- Sunrise and golden hour give the best light
- Bring a polarizer to cut through mist
- Wide angle (16 to 24 mm) for the brink, telephoto (70 to 200 mm) for detail
- Cover your lens with a microfibre between shots, mist soaks through quickly
- Tripods are allowed everywhere except inside the boat
The 10 best photo spots
1. Table Rock
Right at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls. Wide angle from the railing, then walk down the path for a low angle of the cascade. Best at sunrise when buses have not arrived.
2. Skylon Tower Observation Deck
236 metres up, you get both the American and Canadian sides plus the Niagara River and the city skyline. Best at sunset and during the night fireworks (Wednesday and Sunday in summer).
3. Hornblower or Maid of the Mist boat
The wet shot. Wrap your camera in a clear plastic bag with a small lens hole. Stand on the upper deck stage right (facing the falls) for the best frame.
Hits the boat shot and Skylon shot in one tour.
Check availability →4. Journey Behind the Falls observation deck
The lower observation deck at the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Vertical composition is best, the falls fill the frame. Photo from the upper observation deck looks back through the spray, dramatic in afternoon light.
5. Whirlpool Aero Car
3.5 km north of the falls. Best for the colour of the river and the autumn foliage in October. Telephoto from the cable car catches the standing wave at the bottom of the gorge.
6. Niagara SkyWheel at night
The illumination of the falls plus the SkyWheel lights make a strong night composition. Long exposure (3 to 6 seconds) gives motion blur on the wheel.
7. Helicopter flight
The only way to get the bird's eye shot. Wide angle (14 to 24 mm) and a high shutter speed (1/1000 sec) to compensate for vibration.
For the aerial shot you cannot get any other way.
Check availability →8. Rainbow Bridge
Pedestrian crossing between Canada and the US. Mid bridge gives a unique angle on both falls with the gorge below. Free, takes about 15 minutes round trip.
9. Niagara-on-the-Lake lakeshore
For a non falls Niagara photo. The harbour at Lake Ontario, especially the white lighthouse at sunset. 30 minute drive from the falls.
10. Niagara Glen viewpoints
Hike down for shots of the gorge, the Carolinian forest and the standing wave from below.
Best time of day for the iconic shot
The classic Horseshoe Falls shot from Table Rock works best at three times: at sunrise (low warm light, no crowds), one hour before sunset (golden side light), and during the nightly illumination (the falls are lit in rotating colours from 9 PM to midnight in summer). Avoid 11 AM to 3 PM, the harsh overhead light flattens the contrast and the railings are packed.
Internal links
For aerial photography see our helicopter vs Skylon comparison. For night fireworks timing check our fireworks guide. Browse all Niagara Falls tours.
Frequently asked questions
Table Rock on the Canadian side gives the best frontal photo of the Horseshoe Falls. The Skylon Tower observation deck gives the best skyline. The Hornblower boat gives the most dramatic in-the-mist shot.
Yes, tripods are allowed everywhere on Niagara Parks property including Table Rock, Journey Behind the Falls and the Skylon Tower deck. They are not allowed on the boat, where you must hold the camera by hand.
Daily from sunset until midnight, year round. The colours change every 15 minutes. During Festival of Lights (mid November to mid January) extra illumination of the trees and bridges runs from 5 PM.
Yes. Phones, mirrorless and DSLR cameras are all allowed on Niagara Helicopters flights. Lens caps must be secured. The window is open during the flight, hold the camera firmly.
