Ontario’s fall colours are nearing their dazzling peak, and few places rival Niagara for breathtaking views — whether from the mist of the falls, the roar of the rapids, or suspended high above in a century-old cable car.
Tourism operators are leaning into the season even as new Statistics Canada figures show fewer Americans are visiting Canada this year. In the second quarter, spending by international visitors dropped 5.3 per cent, with overnight travel from the U.S. plunging more than 10 per cent. Domestic visitors have helped fill the gap, but operators say the decline in U.S. traffic is still being felt.
At Niagara City Cruises, chief operating officer Mory DiMaurizio said U.S. visitors are down by as much as 10 per cent this season, but domestic and overseas travellers are keeping boats full. For the first time, the company plans to extend its season into December, giving more guests the chance to see the falls framed by fiery autumn leaves. “It’s quite spectacular,” said DiMaurizio. “For some people, it’s a bucket-list experience. You don’t really know until you’re right there.”
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours founder John Kinney has also noticed fewer Americans crossing the border. But with operations on both the U.S. and Canadian sides, the company has been able to adjust. His high-speed boats take passengers racing through Class 5 rapids in Queenston, Ont. and Lewiston, N.Y., offering close-up views of the gorge’s towering walls painted in reds, oranges and golds. “The fall foliage is nearly at peak,” Kinney said. “Within the next week, it will be spectacular.”
Whirlpool’s season runs through late October, with both wet and dry seating available. The company also offers the Niagara White Water Walk, a self-guided boardwalk alongside thundering rapids, and the historic Whirlpool Aero Car, which lifts passengers 75 metres above the Niagara River for a panoramic view of the whirlpool and the gorge.
Despite softer numbers from U.S. tourists, operators remain optimistic that warm October weather and the unrivalled beauty of the autumn season will draw visitors. For travellers, now is the moment: the gorge, the falls, and the forests surrounding them are about to put on one of the most vivid shows of the year.