“This Is Insane!” My Journey Behind the Falls Review
Niagara Falls was never on my bucket list.
But when my friend and I ended up just 45 minutes away on an Anne of Green Gables trip to Ontario, we figured we should go, cuz why not?!
I am so glad we went.
I chose the Journey Behind the Falls tour because it felt more unique than a boat tour and I didn’t have to risk seasickness.
We didn’t just look at a waterfall, we EXPERIENCED it! All our senses were engaged as we saw, heard, felt, and tasted Niagara, it was THAT powerful!
Best. Detour. Ever!
Booking Tickets
Journey Behind the Falls is a tour experience that you can take from the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls.
They use timed entry, so you need to reserve a spot either ahead of time or when you arrive.
I tried booking directly online but the website refused my US credit cards. (It didn’t even occur to me to call my bank, since I use a travel card and have never had issues with international purchases before so I was chalking it up to a Canada problem.)
That left me hoping there would still be availability as a walk-up. Luckily, when we showed up around 6:00pm on a Sunday, the next opening was at 6:15pm. Perfect!
The attendant told me that earlier in the day the wait had been close to two hours so our timing couldn’t have been better.
💁🏼♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: I bought my ticket from the booth at the entrance to Table Rock Welcome Center (the Niagara Falls “mall”) where all the tours on property are sold. The line was short, but when I got to the actual entrance of Journey Behind the Falls, I noticed they had their own booth which had no line at all. So if one line looks long, check the other.
If you want to purchase in US currency, get untimed tickets here! ➡️
Entrance to Journey Behind the Falls
Photos
The very first thing they do is herd you into a group photo in front of a green screen, so they can sell you a cheesy souvenir picture later with Niagara Falls badly superimposed in the background.
Honestly, who wants a fake photo of the falls when you are about to see the real thing with your own eyes and can take your own photos for free? But of course, there is always a gimmick, and plenty of people still buy into it.
I refused to even pose. The staff kept pushing, insisting “It doesn’t cost anything to take it, you can decide later.” But I held my ground. I grew up in the D.A.R.E. days, so I knew how to “just say no!” lol.
Pay for Journey Behind the Falls Tickets now (get your time slot at arrival) ➡️
Suit Up
From there, you shuffle into the next room to wait for the elevator, winding through zigzag lines like you are about to ride Space Mountain.
They hand out yellow ponchos, which look and feel exactly like wearable trash bags. I debated skipping it, but decided to put it on for the sake of keeping my phone safe.
The line moved fairly quickly.
They had two elevators running, and each one was crammed full. An employee rides with every group to press the buttons and make small talk.
The ride itself lasts all of ten seconds, so I could not help but wonder how many times a day that poor guy has to chirp, “Are you excited?” to a pack of sardined tourists. I kinda felt bad for him.
When we got off, there was a line of returning people waiting to ride back up.
The underground tunnel is lit with a strange blue glow that reminded me of those anti-drug lights in public bathrooms. The tunnel was busy but not unbearably crowded.
There is only one main direction to follow toward the viewing platform, with a side tunnel leading to the “behind the falls” lookout, which we saved for later.
Viewing Platform
As we emerged out of the tunnel, it opened onto a covered platform overlooking the falls for the first big reveal.
Immediately I was pelted with mist and hit by the wind and the roar of the water was unbelievable. I’ve been to other waterfalls but never to one that just attacked your senses like this!
I didn’t linger long on this level since the lower platform gets you closer to the water. Most of the crowd had the same idea, so I followed the stairs down.
It was even wetter down there; basically raining. I had to keep putting my phone under my poncho to keep it dry, which made me very glad I had decided to wear it.
The mist was so thick at times it was hard to see the full waterfall. But the platform brings you right to the edge of the horseshoe, where you can look straight up and feel as if the water is crashing down on top of you.
The evening sun created a full rainbow arched across the entire falls. At one point, a tour boat floated perfectly at the end of the rainbow, which was very picturesque.
Watching the boats churn in the raging water was wild, and I was glad I had skipped that experience. Seasickness avoided.
💁🏼♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: Each boat flies either a Canadian or American flag so you can tell which side they are from. The American boats were practically empty while the Canadian boats were packed. So if you have the option, I would book an American boat!
Because of timed entry, the viewing platform wasn’t too crowded. It was definitely busy and finding a line of sight for pictures without other yellow ponchoed people was near impossible, but I’m sure if you have more patience than me you could get some clear shots.
More than anything, it was incredible to feel the raw power of the falls and experience Niagara with all the senses.
➡️ Book this guided tour for priority access to Journey Behind the Falls AND Boat Voyage to the Falls
Back Side of Water
Now, the tour may be called “Journey Behind the Falls” but I was already prepared to be underwhelmed with this part.
As you head back toward the elevators, a side tunnel to the left leads to small openings carved behind the waterfall. A short iron gate keeps you six to ten feet from the wall of water, where the falls thunder past with a spray that splashes into the tunnel.
It is, quite literally, the back side of water!
The water is far too thick and violent to see through, so the experience is mostly about the deafening sound and clout.
There are two of these portals, but the view is identical at both. Just pick the one with the shortest line if you want your selfie with a sheet of water in the background.
So while this is the namesake of the tour, this is definitely not the highlight.
End of the Tour
Afterward, we lined up again for the elevator back up. The elevator guide made the usual small talk with the packed crowd, asking how we enjoyed the experience. (Does anyone ever say it sucked?)
Once at the top, we were told we could either keep our ponchos as a souvenir or toss them into the recycle bin. I happily ditched mine.
This is also where you have the option to buy that cheesy green-screen photo, if you are so inclined.
And, in true theme park fashion, the exit dumps you out into a massive souvenir shop. To get out, you have to weave your way past rows of t-shirts, mugs, and fridge magnets before finally reaching the doors.
The whole experience from start to finish was about 45 minutes. We weren’t rushing ourselves, nor were we waiting in long lines.
Seeing Niagara Falls doesn’t require a tour, but I’m so glad we did Journey Behind the Falls as it made the visit even more unforgettable! It let us get right down into the “belly of the falls” and see perspectives of you would never catch from above.
Buy Journey Behind the Falls Tickets in US currency now (get your time slot at arrival) ➡️
Quick Tips for Visiting Journey Behind the Falls
- Parking: The main parking lots next to the visitor center are very pricey (over $30CAD). But it’s convenient.
- Best Time of Day to Visit: First thing in the morning or early evening tend to be less crowded than midday. My 6:00pm visit on Sunday in July had no wait, while earlier in the day I was told it was a 2hr wait.
- Best Time of Year to Visit: Shoulder season (May, September, and October) has less crowds but decent weather. Summer (June-August) is peak season, so expect heavy crowds, with August being the heaviest.
- Visiting in the Winter: The lower deck is closed during the winter due to icy conditions, however, the admission price is then discounted.
- Accessibility: Journey Behind the Falls is wheelchair accessible except for the lower viewing deck. ♿
Again, visiting Niagara Falls wasn’t a bad detour to take if you are hitting film locations for Anne of Green Gables in Ontario.
