This realistic List of the Best Views of Niagara Falls helps you plan your next visit to this powerful waterfall.

Niagara Falls is a state park in Upstate New York. It protects the most powerful waterfall in North America. The park has three waterfalls and countless islands, rapids, and viewpoints.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Niagara Falls State Park is the best and only place to see Niagara Falls in the United States. The park has viewpoints that allow you to see three different waterfalls.

• Horseshoe Falls: a 167-ft (51-m) tall and 2,700-ft (820-m) wide waterfall
• American Falls: a 110-ft (34-m) tall and 950-ft (290-m) wide waterfall
• Bridal Veil Falls: a 181-ft (55-m) tall and 56-ft (17-m) wide waterfall

The US and Canada share Horseshoe Falls, the most powerful waterfall of the three. The other two falls are in the US. You could see them from the US and the other side of the Niagara River in Canada.

This List of the Best Views of Niagara Falls explains where to go to enjoy these waterfalls in the US.

1. Prospect Point

The Prospect Point has some of the best views of Niagara Falls from the US side. It might be counterintuitive but you would want to hike along the rim towards the Niagara Falls Observation Tower.

This way, you will get further away from the crest of American Falls. This will allow you to capture all three waterfalls without paying to enter the Niagara Falls Observation Tower.

The groves on Robinson, Luna, Bird, and Goat Islands will serve as a background for your pictures. They are the most colorful during the fall foliage season.

There is always something in the background at Niagara Falls. And the trees are by far the best backdrop you could hope for. Observation towers, casinos, and hotels do not look nearly as nice.

The Canadian side has some of the same problems. This fact makes the Prospect Point a contender for the best Niagara Falls views from both the US and Canada.

2. Niagara Falls Observation Tower

You should head to the nearby Niagara Falls Observation Tower next. It is another great spot to get the best views of Niagara Falls. You would need to pay a small price to enter the tower.

The tower dates back to 1961. It underwent major renovations in 2001. You would need to pay a small per person fee to enter the Niagara Falls Observation Tower.

This tower tries to solve the main issue of the nearby Prospect Point. It has an open observation deck that brings you above the Niagara River.

You will get a better view of American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Even Horseshoe Falls will be in sight at the Observation Tower. You will get a slightly obstructed view of this powerful waterfall.

3. Terrapin Point

The Terrapin Point is the third best place to get amazing views of Niagara Falls. It gives the best views of Horseshoe Falls from any land viewpoint in the United States.

You need to head to Goat Island to reach the Terrapin Point. You could park your car at the nearby Parking Lot 2. Keep in mind that you would have to pay twice if you already parked at a different lot.

A hike from the Prospect Point to the Terrapin Point takes about 20 minutes each way. You will be going next to other viewpoints and sights. Budget about an hour to explore both points and make it back.

The most powerful waterfall of Niagara Falls will be on display once you arrive at the observation deck. There is nowhere to escape mist and water at the Terrapin Point.

Without a doubt, Horseshoe Falls look better from the Canadian side. But you could get a pretty good look from the Terrapin Point in the US. Do this quickly before you get soaking wet.

4. Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge is another great spot to view Niagara Falls from the US. But enjoying the waterfalls views from this 1941 bridge might not be the most straightforward task.

This bridge over the Niagara River connects two cities of Niagara Falls. One of them is in New York, United States. The other is in Ontario, Canada.

The Rainbow Bridge serves as an international border. As a result, there are border control checkpoints at both ends of the bridge. You should not head to this bridge without a passport and proper documents.

But you are in luck if you happen to be crossing from Canada to the US on the Rainbow Bridge. You could enjoy amazing views of Niagara Falls right from your car or the walkway.

Crossing the border in the other direction will not give you nearly the same views. You could only watch the Niagara river flowing downstream towards Fort Niagara.

5. Luna Island

You do not need a passport to get great views of Niagara Falls from the next viewpoint. Luna Island is fully on the US soil. This island is a 0.4-mi (0.6-km) walk away from the Terrapin Point.

You will pass a few of the Niagara Falls attractions on the way to Luna Island. They include Top of the Falls restaurant, Parking Lot 2, and Cave of the Winds ticket office and entrance.

You will be next to Luna Island once you see a statue of Nikola Tesla. Take the stairs down to the North Shore Trail. You will be on the island as soon as you cross a short bridge.

Be careful as you step onto the bridge and walk around the island. Wind, mist, and rain make this area wet and quite slippery.

The southern section of the island near the bridge has views of Hells Half Acre. This part of the Niagara River has countless rapids. But you should head to the northern viewpoint for the best views.

