Queen Victoria Park is located along Niagara Falls Parkway in Niagara Falls, ON. The park provides the best views of both Horseshoe and American Falls anywhere in the city, apart from Skylon Tower. The park is entirely paved, and is commonly used as an access point to and from Clifton Hill, as well as nearby Fallsview Resort, Journey Behind the Falls, the restaurant, and more. I visited in March 2025.
The first European to see Niagara Falls was Louis Hennepin in 1677, who was working for Samuel de Champlain. Fast forward to 1885, Ontario premier Oliver Mowat was worried about future destruction of the falls' natural beauty, creating the Niagara Parks Act in that same year. Thus, on Victoria Day 1888, the park was opened, and it's been open ever since. The original land was from Clifton Hill to the Dufferin Islands, but the Niagara Parks Commission has since expanded to over 3,000 hectares.
The park was named after Queen Victoria of England, and was opened on May 24, the day dedicated to her.
Queen Victoria Park offers:
- the best views of the falls without cost
- ziplining over the falls
- numerous lookout decks, including pavilions
- Journey Behind the Falls, underneath famous Horseshoe Falls
- the Niagara Falls Power Station on the southside, offering interesting scientific insight into hydroelectricity
- a cruise experience circling around all 3 of the falls under the Niagara City Cruises name
- a butterfly conservatory
- beautiful hiking trails through Dufferin Islands
- war memorials and statues near Falls Ave.
- Queen Victoria Restaurant near Murray Street
There are three trails.
The TransCan Trail enters the park around the Rainbow Bridge, running right alongside the cliff past Horseshoe Falls toward Fort Erie. The trail is entirely paved and provides the best view of the falls within the park. (bikes allowed)
Running along the TransCan trail just on the other side of the parkway is an unnamed trail, but I've always called it the "Inland Trail". It has multiple strands yet they all lead to the restaurant from the war memorial on Falls Ave.
There is a series of trails in the Dufferin Islands to the south of the park, but because they were closed for the winter, I couldn't go.
This park can be accessed by foot from anywhere along the Niagara River Parkway.
You can also access it from Murray Street, Clifton Hill, Falls Avenue, Rainbow Bridge, or a small access trail at the end of Robinson Street, near to the Skylon Tower.
As for parking, there are numerous privately ran parking lots. Drive around until you find one for $5, because that's the best price you can ever expect to find in the city. beware that in the summer, you can pay $50-$100 to park in the downtown.
When it comes to hotel booking:
- prioritizing the hotel experience? Try Fallsview Casino.
- prioritizing the cost? Go for a small motel on Lundy's Lane. Stay above $50, anything below is dodgy.
- prioritizing falls proximity? Travellodge on Clifton Hill or the Sheraton looking over Falls Ave.
- wanna camp? Go to Scott's or KOA Niagara Falls.
Skip most of the amenities on Clifton Hill. Go to the Skywheel, Dino Putt, the Ripley's Wax Museum, and maybe the Upside Down house.
Book a hotel and keep your car parked there. Proceed to walk to all amenities for cost saving.
Walk through the "Galleria" at Fallsview Casino, or go to the casino if you fancy that.
Look for shows at Fallsview Casino's Avalon Theatre or OLG Stage. I got to see "Stomp".
The roads to check out are Fallsview Blvd, Ferry St, Victoria Ave, Niagara River Pkwy, and for a less touristy experience, Lundy's Ln.
Get the "princess marigold" pineapple drink at Margaritaville. It's non-alcoholic and great (even if it's overpriced).
If you're Canadian, avoid souvenir shops. They're always overpriced, low-quality items aimed at Americans who don't know jack about Canada.
Go to Niagara Falls to say you've done it. It's very tacky, touristy, and doesn't feel like a full experience, even if you get to do everything.
Duh. Screw American Falls. Not only is Canadian Falls is majestic, it's the highest waterfall in North America, and it's uninterrupted. Unlike the splattering rocks underneath American Falls, Canadian Falls is one solid stream from the top of the cliff to the river. This has the unfortunate effect of permanently wetting the Power Station with mist. Regardless, Horseshoe Falls is something you just have to see within your lifetime. Take away all of the tourism and just immerse yourself in the serenity of rushing water. It's kind of crazy how awesome it is, despite how it's literally just a river going over a cliff. Us humans' minds are weird. Anyways, see this.
It's Niagara Falls. What can I say. Falls are a 10/10. The tourism is a solid 9/10. The prices are a -10,000/10.
This is "Stomp" at Avalon Theatre.
