Niagara Falls Viewpoints: 11 Places for Picture Perfect Views of the Falls

Created by a glacier over 10,000 years ago, these iconic waterfalls straddle the United States and Canada. Truly nothing compares to seeing these high-flowing falls in person. Ready to discover the best Niagara Falls Viewpoints? Read on!

Equally arresting in both countries, this group of three waterfalls starts at the southern end of Niagara Gorge and spans the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States.

Whether or not your plans include a trek through Niagara Falls State Park or an up close and personal view from the pedestrian Rainbow Bridge, there’s no wrong way to soak in this geologic wonder.

Score a view of Niagara Falls from a high-flying helicopter or opt for a lookout from Luna Island.

Our guide of places to see Niagara Falls will cover lookouts for the American Falls Bridal Veil Falls, Horseshoe Falls, the Niagara River, and more.

About Niagara Falls

Never visited these quick-flowing falls? If you’re wondering ‘is Niagara Falls one of the seven wonders of the world, it’s not, but that doesn’t make this NY/Canadian marvel any less impressive.* Niagara Falls is special due to its stunning combination of height and volume.

About 168,000 cubic meters of water go over the crestline of the falls every minute during peak hours. In fact, swirling speeds of the falls have been recorded up to 68 mph. The Canadian sides of the falls offer breathtaking panoramas of both the American Falls and the mighty Horseshoe Falls. However, the American side lets you see all three falls from the top down.

*While many insist the best Niagara Falls viewpoint Niagara falls on Canada side, we believe ideal viewpoints can be obtained on both sides.

Niagara Falls Viewpoints

Cave of the Winds and The World Changed Here Pavilion Niagara Falls

Electricity, levers, and currents, oh my! Dive into the wild world of waterfalls and learn how Nikola Tesla harnessed this natural power at the World Changed Here Pavillion, designed as an indoor multimedia experience to entertain visitors before they descend into the gorge.

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Here, you can wander through rooms of Goat Island history, play interactive lever games, or sit through an educational screening. After you soak in an indoor vantage point with the museum’s viewers, get ready for the Cave of the Winds adventure.

This ticketed tour will prepare you with a poncho before making your way to the Hurricane Deck. Come face to face with the crashing Bridal Veil Falls on this wet and wild observation deck that promises slick conditions even on the calmest of days. The Cave of the Winds is open year-round, and tickets can be purchased here.

Table Rock Welcome Centre

An ideal entry point to any Falls journey, the Table Rock Welcome Centre has been serving visitors for decades. Equal parts retail and observation complex, this historical building was recently revamped to include brand-new architectural features, fast casual food offerings, and more.

Sitting pretty on top of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The Centre offers a free way to see this spectacular water fixture before your Journey Behind the Falls excursion.

Journey Behind the Falls

Landed on the Canada side of the falls? Pay respects to the Maple Leaf and squeeze out even more impressive scenery, when you book a Journey Behind the Falls. This awe-inspiring experience may leave you a little damp. But it’s a small price to pay to feel the thunderous vibrations of the Horseshoe Falls.

Stroll onto the observation deck and witness a once-in-a-lifetime view from the viewing portals cut straight through the rock. Or, take your time meandering through 130-year-old tunnels. Lucky visitors may even be blessed by a rogue rainbow sprouting above the falls.

Whirlpool State Park

Two levels of scenic viewpoints, natural beauty, and picnic facilities make Whirlpool State Park one of the most revered New York vantage points of the falls. This New York State-run facility is home to numerous overlooks that show off the churning waters of the rapids, the whirlpool, and the Niagara River Escarpment.

Hightail it here for a picnic, or let the kiddies run wild on the playground. Make a plan for hiking the Whirlpool Rapids Trail, and bring along your rod to take advantage of plentiful fishing opportunities.