American Falls will be on your right. Bridal Veil Falls will be on your left. Since you are standing near the crest of these falls, you will only get a glimpse of either waterfall.

The Niagara Falls Observation Tower and the Rainbow Bridge will be in the background while you are enjoying American Falls.

The Skylon Tower, hotels, and casinos in Niagara Falls, Ontario will be in your view of Bridal Veil Falls. Mist will be coming at you from both sides.

6. Maid of the Mist

The viewing angle is the main issue when visiting Niagara Falls from the United States. You will only get a side view of the falls. There is no way to get a full picture from the land viewpoints.

But it would not have been Niagara Falls, United States if there was not a solution to this problem. And it is not the Observation Tower since it could only get that far before crossing the international border.

You could board the Maid of the Mist boat tour. It starts and ends at a pier below the Niagara Falls Observation Tower. Each tour lasts 20 minutes. No need to bring your passport.

You will enjoy American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls from the river level. It is breathtaking to see these powerful waterfalls coming at you.

Each visitors gets a complimentary rain cover. But do not count on this cover saving you from water and mist. It is a much better idea to wear waterproof boots and jacket.

You are almost certain to get wet on this tour. Water will be coming from all sides. It will be close to impossible to capture a view of any waterfall. This experience is similar to Dettifoss in Northern Iceland.

Once you return from the Maid of the Mist tour, do not forget to hike the Crows Nest. You will be already soaking wet after the boat ride. So you might as well get another look at American Falls.

7. Cave of the Winds

Cave of the Winds gives you a somewhat similar way to experience the falls as the Maid of the Mist. But you do not need to board a boat.

You could stay on land throughout the whole visit. This could be a great alternative to the Maid of the Mist if you are prone to motion sickness.

Your Cave of the Winds experience starts with the ticket booth. You need to purchase a timed entry ticket. You should then ride an elevator down 175 ft (53 m) into the Niagara Gorge.

Follow the boardwalks to the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls. You will get distant views of Horseshoe Falls almost from the river level.

Be ready to get wet. On the bright side, mist and sun are a perfect combination for reflections. You are likely to catch at least a couple of rainbows during your visit to Niagara Falls.

8. Goat Island

Goat Island is an obvious place in Niagara Falls State Park to go to for waterfall views. In the end, both the Terrapin Point and Cave of the Winds are on this island. It is also the only way to Luna Island.

But you could get amazing views of Niagara Falls from the lesser known viewpoints on Goat Island. Take the North Shore Trail from the Luna Island Bridge towards the Pedestrian Bridge.

You will be walking along the North Branch of the Niagara River. As you go by Luna Island and Bird Island, you will see the river rapids. This section of the river carries the name of Hells Half Acre.

This name describes the area perfectly. You will see the rapids one after another. They cannot rival Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, or Bridal Veil Falls in power.

Yet, they are still beautiful. A good number of visitors to Niagara Falls never makes it to this part of Goat Island. So, they miss out on the gorgeous views.

You would not want to skip the North Shore Trail if you visit Niagara Falls in the fall. This area has some of the best fall colors in the park.

The river rapids will have red, orange, yellow, green, and everything in between foliage as a backdrop. You could not wish for a better view of Niagara Falls.

9. Pedestrian Bridge

If you made it to the Goat Island trails, you might want to keep on hiking. Take the path all the way to the Prospect Point. You would need to cross the Niagara River via the Pedestrian Bridge.

Goat Island Road has two bridges. One connects Goat Island with smaller Green Island. The other connects Green Island with the mainland.

The best views of Niagara Falls are from the latter bridge. You will see nearly endless river rapids. But the bridge is too far to capture the views of American Falls.

Yet, this stone bridge offers a nice view by itself. Powerful rapids and countless seagulls complete the picture. Be sure to put away any food or snacks. Niagara Falls seagulls are ready to steal a bite or two.

Continue with this List of the Best Views of Niagara Falls. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a state park in Upstate New York. The park is on the Niagara River on the border with Canada. This remote location does not stop over 20 million people from visiting the falls each year.

Out-of-state visitors to Niagara Falls should fly to Buffalo Niagara (BUF) airport. This airport is 40 minutes from the park. But if there are no direct or affordable flights to Buffalo, your options are limited.

You could choose to fly to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) in Canada. This is both a major airport and a hub. It is just 1.5 hours from the park. But this airport is in Mississauga, Ontario. It could present a few issues.

You would need a passport to fly to Canada as an American citizen. Citizens of other countries need to adhere to other entry requirements. Some visitors need a visa to travel to Canada.

There are no other major airports near Niagara Falls. Rochester (ROC), Syracuse (SYR), and Albany (ALB) in New York do not make the cut.

