Niagara Underground Tour: Power Station and Tunnel Under Falls
Description
The powerful waters of Niagara Falls hide a truly epic story of electricity and innovation. You'll explore history firsthand as you dive deep into the Falls, in a glass elevator, as part Niagara's Tailrace Tunnel Experience. Uncover the stories of Nikola Tesla, the ‘War of the Currents’, and the daredevils who challenged the Falls while getting pre-reserved access to Niagara Parks Power Station and the Skylon Tower. Discover the dramatic history of hydropower, unraveled for you by an expert guide on this cultural walking tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin your walking tour by meeting your expert guide at Skylon Tower. Along with the incredible views (and photo opportunities) you’ll be shown the Niagara Generating Stations supplying power to one-quarter of New York state along with the International Control Dam where water is diverted for use in the Station.
Before exiting Skylon Tower, you'll check out the new Daredevil Exhibit (opened in 2025) to learn about these brave characters and see the real barrels they used to confront the Falls.
The Illumination Tower is located near the base of the Niagara River. Here, every evening at dusk, Niagara Falls is transformed into a multi-colored water and light masterpiece. Learn how the light show works as well as the famous figures who have walked this path before including British Royalty.
Learn more about one of the most underappreciated inventors whose impact on the world cannot be underestimated. As you uncover his legacy, you’ll hear about his inventions that harnessed the power of water to produce hydroelectricity, how he sparked the ‘War of the Currents’ with Edison, and his oftentimes eccentric behavior.
Step on the boardwalk to look out over Horseshoe Falls, one of three waterfalls that makes up Niagara Falls. You’ll have time to breathe in the magnetic beauty, see the whirlpool beneath and truly appreciate why Tesla and others were so inspired to harness the raw power of nature on display here.
The first major power plant on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Parks Power Station was completed in 1905 to produce hydroelectricity by using the power of the Niagara River. Today, crossing the threshold into this imposing structure is much like stepping back in time. With original machinery still housed within, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in hands-on training exercises. See the thrust deck, brake deck and turbo deck as you hear about their use and the future of hydroelectricity going forward. At this point, your guide will say goodbye and hand out audio guides so you can explore the Power Station and Tailrace Tunnel at your own pace.
What you see from the top of the power station is just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll descend 180 feet through the inner workings of the power station, then walk the path the water flowed through the Tailrace Tunnel to a one-of-a-kind view from the base of Niagara Falls.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour is in English.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- Sites on this tour are subject to occasional closures. If modifications are needed and time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
- Please note: this tour is located in Canada, any guest arriving from the US will need a passport to enter Canada.
Reviews(326)
Good to know the story behind the falls and what lies behind it. Dianne (I think that’s her name) our tour guide was great and knowledgeable!
If you get Tim as a tour guide, be prepared to be entertained. The tour was very informational. It was cool (literally) going into the tunnel and the observation deck!
Great tour, our tour guide Val was very informative and interesting. Saw a lot! Well worth it & would recommend this your.
I have learned to enjoy the benefits of a guided tour as opposed to doing it on my own. Jane of Walks City Experiences did not disappoint. A native with a long history and generational personal ties with the Niagara Falls. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for leading the interesting and informative tour, along with a certain professionalism and passion for doing the tour was great!
Linda was the best ! She was so informative and friendly. She made our experience wonderful !
Whilst the Tour is entitled Niagara Underground Tour, we were in fact dropped at the door of the Power Station to self guide. That being said the guide was engaging both during the Skylon Tower and walk to the Power Station, ensuring we understood Edison and the impact the Falls have on the development of hydro-electricity for generations.
Very interesting history of the electric power plants that harnessed the Niagra River over the centuries. It does involve a lot of walking and took longer than I expected. Once you reach the power plant, however, you can set your own pace, spending as much or as little time as you like. The walk through the tunnel is exciting and you end up at the base of the horseshoe falls. You start at one location and need to be prepared to walk about 1/2 mile uphill back to your starting point. Our guide, Jane, was very personable and energetic. She grew up in the area and contributed personal stories and pictures to compliment the tour.
Enjoyed this site very much. We spent a few minutes exploring the museum which was of some interest. But the highlight of the place is the tunnel. The tunnel was built around 1901 to 1904. It is an incredible engineering accomplishment especially given how crude the tools were back then. We took the self guided audio tour. There are a number of stops inside the tunnel where you stop and point your device at the exhibit and then hear the explanation. Fascinating. Think big tunnel that you could drive a car through so you don’t get claustrophobic. When you emerge at the end of the tunnel you are very close to the base of the Canadian Falls. Highly recommended!
It involves a lot of walking. Once you are at the power plant you can set your own pace. Our guide, Jane, was excellent. She grew up in the area and can share many personal stories and photos.
Loved the social aspect meeting others and enjoying the sights. It's great for when you don't know what to take in next. It would have been nice to have a shuttle back to the rendezvous point at least. Lost my one and only Canada souvenir sticker on the trek... 😞
