Today, the Cave of the Winds is one of the most popular ways to get close to Niagara Falls.
But what many people don’t realize… is that there was once an actual cave behind the Falls.
Tucked behind Bridal Veil Falls, the Cave of the Winds was a natural formation, about 130 feet high, 100 feet wide, and 30 feet deep.
Discovered in 1834, it quickly became a popular attraction. By 1841, guided tours were bringing visitors through the cave using wooden walkways and bridges.
At the time, it was one of the most unique ways to experience Niagara Falls, standing behind the water as it rushed down just feet away.
On a late summer day in 1920, a group of visitors was making their way through the cave.
They were near the end of the tour, crossing one of the bridges, when without warning, a section of rock gave way.
About five tons of shale came crashing down into the walkway.
Three people, two women and a man, were killed. Two others were injured.
Dozens more visitors were inside the cave at the time. Many narrowly escaped, some shaken and bruised, but able to get out safely.
The guide leading the group was unharmed.
It was the first major accident of its kind since access to the cave had been built decades earlier.
After the accident, the Cave of the Winds eventually reopened in 1924, but not in the same way.
Instead of taking visitors behind the Falls, a new system of wooden decks and walkways was built in front of Bridal Veil Falls.
That’s the experience visitors have today,standing just feet from the water, feeling the power of the Falls up close.
Underneath Bridal Veil Falls, conditions can feel almost like a tropical storm, with strong winds and constant spray surrounding the decks.
In 1954, a massive rockfall destroyed what remained of the original cave.
To prevent further danger, unstable sections of rock were intentionally brought down.
Today, the cave itself is gone.
But the experience lives on... just in a different form.
Niagara Falls may look timeless, but the landscape is constantly shifting.
Rockfalls, erosion, and change are all part of its story, shaping not only the Falls themselves, but how people experience them.
The views are just the beginning. The stories behind them are what make the experience unforgettable.
Take the journey from Toronto and see Niagara Falls with a deeper understanding of what’s here.
Best Niagara Falls tour in Canada for 20 years.
