Cave of the Winds is our top favorite thing to do in Niagara Falls. The funny thing is it wasn’t even on our to-do list in the beginning, but we were so glad we ended up doing this. If you have done the Journey Behind the Falls, Cave of the Winds is a bit similar to the upper observation deck but much more intimate. At Cave of the Winds, you can stand within feet of the roaring Bridal Veil Falls, the smallest of the 3 waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. The sound of the crashing water is deafening as you get closer. There is nothing really to prepare you for that overwhelming power of Mother Nature as you stand underneath one of her majestic creations.
10 Goat Island Rd, Niagara Falls, NY
Cave of the Winds tour is located on Goat Island, inside Niagara Falls State Park on the American side of Niagara Falls.
There are 4 main parking lots for Niagara Falls State Park. However, the closest parking lot to Cave of the Winds is Parking Lot 2 at 15 Goat Island Loop Road. This parking lot opens year-round with fees varying from $5-$15 depending on whether it’s peak season or not.
Cave of the Winds opens year-round, except for New Year’s Day and Christmas Day. The attraction’s hours change depending on the season. Tickets are usually on sale starting from 9 am to 4 pm. For more up-to-date info, check out the park’s website.
We recommend going early during peak season. This attraction can get very crowded. If you’re up to brave the cold, Cave of the Winds in the Winter is especially mesmerizing due to the frozen droplets surrounding the falls.
Tickets for Cave of the Winds cost $21/adult, $17/youth(ages 6-12), and free for children ages 5 and under. As far as we know, you can’t buy tickets for this attraction online, but you can get them in person. Tickets for Cave of the Winds can be purchased at the ticket booth for Cave of the Winds on Goat Island or the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Welcome Center. Since this is a timed ticketed attraction, we highly recommend making your reservation as soon as you get into Niagara Falls State Park.
We recommend budgeting at least 1 hour for Cave of the Winds. It was such a unique attraction that you’d want to spend a lot of time appreciating the thunderous roar of the waterfalls.
After purchasing our tickets, we headed toward the Cave of the Winds’ entrance. These tickets are timed, so you will be called inside by the time on your ticket. Once inside, we were guided into the presentation room. The presentation room is very educational. Here, you’ll learn about the Falls in the past and about the hydroelectric power station. We found it very interesting.
Once the presentation was over, we were directed to the elevator to descend 175ft to the cave. As soon as we stepped out of the cave, we could start hearing the rumbling sound of the waterfalls. There is a small booth outside the cave’s entrance where you can get your poncho if you need one. Don’t forget to put it on before entering the wooden walkways.
Cave of the Winds comprises a series of wooden walkways. These walkways are built right next to the powerful Bridal Veil Falls. As we walked along the boardwalks, we could see and feel the beauty and the astonishing power of one of the Niagara Falls. It was truly a sight to behold! There are multiple levels of the boardwalks, giving us different angles and views of the waterfalls. Make sure you check out all of these levels. The higher we went up, the closer we got to the thundering water. Be prepared, because you will get SOAKED! The top level is the “Hurricane Deck.” This is our favorite part! Here, we were almost directly under the crashing water. It really felt like we were in the middle of a tropical storm. It was a humbling experience!
If you’re visiting Niagara Falls, make this your MUST-DO! This is the only attraction in Niagara Falls where you can get very close and personal underneath the waterfalls. Another bucket-list experience here is the Zipline to the Falls. It is on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. If you’re staying in Toronto, we highly recommend the CN Tower Edgewalk! It was such an awesome experience!
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While at it, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’ll love you forever!
These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite biodegradable, eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen!
This is our go-to camera for all of our adventures. It comes with us everywhere!
Compact GoPro pole that extends to 25", perfect to bring on your adventure.
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Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!
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