Planning the Perfect Niagara Falls Trip for Hiking Fans

Regardless of the type of vacation you like to take the Niagara Falls is a fantastic destination. There is something for you to enjoy, in the area, almost regardless of your interests. Naturally, in this article, I am going to focus on hikers. Below are a few suggestions that will help you to plan your perfect Niagara Falls holiday.

A room with a view
My first tip is to spend a little extra cash to book yourself a Fallsview room, at least for one night. As you can see here the views are fantastic! There is nothing quite like coming back to your room after a long day of hiking, stretching out on the bed and enjoying such a beautiful view. It is an experience that will stay with you for a long time. Plus, when it gets dark, you will be treated to a stunning light show.

Seeing the waterfalls
Before you do anything else, it is a good idea to spend some time seeing and experiencing the waterfalls in the traditional ways. There are lots of options. If you do not mind being on the water, taking a boat trip would be ideal. The best ones take you almost to within touching distance of the waterfalls. Being that close is truly thrilling. It is the best way to get a full appreciation of just how powerful all of that water is. If you want to stay off the water, you can still get very close to the waterfalls. On the American side, you can take the Behind the Falls tour. During this tour, you take an elevator down into the bowels of the earth. When you get out you walk through some tunnels and emerge onto a walkway directly opposite the base of one of the Falls. There are several other viewing platforms from which to get a panoramic view. You can even enjoy eating your lunch or dinner with all of that gushing water as a backdrop.

Hiking near the waterfalls
Once you have done the touristy bit, you can focus in on enjoy some of the hiking that the area has to offer. Fortunately, at a fairly early stage, the US and Canadian governments realised that there was a danger of the area being ruined by development. So, as far back as the late 1800s they started taking steps to preserve the area, by establishing natural and national parks. So, today, there are tons of hiking trails for you to enjoy. Routes that are suitable for most levels of hiker.

Niagara Falls Canada hiking
On the Canadian side, the White Water Walk is probably your best starting point. It enables you to see the most thrilling section of river with a guide who will point out things that you would otherwise totally miss. The Niagara Gorge is also well worth heading for.

Hiking on the American side of the Niagara Falls
On the American side start by checking out the Niagara Gorge Trail System. Guided hikes are available between mid-May and October. The rest of the year,you just have to follow the trail maps. It gets very cold between December and early April, so it is best not to go hiking in the area at these times of the year.

If you want more in-depth information to help you to plan your trip, I suggest you visit the official tourist sites for the area. Both the US and Canadian ones have sections that provide more comprehensive information about hiking in the area, including free downloadable maps.

This is a collaborative post.