Tours of the best-known waterfall in North America, which straddles the USA-Canada border, are available from both sides. Here are the best trips from the US side.
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Up to six million cubic feet of water pours over Niagara Falls a minute, making it one of nature’s truly great spectacles. There are many ways to get up close and personal with the falls, including taking the Maid of the Mist boat tour into the churning plunge pool, and hiking to multiple vantage points for better, drier views of them. Here are five of the best Niagara Falls tours on the US side, based on multiple factors including itinerary, tour duration, previous guest reviews, and health and safety precautions used.
Goat Island Niagara Falls Tour
The wonderfully named Goat Island is a small river island located in the middle of Bridal Veil and Horseshoe falls. While you’ll be sad to learn that there are no actual goats on Goat Island, it is a place offering a fantastic vantage point of Horseshoe Falls. Your guide will lead you to the best spots and provide plenty of useful information about the area’s geology and history. This tour lasts an hour and departs daily. There are numerous additional add-on activities available for an extra fee, including a helicopter ride over the falls. From $59 per person.
Niagara Falls Walking Tour
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One of the simplest, and best-value, ways to experience Niagara Falls is on a guided walking tour. This two-hour experience offers both guidance and information about the area and its stories through history. Your guide will lead you between Goat Island, Luna Island, Terrapin Point and Three Sisters Islands, stopping by monuments, such as the one to Nikola Tesla, as well as taking in the impressive views of the rapids atop the falls and over the most famous waterfall at Niagara known as Horseshoe Falls. Tours operate on Weds, Fri and Sun. From $43 per person.
Niagara Falls, USA: American Tour and Maid of the Mist
If you have a little more time and money to spare, the ultimate way to experience Niagara Falls is on a tour like this one, which provides both the best views and the proximity to the falls. Climb atop the American Observation Tower for the best vantage point and to better appreciate the scale of the falls. Then really come to know the power of the water falling over the edge via the Maid of the Mist boat ride, which takes you into the mist of the churning water at the bottom. Daily departures. From $120 per person.
Half-Day Small Group Tour of Niagara Falls, USA
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Another great half-day tour of Niagara Falls from the US side packs plenty into the 4.5-hour itinerary. If you’re staying in downtown Niagara Falls, USA, there’s hotel pick-up and drop-off included. You’ll get to experience the falls from all of the major viewpoints, including the Maid of the Mist voyage. Plus, head down into the Cave of the Winds, a deceiving name as it’s actually a walkway down into the Niagara Gorge. This tour usually departs twice daily at 9am and 3pm. From $135 per person.
US & Canada Full Day Niagara Falls Tour
If you’re staying at a hotel situated close to the falls on the USA side, there’s an excellent day-tour that explores Niagara Falls from both countries. Starting on the US side, sail straight into the thick of the water-churning action on the Maid of the Mist boat. Climb the Observation Tower and descend into Niagara Gorge. Next hop borders to Canada and take the elevator to the top of Skylon Tower for a buffet lunch at their restaurant with 360-degree views of the falls and surrounding countryside. At the end, you’ll be dropped back at your hotel on the US side. Please note that you’ll need your passport and be sure that you have the right visa status so that you can cross the border freely on this tour. From $280 per person.