Niagara Falls Canada lights up in winter – literally. When the temperatures drop, the Niagara Falls beauty heats up, with art installations, frozen falls, holiday light displays and more.
You can get strikingly different photos this time of year compared to other times. If you’ve never been to Niagara Falls in winter, it’s a great time of year to explore and shoot some cool shots.
If you’re wondering where the best view of Niagara Falls is in winter, this blog covers five of the top spots to get Niagara Falls pictures you’ll always cherish.
1. The Winter Festival of Lights Route
The Winter Festival of Lights is the premiere winter event in Niagara Falls Canada. Along 8km in Niagara Falls, more than 3 million lights illuminate this beautiful Canadian destination. There are light displays along the Niagara Parkway, near the Niagara Falls waterfalls, at Clifton Hill and at Dufferin Islands.
Snap photos of cool displays like:
- Animal shapes created by stringed lights
- Trees wrapped in tiny colourful lights
- The Fallsview Sound & Light Show and Hydro Power Station Display
- Niagara Falls waterfalls illumination
- Interactive light displays, like seesaws you can ride on
Everywhere you turn in Niagara Falls in winter, there’s a photo-worthy moment because of the Winter Festival of Lights. This annual event draws visitors from around the world. There isn’t anything else like it, and the photo opportunities are endless.
2. Frozen Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls waterfalls are powerful and mighty, but they also achieve a more delicate state in winter. In recent years, parts of the waterfalls have frozen. It’s a unique experience to see what is usually rushing water become still and peaceful in the winter.
The frozen Niagara Falls present an amazing winter photo. It’s also an illusory sight. There is still water rushing underneath the frozen parts, though a photo viewer would just see Niagara Falls frozen. Winter is the only time of year this happens, so if you want a photo that will stand out, now’s the time to come.
3. Niagara SkyWheel
Take a ride on the Niagara SkyWheel for some awesome views of Niagara Falls. The SkyWheel reaches 175 feet and is located in the bustling Clifton Hill entertainment area. Riding on the Ferris wheel is a fun experience for the whole family. It also presents some good Niagara Falls pictures opportunities.
Another perk to taking photos in the Niagara SkyWheel, it’s climate controlled. You can head inside day or night, year-round, and be warm and comfortable.
Get your camera ready to take shots of views like the Horseshoe and American Falls, the Niagara River, Niagara Parks and other Niagara Falls Canada landmarks. The ride lasts around 10 minutes long, so you’ll have plenty of turns to take some snaps.
The view at night shows off the glittering lights of Niagara Falls, if you’re into skyline scenes. Or head out during the day to maybe get a photo of some frozen Niagara Falls waterfalls.
4. Skylon Tower
Go even higher in Niagara Falls by heading to Skylon Tower, a revolving restaurant offering 2 levels of find dining 775 feet above Niagara Falls. Skylon Tower features both a family-affordable buffet and a table-service continental cuisine revolving dining room. You can dine and shoot photos right from your seat as the restaurant silently revolves around, giving you new views of the Niagara Falls region every few minutes.
Skylon Tower also has ride-to-the-top and indoor/outdoor observation decks for unbeatable views of Niagara Falls. From Skylon Tower, you can see all three Niagara Falls waterfalls, the Great Gorge, the Niagara wine district and city skylines of both the Canada side, including Toronto, as well as the Buffalo, New York, skyline.
5. Journey Behind the Falls
See Niagara Falls from a vantage point unlike any other by taking the Journey Behind the Falls tour. You can get some really awesome photos as you descend 125 feet and walk through 130-year-old tunnels that are formed in bedrock behind the Horseshoe Falls waterfalls.
Peek through the viewing portals that are cut straight through the rock to see the rushing waters, which gives you a photo op that’s truly unique.
You can do the Journey Behind the Falls tour day or night, so choose the illumination ambiance that will work best for your photos. Or, go on the tour twice for different kinds of shots.
Plan an Instagram-Worthy Niagara Falls Canada Trip
There are so many other places in Niagara Falls that are picture-perfect places to get photos your social media followers will love. You can drive around Niagara Falls neighbourhoods to see cool holiday light displays, you can capture Niagara Falls fireworks lighting up the night sky, or you could head to one of the many parks in Niagara Falls for a wintry view of nature.
Want some suggestions on where to get the Niagara Falls pictures you’re looking for? Contact the concierge when you book with Niagara Falls Hotels to get suggestions.