
Book with Viator:
WATCH: Globe Guide shares new Niagara Falls, Canada attractions
White Water Walk, Niagara Falls
Raging, standing waves up to five metres high make the Whirlpool Rapids the largest in North America, and you can witness the phenomenon of this stretch of whitewater up close at the White Water Walk.
Located just four kilometres downstream of Niagara Falls, a quick elevator ride brings guests down to the White Water Walk where a wooden boardwalk edges the banks of the river through the narrow Niagara Gorge featuring rock layers more than 400 million years old.
There are a couple of observation areas along the 300 metre pathway, as well as interpretive signs with fun facts about the gorge (which is 98 metres deep at the escarpment, and 61 metres deep at the falls.)
Admire the vibrant green colour of the water, created by the power of the estimated 60 tonnes of dissolved minerals which are swept over the falls every minute.
Salts and rock flour are picked up from the limestone bed, shales and sandstones in the gorge, which makes its striking, gem-toned hue. Click here to book
Best view of Niagara Falls from the water:
Whirlpool Jet Boat
An exhilarating ride on the Whirlpool Jet Boat is one of the most thrilling Niagara Falls activities, and definitely one of my favourite ways to experience the power of the falls (though you won’t actually see them).
Since you’re guaranteed to get soaked, this 45 minute adventure is also one of the best things to do in Niagara Falls on a rainy day.
Following a safety briefing and overview at headquarters, guests buckle into lifejackets and pile into the boat, heading about six miles down the Niagara River.
Whirlpool Jet Boat is the only company with a commercial license to operate in these Class IV and V rapids north of the Whirlpool, and it’s incredible to see the 1500 horsepower, three turbo diesel engines in action as they navigate these wild waters.
The captain expertly zips through the Devil’s Hole rapids, as guests scream with delight while getting absolutely drenched as the boat twists and turns through the churning waves.
It’s not all about an adrenaline rush, though: the entertaining on-board guides also share historical information about landmarks like the canyon walls, bridges and power plant as the boat passes through the gorge, stopping to view the Class VI Whirlpool Rapids before zipping back to base at speeds of up to 70 km/h. Click here to book
Globe Guide tip: You’ll get absolutely soaked, so bring a change of clothes and towel. Don’t bother bringing your phone either, since it’s such a wild ride that it’s nearly impossible to use your camera. Just enjoy the fun, and buy the photos and videos afterward which will be much better thanks to the GoPros mounted on the boat.
Don’t want to get wet? Book a ride on the Freedom Jet Boat, for similar thrills and views without the bath.
Niagara City Cruises
Finally, a must-do when visiting Niagara Falls is to slip on a bright red poncho and hop onboard Niagara City Cruises for a Voyage to the Falls.
The 20-minute excursion ventures right into the Niagara Great Gorge, offering close-up views of the Rainbow Bridge, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Then, the iconic moment: drifting straight towards Horseshoe Falls, as churning waves swirl around the boat.
There’s also an option to book the fireworks cruise, which heads out in the evening to see the falls illuminated, and culminates with the nightly five-minute fireworks show which is mesmerizing when seen from the water.
Globe Guide tip: While the boat rides only last about half an hour, it takes a while to get on and off so budget at least an hour for the whole activity.
The Niagara Falls Adventure Pass
Those planning to visit a number of attractions during their Niagara Falls getaway will want to pick up a Niagara Falls Adventure Pass to save money. All of them include a two-day pass to WEGO, the convenient bus system which connects local attractions and hotels.
There are three options available which includes admission to the following:
Adventure Pass Classic: $59
- Journey Behind the Falls
- White Water Walk
- Niagara’s Fury
- 2-day WEGO
Niagara Falls Pass: $79
- Journey Behind the Falls
- Niagara Parks Power Station + The Tunnel
- White Water Walk
- Whirlpool Aero Car
- Niagara’s Fury
- 2-day Falls Incline Railway
- 2-day WEGO
Adventure Pass Plus: $99
- Journey Behind the Falls
- Niagara Parks Power Station + The Tunnel
- White Water Walk
- Whirlpool Aero Car
- Butterfly Conservatory
- Niagara’s Fury
- 2-day Falls Incline Railway
- 2-day WEGO
- Floral Showhouse
- 4 Historic Heritage Sites
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Shuttle
There’s also a Clifton Hill pass which offers a discount on six attractions: the Niagara SkyWheel, Zombie Attack, Movieland Wax Museum, Dinosaur Adventure Golf or Wizards Golf, Ghostblaster’s Dark Ride and the Cosmic Coaster 4D Theatre.
YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:
- 10 unique things to do in Niagara Falls on a rainy day
- A photography guide to the best spots in Toronto, Ontario
- 10 incredible Canadian road trips you need to take
SHARE THE PINSPIRATION! CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO PIN:
This post may contain affiliate links, which Globe Guide receives compensation for at no additional cost to you.
