Niagara Falls: The Adrenaline-Junkie’s Dream

Niagara Falls is pretty extreme, considering the sheer size and amount of water pummeling down every second. Many visitors feel inspired by the power of the falls to participate in some exhilarating and spine-tingling activities while they’re on vacation. Here is a list of the most adrenaline-inducing extreme activities that Niagara has to offer, barring the dangerous and stupid ones, like descending the falls in a human-sized container (of which you can learn more at the local Daredevil Museum).

Snowboarding and Skiing

Though they are familiar pastimes for many snowbirds, snowboarding and skiing remain pretty intense sports, especially in the areas around Niagara Falls. Though Niagara Falls itself is relatively flat and not suited for the speed and obstacles of extreme skiing and snowboarding, you can find excellent slopes surprisingly close by.

During your next winter stay in Niagara Falls — because who can resist the lower populations of tourists and serene winter landscapes — bring along your skis and snowboards to experience a cold-weather thrill like no other.

Skydiving

Skydiving is, simply put, the ultimate adrenaline sport. What is more extreme than willfully jumping from a plane, freefalling without support for minutes on end and then floating peacefully as the ground rises up to meet you? Skydiving is terrifying, even though it’s completely safe, and most action-seekers hope to do it at least once in their lives.

Though it may be hard to believe that you’ll be able to focus on anything other than the air rushing past you after you’ve jumped from the plane, you should trust that the scenery you’re hurtling toward makes all the difference during a skydive. Niagara Falls and the surrounding region is undeniably beautiful, so while you’re watching the ground approach faster and faster, you’ll get uncompromised views of one of the most stunning locations on Earth.

Bouldering

Many people believe that rock climbing is a dangerous sport, but those people just haven’t heard about bouldering. This is rock climbing without the security of ropes and tethers. Avid boulderers climb, jump and hike without following set routes or clipping into the complicated system of belays. Bouldering, like most sports, has different levels of difficulty, but generally requires intense physical training and fitness to master. The Niagara parks system has plenty of opportunities to boulder, though permits are required for some of the areas.

White Water Walking

If after all this you still want to go mano-a-mano with the falls, instead of throwing some pillows into your barrel, try taking a stroll down the White Water Walk. This boardwalk takes you right alongside some of the world’s most intense rapids so you can see the sheer force of the Niagara River up close.

The churning water is moving at a quick 30 miles per hour, and at its height near the Whirlpool Rapids, the waves reach a mind-bending 16.5 feet tall. Plus, you’ll get a view of the gorgeous million-year-old rock layers on the sides of the gorge. For an additional fee, you’ll get access to the Whirlpool Aero Car which provides visitors the only view into the eye of the huge, stirring whirlpool.

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