A Wild Ride on the Niagara River

Whirlpool Jet Boats is one of the most exciting and fun (albeit one of the more pricey) attractions Niagara has to offer. If you want to get up close and personal with the raging rapids of the Niagara River, then a jet boat ride is the thing to do. Be prepared to get soaked as you take a one hour trip up the Niagara River, through the rapids to the edge of the Whirlpool, and then speed back.

If you don’t want to get completely drenched but still want the thrill of the ride, there is also a covered Jet Boat, known as a Jet Dome, which takes the same route. If you opt for the Jet Boat, make sure to bring a change of clothes, and if you take a ride during the summer months, it is easier to simply wear your bathing suit. The operators provide all the gear you will need including ponchos, wool sweaters, and special water sandals (depending on the season). If you don’t want to wear the shoes they provide, you can wear your own sandals as long as they have a strap which goes around the ankle.

As you are whisked through the rapids at speeds up to 60mph, make sure you have your waterproof camera ready, as you will be sailing past some of the most beautiful scenery in Niagara. There are also photographers on site, who will take a photo of your group before you leave, as well as an action shot as your boat is bouncing and splashing its way through the rapids.

This attraction opens up in April, and the cost for the trip is $59  for adults, and $49 for children; the prices for the Wet Jet and the Jet Dome rides are the same. For the Wet Jet boat there is an age minimum of 6, and participants must be a minimum of 44 inches tall. For the Jet Dome boat, the age minimum is 4, and the height requirement is 40 inches. Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. It is advisable that you arrive 45 minutes before your scheduled departure, and it is recommended that you make reservations, especially during the summer months.

Tours leave out of a couple of different places including the boat dock in Niagara on the Lake, the Niagara Glen, and in Lewiston, NY (on the American side of the Niagara Gorge).

If you are staying in Niagara Falls, Niagara on the Lake is about a 30 minute drive away (depending on traffic and what route you take). Parking in Niagara on the Lake is sometimes hard to come by, especially in the summer, so leave plenty of time to find a parking spot and to get to the boat dock (map). There is also parking right near the Jet Boat building, so you should check there first to see if it is full. The boat dock is walkable from anywhere in downtown Niagara on the Lake. Currently there is an online deal happening where if you book a 10am tour online, you get $10 off the price of a regular adult ticket. If you don’t mind getting up a little early, then this is a great way to save some money. Several combo packages are also available, and may be a good idea if you are planning on checking out more than one attraction.

Taking a ride on a Whirlpool Jet Boats is well worth the money, as it allows you to experience the beauty and power of the Niagara River while being right in the middle of it. Not only is it a scenic ride, but it is a whole lot of fun, and makes for a great afternoon in Niagara.

Photo Credits:

Photo 1-Flickr-Ellenm1

Photo 2-Flickr-wyklos