travels close to home: niagara falls edition
“Niagara”- All Rights Reserved ©2020-2021 AP
Visiting Niagara Falls without the multitude of tourists that usually fill the park has definitely been one of the highlights of this past pandemic year. Living so close to one of the natural wonders of the world most of my life, I never fully appreciated the sheer beauty of the Niagara region. Over the years, I fell in love with the Niagara Gorge trails and their peaceful wild magnificence right outside the city. But, it wasn’t until this past year that for the first time in my life, I was able to experience the falls themselves with that same peaceful wonder.
With the pandemic in full swing at the beginning of last year, I found myself needing outdoor escapes more than ever. Being so close to home, I decided it was safe enough to mask up, grab the pup and head out for a local adventure. I will never forget how peaceful it was to walk along the Niagara River and right up to the falls without the usual bustling crowds. I was enveloped by the powerful roar of the falls & completely lost in the crashing and swirling of the turbulent green waters below. I found myself imagining what it was like hundreds of years ago when it was still wild, barely discovered and untouched. It had to be absolutely incredible.
I found this description by Anthony Trollope written about his travels in 1861 to be one of the most poignant accounts of the area I’ve read thus far and it definitely rang true as I stood in solitude that day:
“To realize Niagara, you must sit there till you see nothing else than that which you have come to see. You will hear nothing else, and think of nothing else. At length you will be at one with the tumbling river before you. You will find yourself among the waters as though you belonged to them. The cool, liquid green will run through your veins, and the voice of the cataract will be the expression of your own heart. You will fall as the bright waters fall, rushing down into your new world with no hesitation and with no dismay; and you will rise again as the spray rises, bright, beautiful, and pure. Then you will flow away in your course to the uncompassed, distant, and eternal ocean.”
I have gone back several more times since that May morning to soak up as much of this local beauty as I can before the world opens back up and I have to share it with the bustling crowds once again. Over the past year, I spent late-spring mornings accompanied by the pup, admiring the blossoming flowers and getting a front row view of the torrents. The many summer visits were full of rainbows and family walks. Fall brought magnificent displays of color and hikes on the nearby Niagara Gorge trails. But, these last few winter months have had some of my favorite views. The mist from the falling water freezes on every surface, coating the trees in shimmering ice and transforming the base of the falls into otherworldly landscapes. The views are unlike any other. Having experienced the quiet park in every season over the past year, I have to say that winter is by far the most magical.
Looking for ideas on where to explore in Niagara Falls State Park?
If you live near the Buffalo area and haven’t checked out Niagara Falls in some time, I highly recommend getting there as soon as possible to enjoy the solitude, the views of the melting ice sculptures at the base of the falls and take in as many rainbows as you can while you still have the opportunity to experience it with a smaller than usual crowd volume. It is well worth the trip!
Take a walk around Goat Island
Goat Island Scenic Walk is a heavily trafficked 2.3 mile (3.7 km) loop trail located near Niagara Falls, New York that features waterfalls and is perfect for all skill levels. Most of the trail is accessible year-round, but some sections are closed for safety reasons during the winter and early spring months. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash at all times.
Check out Cave of the Winds
If you have the opportunity on your visit to Niagara Falls, exploring Cave of the Winds is a must! A quick elevator ride brings you about 180ft (55m) through solid rock down to a series of walkways and platforms at the base of Bridal Veil Falls. You become immersed in the landscape, feeling and hearing the power of the water as crashes right in front of you. In the summer months, you will be provided with sandals and a yellow poncho to explore the observation decks while getting up close and personal to the crashing falls from the famous ‘Hurricane Deck.’ In the winter, the entire base of the falls is covered in ice so you can’t get right up to the falls but a section is maintained so you can experience the fascinating ice formations from two viewing platforms.
Click here to view up-to-date admission prices and hours!
“Ice Castles”- All Rights Reserved ©2020-2021 AP
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