Journey Behind the Falls Tours and Tickets

It takes between 30–45 minutes to complete your Journey Behind the Falls. This period includes your elevator ride down to the two viewing portals (Cataract and Great Falls) at the base of the falls, which you reach via a short walk through a tunnel.

While you don’t have to book your admission ticket for Journey Behind the Falls in advance, buying ahead is always a good idea. Not only will this save you time waiting in line on the day of your visit—particularly on busy public holidays—but you’ll likely get discounted rates.

It’s best to arrive at Journey Behind the Falls as early as possible—preferably in the morning, as soon as it opens. The best time of year to visit is during the spring and summer months, as that’s when all of the observation decks are open.

Even though you’ll be provided with the bright yellow poncho that’s become the iconic symbol of Journey Behind the Falls, it’s still worth wearing some waterproof trousers and footwear with good grip, as the observation decks can be slippery. You might also want to bring a change of clothes for afterward—you’re not guaranteed to stay dry.

The best parking for Journey Behind the Falls is at the Falls Parking Lot, just across the road from the Journey Behind the Falls. This parking costs around $30 per vehicle for the entire day—you can’t keep your car there overnight.

Yes, Journey Behind the Falls is mostly wheelchair-accessible—the only part that isn’t is the lower observation deck due to the stairs. However, elevators bring you to the tunnel located a third of the way down, and then there’s sloped access to the upper observation deck.