Canada – Niagara Falls in Winter
Niagara Falls is so much part of the American consciousness that I needed to see it in person when visiting Toronto in December. The falls are spectacular with the constant powerful force of water that it is mesmerizing. Once a honeymoon destination and perhaps still is, there is romance mixed in with the mist no matter where you go. Anyone who loves waterfalls will love the horseshoe bend of the Niagara Falls, but for those who are neutral on waterfalls may find this destination to be a bit of a single tone. Keep reading to going to Niagara Falls in winter will be worthwhile for you.
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Seeing the Niagara Falls in Winter
There are actually three waterfalls at Niagara Falls: American Falls and Bridal Veil falls (both entirely on the American side), and Horseshoe Falls which is in the iconic u-shape and spans the border between the US and Canada. I will be referring to Horseshoe Falls as Niagara Falls in this post for simplicity. We visited from the Canadian side and got up close with one side of the falls. Instead of parking in the main lot(which cost at least $20), we kept driving and found a small lot, which cost $6 or $7 and walked back to the main viewing point. During the walk along the river, we got to see a few hydroelectric buildings.
Honestly, you’ll see the mist of the falls while driving into town, but nothing prepares you for the sheer amount of water going over the falls every single second. The water at this time of year is a dark blue/teal, which lightens up at the very edge where the falls drop. The sound, mist, and visual is stunning. At times you cannot see across the Horseshoe due to the amount of mist in the air. Also in one section of the viewing sidewalk, the mist comes back down on you like raindrops. I hope your outer layer is waterproof!
Upon further research, I found out that Niagara Falls does not completely freeze over in winter. It sounds like certain sections may freeze, but not the entire falls. There was no snow on the ground when we visited, so the water was freely flowing. We walked around and took a few photos before heading into the building next to the viewing platform to use the restroom. There are a couple of restaurants and retail stores inside the building. We warmed up before heading back to the car.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 3 (out of 4) stars – would likely visit again if I were in the area
- Intensity: Cute, warm layers
- Location: Niagara Falls, Canada (75 miles from Toronto)
- Cost: Free to view the falls from above
- Restrooms: Inside the building
- Timing: 1 hour at the falls
Highlights:
- Witnessing the incredible power of the falls
- Visiting the “Honeymoon Capital of the World”
Lowlights:
- There are no boat tours in the winter
The Power of the Falls
Four of the five great lakes drain into the Niagara River, which empties into Lake Ontario. Most of the time you see the falls at 25 – 50% of its capacity. In the summer months over 700,000 gallons of water flow over the falls. With all this energy potential, hydroelectric power has been part of Niagara Fall’s history since the mid-1700s. Niagara Falls now generates more than one-quarter of all the power used in New York and Ontario. Thanks to an international treaty, the flow remains highest during the day. Power generation intakes reduce the flow of water at night.
As expected, Niagara Falls is eroding. The average rate of erosion is one foot per year, however with research and supports in place, researching hope to slow the erosion to 1 foot every 10 years. To do research, remove boulders, or add supports, temporary dams placed slightly upstream divert the flow of water. These fun power facts are from this website.
Photographing the Falls
From the Canadian side, I took my favorite photos a little bit further away from the building and main viewing platform. Further away, you can capture more of the falls (assuming it is not covered in mist). Further down the main walkway, you can capture American and Bridal Veil Falls nicely. There was even a decorative set of Angel wings that you could pose with in front of American Falls. I imagine the view from this angle is a little better, however, when we were looking at Horseshoe Falls, the American platform looked relatively empty.
Other things to do at Niagara Falls
Though we didn’t get to partake in many additional activities during our day trip to the falls, I did see some activities that piqued my interest:
- There is a tower called the Skylon, which offers a 360-degree revolving dining experience
- At night, the falls are lit up for you to see a color display
- The Canadian side has a main street packed with hotels and casinos. I didn’t expect the casinos, which cheapened the entire experience, in my mind. But, if that’s your thing, you can gamble your heart out.
- There is a tour for you to walk behind the falls
Honeymoon Capital of the World
While visiting, I vaguely remembered that Niagara Falls was once a famous honeymoon destination. Jim and Pam from the Office even got married there, so I had to do a little research. Apparently, Vice President Aaron Burr’s daughter honeymooned there in 1802, the town took the opportunity to rebrand themselves as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World”. Talk about influence.
But I wanted to understand the appeal, so I dug a bit deeper. Every hotel had/has honeymoon packages and most have wedding coordinators on site. Not only was Niagara Falls cheaply accessible by car, but it also gave out official honeymoon certificates signed by the mayor since 1949. There are parks and walkways to hold hands and admire the falls. If there is anywhere that has a heart-shaped jacuzzi, it would have to be here, right?!
Overall Thoughts: Niagara Falls in Winter
We visited Niagara Falls on our last day in Toronto. We rented a car for the day, picking it up in the city and dropping it at the airport. This method worked pretty well to go see something neat as well as cover transportation back to the airport. I do a ton of hiking, often to see magnificent waterfalls. Niagara Falls was a spectacle compared to many waterfalls I’ve seen but the accessibility, casinos, and attractions make it feel less like an incredible feat of nature and more like a roadside attraction. But if you can look past the kitschy-ness, it is still very impressive.
What do you think? Is going to Niagara Falls worth it?? I bet many of you have gone – what was your experience? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
