Walks Canada Behind Falls Tour: Guided Walk with the Boat and Journey Behind the Falls
Quick answer
The Walks Canada behind falls tour costs $95 per person for 3 hours, with a 20-minute boat ride and a 2 km guided walk.
It rates 4.6/5 from 1,900+ reviews on GetYourGuide, excludes hotel pickup and tips, and is unsuited to wheelchairs.
The Walks Canada behind falls tour is a 3-hour guided walk in Niagara Falls, Ontario, that pairs a Niagara City Cruises boat ride with Journey Behind the Falls for $95 per person.
The detail that changes the decision is the booking option. The listing sells this tour as a standard boat, a "First on the Boat" slot, a Night Boat version with the fireworks cruise, or a private group, and the boat is a 20-minute ride in the middle of a 2 km walk.
Pick the option before you pay, because the standard daytime boat runs on the seasonal calendar and the night boat depends on the fireworks. For the full field of rivals, see the Niagara Falls boat tours page on Harbour Advisor.
| Operator | Walks Canada (Walks and Devour), with tickets for the Niagara City Cruises boat |
|---|---|
| Format | Guided walk of about 2 km; private tour option available |
| Price | From $95 per person (USD), about CAD 135 at the 2026-10-16 rate; free cancellation up to 24 hours before |
| Duration | 3 hours in total; the boat ride is about 20 minutes |
| Departure times | Not stated on the listing; the date picker shows the slots |
| Meeting point | Niagara Parks Police Station meeting point on Google Maps: lawn outside the Niagara Parks police building, check in 15 minutes early |
| Boat pier | Niagara City Cruises plaza on Google Maps |
| Route | Boat from the gorge pier, boardwalk walk to Table Rock, then Journey Behind the Falls |
| Options | Standard boat, First on the Boat, Night Boat (fireworks cruise), Private |
| Included | Boat tickets, Journey Behind the Falls ticket, a poncho, English-speaking guide |
| Not included | Hotel pickup and drop-off, gratuities |
| Accessibility | Operator rules out wheelchairs and reduced mobility (listing) |
| Languages | English |
| Rating | 4.6/5 from 1,900+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the Walks Canada behind falls tour and what do you see?
It is a walking tour that uses the boat and the tunnels as its two ticketed highlights and the guide's commentary to join them. You see the Falls from the gorge floor, from the Niagara Parkway walkway, and from the viewing portals behind the Horseshoe Falls.
The listing says the walk covers roughly 2 km along the scenic boardwalk and ends at the Table Rock Visitor Center, where Journey Behind the Falls begins. Between the stops the guide covers the history of the Falls and its daredevils.
- Boat ride - the Niagara City Cruises "Voyage to the Falls", about 20 minutes.
- Boardwalk walk - about 2 km with commentary on the river and the Falls.
- Journey Behind the Falls - an elevator down 125 ft to the tunnels and viewing portals.
- Night option - the 40-minute fireworks cruise instead of the daytime boat.
Where does the Walks Canada behind falls tour meet?
You meet on the lawn outside the Niagara Parks police building at 6075 Niagara River Parkway. Look for a yellow sign and a yellow vest, and get there 15 minutes before the start.
The map pin is Niagara Parks Police Station meeting point on Google Maps. The boat plaza is a separate stop, Niagara City Cruises plaza on Google Maps, reached by the guide on foot, so you do not need to find it yourself.
The listing does not give a transit route. Niagara Parks sells a WEGO pass for CAD 16 for 24 hours (adult), checked 2026-10-17 on the Niagara Parks site, and the meeting point sits on the Parkway side of the Falls.
What is the route, stop by stop?
The route has three main legs: the gorge pier for the boat, the walkway above the river, and Table Rock for the tunnels. Two of the legs are measurable from the listing's coordinates.
| Stop | What happens | Walk to next | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting point | Briefing, group check-in | Down to the gorge pier | Police Station garden |
| Niagara City Cruises pier | 20-minute boat ride | Back up by the lift | Boat plaza |
| Boardwalk and Niagara River | Guided walk, about 2 km | 17 min on foot to Table Rock (1.3 km) | Plaza to Table Rock |
| Journey Behind the Falls | Elevator down 125 ft, tunnels, two portals | End of tour | Journey Behind the Falls |
The listing's last Maps point is Table Rock Welcome Centre, the building at the Journey Behind the Falls entrance. Skylon Tower to Table Rock is a 15-minute walk if you want to continue to the tower afterwards.
