Journey Behind The Falls

As a tourist attraction, Journey Behind The Falls, ranks high amongst visitor’s favourites at Niagara Falls!
Indeed, there is something very magical about the Falls themselves! The thundering, awe-inspiring beauty of Niagara Falls, is better than its hype!
But taking the Journey Behind The Falls tour, takes your Niagara Falls experience, to a whole new level! It is an immersive and intimate experience with the Falls and from a very unique vantage point!
In this article
- Why is Journey Behind The Falls tour, so popular?
- What can you expect from your tour experience?
- What makes Journey Behind The Falls an unbeatable choice, (especially on the Canadian Side) ?
The popularity of Journey Behind the Falls
Niagara Falls is truly a vacationer’s dream! There are tons and tons of things you can find to indulge in! No matter how short or how long you plan to stay! And no matter what type of entertainment you might be seeking! Niagara Falls, has something in store, for everyone!
Given the wealth of attractions and tours to choose from at Niagara Falls, the enduring popularity of this tour is truly impressive! Journey Behind The Falls attracts around 700K to 900K visitors to itself annually!
But what makes this tour such a popular choice among visitors?
Can there possibly be deeper reasons, apart from the awesome view it offers…?
Our research on the topic of Niagara Falls tourism, tells us that there is something about getting as physically close to the Falls as possible, that historically, tourists have found attractive! An up-close encounter with a massive natural phenomena, is, for sure, an effective way to create a visceral connection with it!
A famous English writer from the 18th century- Fanny Trollope, elaborates these emotions well. In writing about her trip to Niagara Falls with her daughters, she talks about how they wanted to remember the Falls by drenching in its waters and even cutting themselves on the surrounding rocks!
We believe that the popularity of Journey Behind The Falls, as well as other Falls-related tours, can at least in part be attributed to this primal desire within most of us! Getting behind the curtain of falling water, indeed is a very physically intimate experience, on many levels!
Historical significance of Journey Behind the Falls
The popularity of Journey Behind The Falls, is far from being a recent phenomena.
The allure of looking behind the Falls, dates as far back as the 1800s! Many ventured behind the Falls, through the naturally formed caverns. And it might surprise you to learn that this journey, was often a fatal one!
Here’s a link to an interesting article that you might find fascinating, on the subject. Read: History of Journey Behind the Falls, on the Niagara Parks website.
This self guided tour has indeed come very far in its evolution. What was once a dangerous proposition-is something that is actually fun and safe, today!
We believe, that Journey Behind The Falls also draws to itself people who are charmed by the history of a place. Second to getting physically close to something- learning as much as you can of its history. is another popular way of deepening the bond!
Keep reading to find out why Journey Behind The Falls is an absolute must-see for you as well!
About the Tour
Journey Behind the Falls tour, begins at the Table Rock Welcome Center.
Here, you will grab the free souvenir bio-degradable poncho and head on to the elevators. The elevator ride takes you an impressive 125 ft. underground through the bedrock. You will then arrive at a network of 130 year old tunnels!
What makes Journey Behind The Falls extraordinary is its ability to engage all your senses!
The moment you step into the tunnels, you will feel a drop in temperatures. As you walk through the tunnels, the sound of rushing water grows from a distant rumble to a deafening roar! It is said that you feel t;’fche Falls’ power, vibrating within your entire body! The cool mist touches your skin, and in certain spots, the very ground beneath your feet trembles with the impact of 2,800 cubic meters of water crashing down every second.
The tunnels extend approximately 150 ft. They lead to two observation decks as well as the viewing openings behind the Falls, called portals. These openings, cut into the natural bedrock- give the visitors a phenomenal view behind the falling waters of the Horseshoe Falls.
The observation decks are named simply as the Upper and Lower observation decks. Out of the two, the Lower observation is immensely popular amidst visitors. Positioned just 13 meters away from the bases of the Horseshoe Falls. Standing in the mist from 2800 cubic feet of water crashing down, creates a remarkable and unbeatable sensory experience!
Journey Behind the Falls on the Canadian side
As we have mentioned earlier, Journey Behind The Falls is popular for several very good reasons! Apart from the immersive experience, its historical significance- here are a few more reasons, why Journey Behind The Falls also ranks high, on our Niagara Falls tour suggestion list!
All season availability
Did you know that not all Niagara Falls tours remain open and functioning all year round? Journey Behind The Falls, is one of those, that does! Of course, the tour is far more popular during the Canadian Summer months! But don’t shy away from taking this tour during the winter for an equally unique experience!
Fun with Learning
On the tour, there are several modern installations that include educational/informational displays! These are posted at regular intervals and provide interesting facts and insights about the tour! Not only will you learn about the history, but also other interesting details of significance on topics like the Falls’ geology! That makes this tour a perfect choice for all age groups!
Modern Appeal
There is much to admire about the engineering feat that makes Journey Behind The Falls the experience that it is today. Journey Behind The Falls is going to interest those, who like engineering and architectural marvels!
Convenience and Accessibility
Visiting the Table Rock Centre where the Journey Behind The Falls begins, is not going to take extra effort nor travel! It’s right by the Niagara Falls tourism district! Once you are done with the tour – you can super easily continue on to the next activity of your choice!
We hope that we have at least made you seriously consider putting Journey Behind the Falls on your Niagara Falls itinerary! Try combining it with the Hornblower Boat tour, for an immersive Niagara Falls experience!