Cave of the Winds is a popular attraction/activity in Niagara Falls State Park, USA. It is accessible from Goat Island in the state park.
Sightseers descend 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge in an elevator and then emerge on the cliff side adjacent to the Bridal Veil Falls. Sightseers are given yellow ponchos and sandals before they embark on the trek on the wooden walkways.
You should keep your handbags and other valuables in a plastic bag to keep them dry. The redwood decks and platforms allow sightseers to stand right next to the Bridal Veil Falls with water crashing down on them and flowing underneath the decks.
There are a series of wooden walkways that take visitors to the Hurricane Deck, which is just 20 feet from the Bridal Veil Falls. The huge curtain of water falling over the cliff edge and then rushing over the rocks at the foot of the waterfall is a breathtaking sight. The sight of so much water and the sound will leave you dumbstruck.
Some sightseers have even had fish flowing over the Falls land on or around them! Do not forget to bring your waterproof; you can click some amazing photos.
Cave of the Winds is open only from mid May till early October. It remains closed for autumn and winter. During this time, you can take the Cave of the Winds Gorge Trip that allows you to view the Falls from observation platforms.
You might be puzzled that you never pass through any cave even though the attraction is named Cave of the Winds. The original Cave of the Winds was in fact a natural cave behind Bridal Veil Falls. It was discovered in 1834 and guided tours began in 1841. The cave tour closed in 1920 due to a rockfall.
The present day attraction is near the old site.
An interesting fact is that each winter, the wooden decks are dismantled to prevent damage from ice. The wooden walkways are again reassembled in the summer. The decks are not bolted in place; the wooden beam supports are wedged into the rock crevices.
The Cave of the Winds experience is quite astounding. You can feel the power of the waterfalls as thousands of gallons of water flow over the cliff. The attraction is well lit in the evening and the view is great even at night.
Please click here for hours of operation and ticket prices.
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