Niagara Falls underground tour: Power Station and Tailrace Tunnel

Descend 180 feet into the tunnel where water powered a continent.

This cultural walking tour of Niagara Falls explores the hydroelectric history and innovation behind the Falls through the Niagara Parks Power Station, Tailrace Tunnel and Skylon Tower, led by an English-speaking guide. The tour includes pre-reserved entry to both the Power Station and Skylon Tower, access to the Daredevil Exhibit, and a self-guided descent through the Tailrace Tunnel with audio guide. The 3-hour itinerary moves at a moderate pace and requires comfortable walking; it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or wheelchairs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Niagara Falls power and history

• Meet guide at Skylon Tower
• View Niagara Generating Stations and Control Dam
• Visit Daredevil Exhibit at Skylon Tower
• Learn about Illumination Tower light show
• Discover Nikola Tesla's hydroelectric legacy
• Walk boardwalk overlooking Horseshoe Falls
• Tour Niagara Parks Power Station
• Descend and walk Tailrace Tunnel path

The Experience

You'll start at Skylon Tower, where your guide walks you through the Niagara Generating Stations that supply power to one-quarter of New York state and the International Control Dam that diverts water into the system. Before leaving the tower, you'll see the Daredevil Exhibit—opened in 2025—where the real barrels used by daredevils who challenged the Falls sit on display. The guide then leads you to the Illumination Tower near the river's base, where you'll learn how the nightly light show transforms the Falls into a multi-colored spectacle and hear about the British Royalty and other famous figures who have walked this path.

The tour's centerpiece is the Niagara Parks Power Station, completed in 1905 as the first major power plant on the Canadian side. Inside, original machinery still fills the structure. Your guide points out the thrust deck, brake deck and turbo deck, explaining how they worked and what the future of hydroelectricity holds. You'll also stand on the boardwalk overlooking Horseshoe Falls and learn how Nikola Tesla's inventions harnessed the raw power of water—and how his rivalry with Edison over electrical current shaped the modern world. At the Power Station, your guide hands you an audio guide and you explore the rest at your own pace.

The descent into the Tailrace Tunnel is where the tour becomes physical. You'll take a glass elevator 180 feet down through the inner workings of the power station, then walk the path the water actually flowed through to reach a singular vantage point at the base of Niagara Falls. It's the view most visitors never see—the one that inspired Tesla and the engineers who built this system.

What’s included

• Pre-reserved Skylon Tower entry with glass elevator access.
• Daredevil Exhibit tickets.
• Illumination Tower.
• Horseshoe Falls boardwalk time.
• Niagara Parks Power Station entry with hands-on access to the original machinery.
• Tailrace Tunnel Experience with glass elevator descent and audio guide.
• Nikola Tesla Statue.
• local English-speaking guide for the first part of the tour.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Walks - Canada

Is this one for you?This tour works well for a first-time visitor with a free afternoon who wants to understand the engineering and history behind Niagara Falls rather than just see it from above. The pre-reserved access to both the Power Station and Skylon Tower means you move through without waiting in ticket lines, and the self-guided portion of the Tailrace Tunnel lets you linger at the base of the Falls on your own time.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Tailrace Tunnel and why does it matter?

The Tailrace Tunnel is the path water flowed through after passing through the power station's turbines. You descend 180 feet by glass elevator into the power station's inner workings, then walk the tunnel itself to a viewpoint at the base of Horseshoe Falls—a perspective few visitors reach.

Who was Nikola Tesla and what does he have to do with Niagara Falls?

Nikola Tesla was an inventor whose hydroelectric innovations harnessed the power of water to produce electricity. His work sparked the 'War of the Currents' with Thomas Edison over which electrical system would power the world, and his legacy is central to understanding why Niagara Falls became a symbol of industrial power.

Is this tour suitable for someone who isn't very fit?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness and the ability to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty. The 180-foot descent into the Tailrace Tunnel via glass elevator is not strenuous, but the walking portions and the overall 3-hour duration mean you should be comfortable on your feet.

What's included in the pre-reserved access to Skylon Tower?

Your pre-reserved ticket includes access to Skylon Tower and the Glass Elevator, so you skip the ticket line at the door. The Daredevil Exhibit is also included, where you'll see the real barrels used by daredevils who went over the Falls.

Can I explore the Power Station on my own, or do I have to stay with the guide the whole time?

Your guide leads you through the first part of the Power Station, explaining the thrust deck, brake deck and turbo deck. Then the guide hands you an audio guide and you explore the Power Station and Tailrace Tunnel at your own pace.

Do I need a passport to take this tour?

Yes. The tour is located in Canada, so any guest arriving from the US will need a valid passport to enter Canada.