Booking choice: The Canadian side tour with the Maid of the Mist, from $165 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
You will get wet. Both boats hand out ponchos, but the mist below the Horseshoe Falls comes from every direction, and the Maid of the Mist itself warns that you may still get wet. Journey Behind the Falls and the Cave of the Winds add their own soakings.
Here is what to wear and carry so that you enjoy it and stay comfortable for the rest of the day.
The quick answer
Wear quick-dry clothes and shoes that can get soaked, with a light layer for the tower and the evening. Put your phone in a waterproof pouch and your passport in a zip bag. The boats give you a free poncho, so you do not need to buy one.
Do you get wet on the Maid of the Mist?
Yes. Even with the poncho you will probably get wet, especially your legs, shoes and face.
The boats are open, and the closer you stand to the rail, the wetter you get. If you want to stay drier, stand in the middle of the deck; if you want the photos, accept the soaking.
Ready for the mist? Check your date for the Canadian side tour with the boat included.
Check dates for the Canadian side tour with the Maid of the MistIs the poncho provided?
Yes: the Maid of the Mist gives a free blue souvenir poncho, and Niagara City Cruises a red one.
Journey Behind the Falls and the Cave of the Winds hand out their own ponchos too. Keep one in your bag for the rest of the day; it doubles as a rain cover.
What shoes should you wear?
Quick-dry sneakers or sport sandals with grip: decks and paths are wet and you will walk a lot.
Avoid suede and anything you would mind soaking. The Cave of the Winds provides sandals for its decks. Guests on the six-hour tour mention plenty of walking, so comfort matters more than style.
How do you protect your phone and camera?
Use a waterproof phone pouch with a lanyard, and wipe lenses often: the mist is constant.
A small microfibre cloth is the most useful thing you can pack. Keep cameras under the poncho between shots.
What should you wear in spring and autumn?
Layers: the gorge is cooler and windier than town, and wet clothes get cold fast.
Bring a light waterproof jacket and a dry top for the ride back. The Skylon Tower deck is windy too. The Maid of the Mist season ends November 8 in 2026.
What should you pack for the whole tour?
Pack light: you carry it all day.
- Passport (and ESTA approval) for the Maid of the Mist tour
- Waterproof phone pouch and a lens cloth
- A dry layer and socks for afterwards
- Sunscreen and sunglasses for the tower and the promenade
- Card or cash for lunch, drinks and a tip
- A zip bag for documents
Packed? The Canadian side tour brings the boat, the tower and the pickup together.
Explore the Canadian side tour with the Maid of the MistWhat about kids and the boat?
Dress kids in quick-dry clothes with a spare set in the bag, and keep little ones close at the rail.
Strollers stay in stroller parking at the Maid of the Mist dock. Children 5 and under ride the Maid of the Mist free.
Family day? Check dates and child prices for the Canadian side tour.
Check dates for the Canadian side tour with the Maid of the MistFrequently asked questions
Should I bring an umbrella?
No: it is useless in the spray and awkward on deck. Use the poncho.
Can I wear jeans on the boat?
You can, but they stay wet for hours. Quick-dry trousers or shorts are better.
Is it cold on the boat?
In summer the spray is refreshing; in spring and autumn it is chilly, so bring a dry layer.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Canadian Side Tour & Maid of the Mist
- Maid of the Mist boat ride (late April to early November, weather permitting)
- Journey Behind the Falls instead when the boat is not running
- Skylon Tower observation deck, with a return pass
Canada Only: Behind the Falls, Skylon & Boat
- Niagara City Cruises boat (May to December); a virtual flight ride replaces it in winter
- Journey Behind the Falls, skip the ticket line
- Skylon Tower, skip the ticket line
Both Sides in One Day: USA & Canada
- Maid of the Mist (late April to November) or Journey Behind the Falls
- Cave of the Winds and Hurricane Deck (mid-May to early November) or the Cave Gorge Trip
- Skylon Tower with a free return pass