How long is the tour and when does the boat run?
The tour takes 3 hours, and the boat is about 20 minutes of that. The listing does not give start times, so check the date picker for the slots, and note that the "First on the Boat" option is the day's earliest sailing.
The daytime boat runs on the Niagara City Cruises calendar. Companion listings state May to December, weather dependent, and this listing says sites are subject to occasional closures and the guide will contact you if changes are needed. It does not name a winter replacement, so ask before booking from January to April.
| Option | What changes | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard boat | Daytime Voyage to the Falls | Seasonal; weather can cancel |
| First on the Boat | The day's earliest sailing, fewer people | Early start; time not stated |
| Night Boat | Fireworks cruise instead of the daytime boat | Nightly series ended 12 October 2026 |
| Private | Your own group, same route | Price differs; check the date picker |
Journey Behind the Falls is open year-round according to Niagara Parks, which lists an approximate visit of 60 minutes.
125 ft is how far the elevator drops visitors to the tunnels behind the Horseshoe Falls.
The Niagara Parks fireworks page shows the nightly display ran from 15 May to 12 October 2026 at 10:00 PM, so a Night Boat booking after that date depends on a winter display. See the Niagara Parks series page and the 40-minute fireworks cruise page for the full calendar.
What is included and what do you pay extra for?
The price includes the guide, the boat ticket, the Journey Behind the Falls ticket and a poncho; it excludes hotel pickup, drop-off and tips.
- Included: pre-reserved boat tickets for the option you pick, including the fireworks cruise for the Night Boat option.
- Included: Journey Behind the Falls ticket, a poncho and a local English-speaking guide.
- Not included: hotel transfers, gratuities, food and drink.
- Bring: closed-toe shoes; the walk includes uneven surfaces.
The tour is outdoors in all weather and winter is cold. The operator also tells US guests to carry a passport; the Government of Canada says the same for US citizens.
How does the Walks Canada behind falls tour compare with the other Niagara Falls tours?
It is the cheapest guided tour that combines both the boat and the tunnels, and it has a direct twin at the same price: the priority version.
| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walks Canada boat and Journey tour (this page) | $95 | 3 hours | 4.6/5 (1,900+) | Standard, First Boat, Night, Private |
| Walks Canada priority boat tour | $95 | 3 hours | 4.7/5 (1,500+) | Priority boarding lane |
| Walk Niagara boat and Journey | $104 | 2.5 hours | 4.9/5 (330+) | Shorter, Murray Hill start |
| See Sight Skylon tour | $133 | 3.5 to 4 hours | 4.7/5 (2,000+) | Adds Skylon Tower |
If crowds at the boat dock are your worry, the priority-boarding version costs the same, so read its page before you choose.
Is the Walks Canada behind falls tour worth $95 against other boat trips?
It is worth $95 if you want the boat, the tunnels and a guide for 3 hours at the lowest price in this group, and not worth it if you want a longer cruise.
The price works out at $31.70 an hour, below the $38 median of the 12 Niagara Falls tours on this site, which is why I rank it as a value pick. You pay for a 20-minute boat ride and an hour at the tunnels, with the walk in between.
For one evening on the water, I'd book the $38 fireworks cruise on its own. For a first day with a guide on a budget, my pick is this tour with the standard or First on the Boat option.
When is the best time to go?
