When I emigrated to Canada, one of the first ‘touristy’ places my in-laws took me was to Niagara Falls. Actually, it’s a place where they usually brought anyone who visited, but after that first time I totally understood why. The feeling is indescribable as you stand a few feet away from the water as it rushes over the edge.
After that first visit something stuck with me. Twenty seven years, and countless number of visits later, I still head down to Niagara Falls every chance I get. I’m pretty sure it’s the island boy in me that’s drawn to the water.
My most recent visit brought me to The Tunnel, the newest Niagara Falls attraction from the Niagara Parks Commission. The Niagara Parks Commission operates other attractions in the region with the majority of them using the Niagara River as its focus.
Why Build The Tunnel?
Before we talk about The Tunnel, I should tell you why it exists.
Niagara Falls has attracted tourists for hundreds of years, but initially there was another reason why people came. Soon after the area was settled, industrialists moved in to harness the energy of the falls to power their factories. Eventually, large-scale hydroelectric generating stations were built on both the Canadian and American sides of the Niagara River. One of those was the Rankine Generating Station, the first major power plant on the Canadian side.
The Rankine Generating Station would take in water from the river and drop it 180 feet down a man-made shaft. As it fell, it spun turbines which eventually generated power. The spent water was returned to the Niagara River via the tunnel not far from the base of Niagara Falls.
It’s hard to imagine that this 2200 foot long tunnel was built using just dynamite, shovels, and pickaxes, especially with the innovation happening at the power station up above. This truly was, and is, an engineering marvel.
The new pathway in The Tunnel
Today’s Tunnel
The power station has changed names a few times in its history. In 2006 when the plant was officially shut down it was called the Canadian Niagara Power Generating Station, and in 2009 the Niagara Parks Commission took ownership of the power plant. It took a few years to get started but refurbishment began in 2019 and continued through the first two years of the pandemic.
In 2021 the doors were opened and visitors flooded into the new Niagara Parks Power Station. At that time visitors only had access to the main generating floor. It would take another year of construction before the public gained access to The Tunnel in July of 2022.
Today, guests take a glass enclosed elevator 180 feet down below the power station’s main generating floor to The Tunnel. As you descend you can see the multiple levels of power generating machinery lying dormant in the shadows. It feels as if you’re stepping back in time as you go deeper and deeper underground.
I was awestruck as I stepped out of the elevator into an enormous space. I was almost at the exact spot where water would fall before flowing along the 2200 foot tunnel for over a hundred years. It was unimaginable that something as massive as this was dug out using hand tools and dynamite.
The Tunnel has been refurbished with a new concrete pathway, benches. and exhibits. The exhibits give visitors a little history lesson about the tunnel. In spots along the pathway, visitors can still see the exposed brick of the original tunnel wall, and you should definitely take the opportunity to touch those historical bricks.
I loved how Niagara Parks made this new attraction completely wheelchair-accessible.
The Viewing Platform
As mentioned before, The Tunnel was originally used to return spent water back to the Niagara River. Nowadays instead of flowing into the river The Tunnel funnels its visitors onto a brand-new viewing platform.
The new viewing platform is literally a few metres from the edge of the Niagara River and the views are spectacular! Across the river are the American Falls and as you turn to your right you experience the majesty of the Horseshoe Falls. And at certain times of the day, a rainbow will welcome you as you exit the tunnel.
In case you’re wondering, yes you will get wet but not as much as if you were at The Journey Behind The Falls. I’d highly grabbing a free poncho before heading down to The Tunnel. In the middle of summer the mist from Niagara Falls is so refreshing but not so much during the colder months.
The viewing platform at The Tunnel
Tickets To The Niagara Parks Commission’s Tunnel
The Tunnel itself lies beneath the Niagara Parks Power Station so visitors would have to purchase a ticket to the Power Station, which in turn gives you access to The Tunnel. It’s actually a great deal as you get to visit two amazing attractions with one ticket.
As of now, the Power Station is open 365 days a year from 10AM to 6PM.
Ticket prices are as follows: Regular Admission for guests 13+ is $28.00. Guests 5 to 13 is $18.25, and those 5 and under are free. If you’d like a guided tour then the prices are a bit higher at $38 for guests 13+, and, $25 for those from 5 to 13 years.
The good thing about the Niagara Parks attractions is that they offer a variety of deals and packages. You can find out more at the Niagara Parks Commission website.
Conclusion
For those visiting the Niagara region for the first time, or those seasoned locals who have been frequenting the Falls for years, The Tunnel is a great chance to see a new side of Niagara Falls and learn more about the area’s history.
Disclaimer: Our visit to The Tunnel at the Niagara Parks Power Station was complimentary but all opinions expressed are 100% our own.
4 comments
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I absolutely loved taking this excursion last year. A family friend worked for Niagara Parks before he retired and he was allowed to take a certain amount of family and friends to visit this new attraction and chose us! We also went the year before in 2021 where we got to experience the entire inside of the power station, and then when we went back in 2022 we got to see the tunnel and the entrance to the falls. Absolutely majestic!
Author
I’m so glad you got to experience it, there’s so much to do in Niagara Falls.
Great post! I’ve never been here but it’s definitely on my bucket list! I didn’t know there was a tunnel. Thanks for sharing your experience, opinions and advice!
Author
I’m glad you liked it and I hope you get a chance to visit soon.