Once better known as ‘Honeymoon Bridge’, Rainbow Bridge was built between 1940 and 1941 as a replacement for the Falls View Bridge. This previous bridge collapsed in the winter of 1938 when an ice jam caused its structure to deteriorate. The new bridge was designed to prevent a similar disaster from happening again and was constructed on top of 15-metre abutments. Stretching a length of 290 metres and rising 62 metres above the river, the Rainbow Bridge is right on the border between Canada and the US and remains a focal point for visitors to the Niagara Falls.
It’s not known exactly how the bridge got its name. It could have been named after the steel arc that supports the bridge, or alternatively it could be because of the rainbows created by the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side a truly awe-inspiring spectacle.
Walk over the bridge in either direction for stunning panoramic views of the American and Horseshoe falls. Look down at the surging river beneath you and watch its powerful currents and dramatic whirlpools, all of which help to make this natural spectacle the global wonder it is.
Passenger vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians can access the bridge from each side. When you’re leaving from the American side you’ll have to pay a toll when driving out. Pedestrians meanwhile are charged a small fee when they leave Canada.
If you want to cross the Niagara River, bear in mind you’ll be crossing the border between Canada and the US, so you’ll need a valid passport, enhanced driver’s licence or a Nexus card which is available to anyone who regularly goes across the border. If you’re from a country which requires a visa to enter the US or Canada, you must make sure you have these to hand.
Have a photo taken where you have one foot in Canada and one in the States. If you come on a Friday or Sunday night between May and September, you can enjoy the spectacular fireworks display over the falls.