Neither does Cleveland, Ohio (CLE) and Wilkes-Barre Scranton, Pennsylvania (AVP). Your best shot might be to fly to Detroit, Michigan (DET) or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PIT).

A car is necessary to get to Niagara Falls State Park. It becomes a must-have if you fly into an airport a few hours from the park. But you could use public transport if you fly to Buffalo Niagara.

Take a bus #24 from the airport to downtown Buffalo. Then change to a bus #40 to Niagara Falls State Park. This journey takes about 2 hours each way. Use a trip planner to get a cost estimate.

Once in Niagara Falls, New York you could rely on a free Discover Niagara Shuttle. It will bring you all the way to Fort Niagara.

Where to Stay near Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a magnet to tourists. As a result, there plenty of nearby places to stay for you to choose from. You could book a night within a walking distance from the falls.

In this case, take a look at Hampton Inn Niagara Falls and Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. Both hotels are viable options when visiting Niagara Falls.

If you have no problem going back and forth between the United States and Canada, consider Niagara Falls, Ontario. There are lots of places to stay. A few of them are a great deal cheaper than the US hotels.

Check out Serene Niagara Inn for a bed-and-breakfast vibe. Or head to Sterling Inn & Spa if you are after a more up-scale experience.

Back in the US, you need to drive all the way to Buffalo to find nice a place to stay. Do not miss your chance to stay in a historic building at The Richardson Hotel.

There are also options if you prefer a chain experience. You cannot go wrong with Hampton Inn Buffalo – Amherst or Hampton Inn Buffalo-Williamsville.

Like with airports, there are very few towns with affordable places to stay outside of Buffalo. You need to plan based on your itinerary.

If you drive to Cleveland, Ohio and Cuyahoga Valley, you could stay in Erie, Pennsylvania or Madison, Ohio. If Finger Lakes in New York are your next destination, you should check out Victor or Ithaca.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Niagara Falls State Park is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Some attractions have shorter opening times in the fall and winter.

Opening Hours

You could visit the Niagara Falls Observation Tower from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during most of the winter season. Summer hours are a lot longer.

The same logic applies to the Maid of the Mist cruises. You could board a cruise from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during most of the summer. But the winter navigation schedule is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cave of the Winds follows a similar schedule. You could take a tour from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the summer. But you should be at the ticket office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the fall and winter.

Fees

Niagara Falls State Park does not charge admission fees. You could visit the park free of charge if you do not use a parking spot. But you would need to pay a parking fee if you come to Niagara Falls in a car.

There are 4 parking lots in Niagara Falls State Park. Some of them are only open to cars seasonally. Each lot has a different parking fee based on the distance from the Niagara Falls viewpoints.

You should expect to pay $10 per car Monday through Thursday or $15 per car Friday through Sunday. Winter fees are $5 per car. The parking lots close on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Days.

You could find a parking spot outside of the state park. If you enter such a lot early, before 9 a.m. you will pay about $10. The flat fee increases if you park at any of these lots after 11 a.m.

The Niagara Falls Observation Tower charges a separate fee. It costs $1.25 per person to visit the tower. The same fee applies if you take an elevator to the Maid of the Mist boat launch.

The Maid of the Mist tour costs $28.25 per adult and $16.5 per child between 6 and 12 years old. Kids under 6 travel free.

Cave of the Winds tour costs $21 per adult and $17 per youth. It pays off to visit this cave in the fall and winter. You will pay $14 per adult or $10 per youth.

Takeaways: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is an iconic destination in the United States and Canada. The power of Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls is breathtaking.

The words and pictures cannot accurately reflect it. You should experience these views first hand. You will be speechless as you explore Niagara Falls.

No need to fly to Iceland to see powerful waterfalls. Just head to Upstate New York or Southern Ontario. You will get fantastic views in less time.

There is a way to visit Niagara Falls State Park for free. You just need to take public transport or a ride share to the park. You would need to pay a parking fee otherwise.

As beautiful as Niagara Falls are, you will feel as if you are in a theme park for adults. You would need to battle through a few add-ons. Some of them feel like tourist traps while others are worth the extra price.

It is just as easy to spend $100 in Niagara as it is to spend $10. The costs add up if you take the Maid of the Mist tour and walk in Cave of the Winds.

You should budget about 2 hours to get the best Niagara Falls views from the main viewpoints. Any tours could push your exploration to half a day.

Proximity to Canada plays its role. Your phone might connect to the Canadian telecommunication towers. Check whether your mobile plan has any roaming fees.

Take a look at this Video List of the Best Views of Niagara Falls. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!