At the one end, there was an area where you could walk out and look at the falls from the side. Additionally, you could see the American falls as well. That part was pretty nice and we took a lot of cute pictures there. They give you these rain ponchos to wear so you don't get completely soaked.

Two other tunnels provide a close-up view of the Falls from behind. The tunnels extend only 46m (150 feet) behind the waterfall, so there is not a lot of walking. And you can explore it all at your leisure; the excursion is completely self-guided.

Open Year Round

Protective rain gear is included in the cost of admission

Admission: Adult $10, Child 6 to 12 years $6, 5 and under Free
Schedule: Open Year Round
Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 8:30pm
Friday to Sunday 9:00am to 9:30pm
Last ticket sold at 5:30pm; extended hours on holiday weekends.

You get in an elevator to travel down to below falls level. When you exit you can either go straight to the viewing area or go down the tunnel and look through the windows directly behind the falls. The tunnel is quite long and there are several viewing windows. The view is rather unimpressive as you are literally looking from directly behind the falls and really cannot see anything other than a hole with water pouring past it, but it is the noise that really impresses. It is incredibly loud and you really get a sense of the power of the water.

After the viewing windows, you can then go to the upper viewing platform, the only one we could see at the time. You are located to the side and under the falls and the water gushes past you just a couple of feet away. You get very wet, so watch your camera!

The other viewing area, as I said, was still icebound when we visited so we could not enter; however, if you do you see the same view, but from outside, so get much wetter.

As this tour costs only a few dollars, it is worth doing; after all, where else could you stand behind such a huge waterfall?

The main thing I will take away from this tour is the noise -- awesome.

We visited during the autumn so there was no line at the entrance. You then are directed toward a couple of elevators and are given ponchos, which are included in the price of admission. A guide will lead you on your decent down 13 stories and give you a briefing on the history of the tour and the falls. Our guide was more than happy to answer any questions that you had.

When you step out of the elevator, you can hear the roar of the falling water. Yelling at this level is a good way to communicate. Walking straight down from the elevator is a corridor, which will take you to a dual observation deck. Here you will be standing at the edge of the falls, just above the river level. To get an even closer look at the falls, head down the stairs to the open observatory. Here is where you are guaranteed to get wet. You are so close, you can almost touch the "Horseshoe". This is a great spot to take a couple of unbelievable pictures but don't hang out to long or you will ruin your camera. Better yet, pick up a disposable waterproof camera before hand.

As you are walking back from the observation deck, you make a left down a 650-foot corridor, which will take you to two portals. At these portals, you can take pictures with the falls rushing down behind you. There is nothing really spectacular about these portals other than saying you were behind Niagara Falls. Did you wonder how they lit up the falls at night? The spotlights are located at these two portals.

I found the experience to be fun and different, though this is probably not for everybody. If you don't like to get wet don't bother with this attraction. The ponchos can only keep you dry for so long.

Precise address for Niagara Falls Parks Commission attractions are a bit hard to come by, but there maps can be found here.