Niagara Parks Power Station

For over a century, people have made the trek to Niagara Falls’ various lookouts to see the gushing natural wonder spanning two countries, but the Tunnel at the Niagara Parks Power Station allows visitors to experience the nearly 190-foot waterfalls from a different vantage point. The attraction, which opened in 2022, offers a glimpse into the past, while bringing renewed life to the once-dormant station. 

The Niagara Parks Power Station opened in 1905, following four years of construction. Its 2,200-foot-long tunnel once served as an exit point for water used to generate hydropower and was excavated using rudimentary dynamite, shovels, lanterns and pickaxes. 

Adaptive reuse construction for the power station’s revival as a tourist attraction began in 2020 with the goal of delivering a modern guest experience, while also preserving the heritage and story of the facility. Today, visitors can walk the power station’s tunnel to a viewing platform along the lower Niagara River that provides breathtaking views of the Horseshoe and American falls.

The journey begins in the power station’s generator hall, a large atrium that houses 11 of the original generators the power plant used to create electricity in the early 20th century. From there, visitors enter a glass-enclosed elevator and slowly make the 180-foot descent to The Tunnel, while getting glimpses of the facility’s impressive infrastructure. Guided tour options are available in the main level, but The Tunnel is a self-guided experience only. 

For after-dark visitors, “Currents: Niagara’s Power Transformed,” a sight-and-sound night show, offers an immersive experience that spans millennia. Presented in the atrium, it features a combination of floor and wall projection mapping that shares the story of Niagara Falls, from the Ice Age to present day. 7005 Niagara River Pkwy., Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 6T2, niagaraparks.com/power