Whirlpool Rapids Gorge

The Whirlpool Rapids Gorge is a narrow bedrock canyon carved by the Niagara River roughly three kilometres downstream from Niagara Falls. The river is forced through an 85-metre-wide choke point here, generating Class VI whitewater — among the most powerful navigable rapids in North America. Immediately below, the Niagara Whirlpool forms where the river makes an abrupt 90-degree turn: backed-up water spins into a permanent vortex estimated at over 37 metres deep. The Gorge Trail follows the canyon rim on both the Canadian and American sides, offering vertiginous views directly onto the churning rapids below. The gorge floor itself is closed to the public due to extreme current danger, making the clifftop viewpoints the primary experience for visitors.