Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls with Horseshoe Falls and Canada in the background

 There are waterfalls and then there are WATERFALLS!  Until you experience Niagara Falls up close and personal, it is hard to imagine the grandeur and power of four to six million cubic feet per minute roaring down over 173 feet.  I can’t even think of adjectives to describe it – amazing, fantastic, spectacular – just don’t do the falls justice.

'Maid of the Mist' boat cruising by the American Falls

The capstone of the American Falls has been undercut causing
some collapse and the many large boulders at the base

The Niagara River drains out of Lake Erie and travels 35 miles to Lake Ontario.  Along the way over 200 feet in elevation is lost, most of it right at the end of the journey thus creating Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is really three falls, the American Falls and much smaller Bridal Veil Falls on the American side of the river and the larger Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side.  173 feet is not that tall for a large waterfall, but the true magnificence is how extensive the falls are.  Niagara is 1,060 feet wide and Horseshoe is 2,600 feet wide and considered the most powerful waterfall in North America.

 

The Canadian Horseshoe Falls with the 'Maid of the Mist' boat

 

Rim of Horseshoe Falls

 

Side view of Horseshoe Falls

 

 

The falls themselves are truly ‘World Wonders’ and will not disappoint but all the development and Las Vegas-like feel around the falls can be a distraction.  Established in 1885, Niagara Falls is the oldest state park in the United States and it is not realistic to think it would remain untouched and pristine.  Being a ‘honeymoon destination’ for so long, development was inevitable, but I could have wished for a few less trinket shops and fast food places.

 

On the Canadian side...

 

A partial view of Horseshoe Falls

 

We didn’t have ideal weather conditions the two days we were at the falls.  One day was overcast and windy, so there was a lot of mist around both falls.  The next day it poured down raining all day.  But we managed to visit the falls from both the American and Canadian sides and get a few good photos.  The Canadian side had the better views of both falls and was better landscaped and cleaner.  But that could have been because there was a renovation project on the American side with a lot of construction.   Maya loved walking near the falls and getting sprayed with mist.  We all worked up a bit of an appetite and of course there is only one thing to be done for that – ice cream.

David and I are the ones in the blue ponchos

 

At the top of the American Falls

 

David’s Stats:

Days Hiked  1

Rain Days    1

Total Miles Hiked   5.24
Total Elevation Gain     263