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Luna Island

Small but mighty, this uninhabited island may very well be one of the best places to scope out up-close views of both the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Luna Island allows you to observe the part of the Niagara River that flows into Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls. Accessible by a pedestrian bridge, it is said Luna Island received its name due to the ‘lunar rainbows’ of the Niagara mist.

Queen Victoria Park

Expertly manicured gardens laden with flowers pave the way for incredible views of the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls. A wander around Queen Victoria Park makes for a lovely afternoon, as guests can observe picturesque tumbling falls among verdant lawns, a hybrid tea rose garden, and numerous floral displays. Take a reprieve on a park bench or snap a series of falls and flora-laden photos.

Helicopter Tours

Take to the skies above for a panoramic view of this natural wonder. For over 50 years Niagara Helicopters have delivered higher and more scenic tours of the falls in their perfectly maintained fleet of seven-passenger Airbus H130 helicopters.

Buckle in for a unique Niagara Falls aerial view as you lift off from the Victoria Avenue location, taking in sweeping views of the Niagara region. Observe the gushing water like a god above and score numerous opportunities for helicopter selfies.

Skylon Tower

Equal parts observation tower and restaurant, the Skylon Tower delivers fine dining and fantastic views of the falls from 775 feet! Choose to chow down at either the legendary Revolving Dining Room Restaurant or the family-friendly Summit Suite Buffet Dining Room restaurant.

Tuck into Canadian smoked salmon and tiger shrimp cocktail as the restaurant rotates. And bring along that camera to document more than 125 km of falls. Before your dining experience, ride up to their Niagara Falls observation tower for sights of all three falls, the Great Gorge, the Niagara Wine District, and the city skylines of Buffalo, New York, and Toronto. This Observation Tower Niagara Falls can deliver visibility of up to 80 miles on a clear day.

Terrapin Point

Hear the roaring tumble of Horseshoe Falls when you make a pit stop at this New York side lookout. Prime your peepers for a scene of flowing H20. As you walk across the grassy expanse and treat yourself to a meal at the Top of the Falls Restaurant.

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Terrapin Point is a free observation area located at the western tip of Goat Island. Together with Prospect Point, it makes up one of two areas in which to see the falls and lower Niagara. Prospect Point Niagara Falls can be found further downriver. Terrapin Point also features a gift shop loaded with cheesy souvenir options to fully commemorate your trip.

Boat Tours

Certainly, the most iconic way to capture memorable views of the falls. There’s no escaping the eternal allure of a Maid of the Mist boat tour. This eclectic experience has been enjoyed by visitors since 1846.

What began as a side-wheel steamboat ferry with twin smokestacks has become a modern all-electric zero-emission vessel. Internationally renowned, this irreplicable tour places you right in the path of the falls. Don that poncho, feel the spray, and snap that photo as you document the raw beauty of 600,000 gallons of moving water.

Niagara Falls Hotels

Before we detail every last Niagra Falls viewpoint, it’s time to secure those lodgings. If your Niagara Falls getaway is part of a larger New York adventure you’re in luck.

We offer a diverse array of Niagara Falls Hotels. From Inns so close to the falls you can feel the mist to more budget-friendly options just walking distance from casinos, we have options for every type of traveler. As always make your reservation fuss free knowing you are guaranteed our lowest rates online.

Shrouded in history and geology, Niagara Falls has firmly cemented itself as part of pop culture and tourism.

A must-visit bucket list item, there’s no wrong way to witness this fast-moving watery phenomenon.

Whether you are visiting the Falls to pop the question. Or to take your very first Maid of the Mist boat ride, it’s essential to lock down an ideal viewpoint.

Revel in the scenery of all three falls and the lush wine district from a revolving restaurant. Or traipse through pristine gardens of roses on your way to hear the rush of the American Falls.

Switch out the land for air when you opt for a Niagara Falls birds eye view. Or spend time on a tiny island for an even closer encounter.

Can’t wait to fall head over heels for the falls? Book your own Niagara adventure today!

Tell us, What’s Your Top Niagara Falls Viewpoint?

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