Journey Behind the Falls is an excellent addition to any Canadian Niagara Falls itinerary because it provides views of the falls that are unavailable in any other way. Here’s what you can expect if you buy a ticket to this famous Niagara Falls attraction.
A Synopsis of the Journey Behind the Falls
The first enclosed stairs to get a view of the Falls were built in 1818, and in 1832, a spiral staircase was built that allowed visitors to see the “Sheet of Falling Water” for one dollar flat. If anyone is curious, that is roughly equivalent to $100 in today’s money.
The Niagara Parks Commission was established in 1885, and they set about making it easier to get up close to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. The Table Rock House was built a little less than 50 years later, and shortly after that, tunnels were both extended and rebuilt. Those tunnels from 1944 are the same tunnels we can walk through today!
The famous “observation plaza” was built in the early 1950s, but major changes were not implemented until the 1990s. For one thing, the raincoats and boots that were previously provided have been replaced with the famous ponchos, which can now be kept as a souvenir.
The name “Scenic Tunnels” was changed to “Journey Behind the Falls” in 1994, and it has remained that way ever since.
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How to Maximize Your Visit to This Famous Niagara Falls Attraction
Visitors take an elevator down 125 feet to a short tunnel that leads to two outdoor observation decks and two portals located directly behind the Falls. Journey Behind the Falls allows you to witness the incredible spectacle of one-fifth of the world’s freshwater crashing down to the basin below. During the summer daylight hours, over 2,800 cubic meters of water thunders over the edge every second, traveling at a speed of 65 kilometers per hour!
Your Journey Behind the Falls visit will last 30 to 45 minutes, and during the spring and summer months, you will receive a free souvenir biodegradable rain poncho to protect you from the Falls’ mist. Elevators descend 125 feet through bedrock to tunnels that lead to the Cataract Portal and the Great Falls Portal, both of which are located one-third of the way behind the massive sheet of water. Then you proceed to the Upper and Lower Observation Decks, which are located at the base of the Falls. Information posters are a great source of information about the history and evolution of the corridors you walk through. Journey Behind the Falls is a must-do Niagara Falls experience; bring a waterproof camera.
When the Lower Observation Deck of the attraction is closed due to ice conditions, winter rates are reduced.
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Tickets for Journey Behind the Falls
The current hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Adults (those aged 13 and up) will pay $23.50, children (6-12) will pay $15.50, and children 5 and under will be free.
Niagara Parks, on the other hand, offers a plethora of different packages for your visit, so you should take a look at this page, which lists some of their best Niagara Falls deals based on the attractions they operate.
They provide:
For $49, you can get the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass (Journey Behind the Falls, White Water Walk, Niagara’s Fury, and two days of hop-on, hop-off bus transportation).
The Niagara Falls Pass (Journey Behind the Falls, Whirlpool Aero Car, White Water Walk, Floral Showcase, Butterfly Conservatory, Falls Incline Raceway, hop-on, hop-off bus transportation) is $69 per person.
The Niagara Parks Power Pass (which includes the Niagara Parks Power Station and the Journey Behind the Falls) costs $37.
You can purchase tickets at https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/tickets/journey-behind-the-falls-14736/.