The best months are June to September, when the boat runs and the average high is 74 to 84 F. The table shows what the Open-Meteo archive recorded for 2025 and for 2015 to 2025.
| Month | 2025 avg high | 2015-2025 avg high | Rain days | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 F | 33 F | 12 | Boat usually replaced; dress for freezing spray at the tunnels |
| Feb | 30 F | 35 F | 11 | Boat usually replaced; Journey Behind the Falls stays open |
| Mar | 47 F | 43 F | 12 | Cold mist; boat not yet running per listings |
| Apr | 54 F | 54 F | 13 | Cold mist; boat not yet running per listings |
| May | 64 F | 67 F | 12 | Boat season opens; fleece and rain shell |
| Jun | 80 F | 76 F | 11 | Best for poncho-and-shorts; busy |
| Jul | 84 F | 81 F | 12 | Warmest; poncho dries fast, crowds peak |
| Aug | 79 F | 79 F | 12 | Warm; late sunset, fireworks cruise after 9:30 PM |
| Sep | 74 F | 73 F | 10 | Comfortable highs, fewer crowds |
| Oct | 62 F | 61 F | 13 | Layers needed; boat may be weather-dependent |
| Nov | 46 F | 48 F | 11 | Cold on deck; evening sailings leave at 7:30 PM |
| Dec | 34 F | 39 F | 14 | Often below freezing on deck; boat season ends per listings |
The listing says the tour runs outdoors in all weather, so winter highs of 29 to 34 F in January and December mean serious layers on a walking tour. Sunset falls at 6:35 PM on 15 October and 4:54 PM on 15 November.
The next public holiday is Christmas Day on 25 December per the Nager.Date API, checked 2026-10-17. The listing gives no holiday timetable.
What do passengers say?
All 20 reviews I could read are 5 out of 5, so the sample is positive-only. These patterns repeat.
- Guides: named and praised in 18 of 20 reviews; the rating breakdown gives guides 4.8/5.
- Boat: 3 reviewers say you get wet, and 2 call it the highlight.
- Journey Behind the Falls: 2 say it felt flat after the boat.
- Walking: 2 note the amount of walking.
GetYourGuide's own summary says clearer expectations for the tunnels would help.
Who should skip it?
Skip this tour if you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility, since the operator rules it out, or if you want a long cruise. Niagara Parks lists Journey Behind the Falls as partially accessible, with stairs to the lower deck.
Also skip it if you want hotel transfers: the listing excludes them. For other trips, see the Niagara Falls boat tours page.
How do you book the Walks Canada behind falls tour?
The Walks Canada behind falls tour costs $95 per person for 3 hours with a boat ride, Journey Behind the Falls and a guide.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Niagara Falls boat tour?
On this tour the boat ride is about 20 minutes, inside a 3-hour walk. The Night Boat option swaps it for the 40-minute fireworks cruise.
What is the best tour to see Niagara Falls?
A guided tour that includes the boat and Journey Behind the Falls covers the main views. This one costs $95, the lowest in my Niagara list for that combination.
What is the Journey Behind the Falls attraction in Canada?
It is a Niagara Parks attraction where an elevator drops 125 ft to tunnels and viewing portals behind the Horseshoe Falls. Niagara Parks lists a visit of about 60 minutes.
Can boats go through Niagara Falls?
No. Boats sail up to the base of the Horseshoe Falls and turn back in the mist.
What should you not miss at Niagara Falls?
The Horseshoe Falls from the water and the tunnels behind them. This tour covers both in 3 hours.
Where do I meet the guide?
On the lawn outside the Niagara Parks police building at 6075 Niagara River Parkway, 15 minutes early. Look for the guide's yellow sign.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. The listing excludes hotel pickup and drop-off, so you make your own way to the meeting point.
Do I need a passport?
The operator tells guests coming from the US to carry a passport. The Government of Canada says US citizens should always travel with one.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
No. The operator states it cannot take wheelchair users or guests with reduced mobility.
Do Niagara Falls light up every night?
Yes. Niagara Parks lists the illumination from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM in late October and from 4:30 PM in November and December; the Night Boat option adds the fireworks cruise.
Sources: Niagara Parks, Journey Behind the Falls; Niagara Parks, Falls Fireworks 2026; Niagara Parks, WEGO fares; Government of Canada, entry requirements; GetYourGuide listing 465947 (checked 2026-10-17); Open-Meteo archive, sunrise-sunset.org, Frankfurter and Nager.Date APIs (fetched 2026-10-17).
