Group Tours

Our most popular field trip package, choose three Niagara Parks experiences and receive lunch free! It's the perfect choice to build a full itinerary with the help of our trip planning experts. Pick Three is available to student groups of all grades in elementary and secondary.

Applicable attractions include favourites like Journey Behind the Falls, the Butterfly Conservatory, White Water Walk, Old Fort Erie and more, including the option to upgrade your Pick Three to include the Niagara Parks Power Station! Valid from September to June each school year. In-park transportation available for an additional cost.

There's no better place to reconnect with nature than Niagara Parks 56-kilometre stretch of preserved parkland, hiking trails and gardens. Ask about our Tree Planting Program, part of our commitment to the environment and its sustainable development. Students plant deciduous native seedlings known to the Carolinian Life Zone. Your planting area will also be GPS marked to include your school’s name.

And inside the Niagara Glen Nature Centre, in partnership with Science North, the Nature Exchange delivers interactive learning in a remarkable natural setting. This innovative learning experience relies on the trading of natural items and information about them. It is designed to inspire people of all ages to explore the world around them, learn as much information as they can about it, and share that information with the Nature Exchange staff when trading for points for their items.

Restored machinery and captivating exhibits illustrate how science and technology impact society and our environment. Learn about the famous War of the Currents between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, and the differences between AC and DC electricity. Explore interactive exhibits and find out first-hand how the mighty Niagara River continues to be a source of sustainable energy in North America. Then, discover the ways in which electricity makes its way to our homes to power our lives.

Explore the 115-year-old engineering marvel on a private tour and hear about its fascinating story from an expert guide.

Explore the storied tunnels and stand beneath the 13-storey-tall wonder that is Niagara Falls. Feel the roar as millions of litres of water come crashing down every second!

Niagara Parks’ Butterfly Conservatory is the largest Butterfly Conservatory in North America! Step into the rainforest oasis full of lush vegetation and trickling waterfalls where you’ll greet over 2,000 butterflies, floating care-free among the blossoms and greenery of this magical paradise. Learn what makes a butterfly unique and how we can protect these important pollinators from human impact.

Landscape Of Nations

The Landscape of Nations is a living memorial dedicated to the contributions and sacrifices made by Six Nations and Native Allies on Queenston Heights and equally important, throughout the War of 1812.

Laura Secord Homestead

Visit the restored 1803-1835 home of Canada’s most famous heroine, Laura Ingersoll Secord. Tours discuss the War of 1812, life in Upper Canada prior to Confederation, Indigenous Allies and remarkable women in Upper Canada.

Mackenzie Printery

Discover 500 years of printing technology inside Canada’s largest Printing Museum and home of rebel publisher, William Lyon Mackenzie. Tours of the Mackenzie Printery discuss the life of a printer in the early 1800s, the evolution of printing technology, William Lyon Mackenzie and the 1837 Rebellion.

McFarland House

Built in 1800 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, McFarland House is the oldest property owned by Niagara Parks. Tour the home and learn more about its pivotal role in the War of 1812.

Old Fort Erie

Travel to the edge of the Niagara River at Old Fort Erie to experience the sights and sounds of Canada’s Bloodiest Battlefield and site of Ontario’s first fort. Tours of Old Fort Erie covers the War of 1812 and the 1814 Campaign / Siege of Fort Erie, Indigenous Allies and their role, militia and enlisted soldiers, life in an Upper Canadian British Fort, and the Fenian Raids and the Road to Confederation. Archeological students will be interested to see artifacts from the original 1760s wooden fort and 1814 siege lines. Learn about the 1987 archaeological dig at Snake Hill that uncovered the bodies of 28 US soldiers from the War of 1812, and their return home.

Hike

Take a guided hike through a protected Carolinian Forest, home to over 400 species of flora and fauna. Students will learn about the creation of the gorge and Niagara Falls from the time of the last ice age, see fossils over 400 million years old, and immerse themselves in nature. Hiking tours take approximately 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how fast students hike and any questions they may have. The tour is through a natural environment with unpaved trails. Proper hiking footwear and clothing is a must. Students are encouraged to bring water. Trails are located within the gorge and are accessible only by stairs. Our trails are rated moderate difficulty, but please be aware of physical limitations when booking this tour. Weather permitting. Hiking tours will not run during the threat of thunderstorms.

Rim Tour

For students with physical accessibility requirements or groups that don’t have enough time for a full hike, the rim tour is an alternative option. Bird’s eye views of the gorge and Niagara River offer a beautiful backdrop for students as they learn about the creation of Niagara Falls, the gorge, and the powerful Niagara Whirlpool. Learn about the unique landscapes of Niagara, specifically the Carolinian Forest. This walking tour is along the ridge of the gorge and does not descend down the stairs into the forest below. Tour is approximately 30 minutes. Weather permitting.

Nature Exchange Program

The Nature Exchange began at Science North in 1984 and was adopted by Niagara Parks in 2017. The program is designed to engage students with nature in a hands-on way. Students will learn about fossils, plants, and animals by examining specimens and utilizing research materials. Program is approximate 30-45 minutes and is suitable for grades 6 and up. Maximum Capacity 30 students per tour.

Niagara Parks is pleased to offer educators the option to add chartered WEGO transportation to any of our educational packages. This option is available for transportation within the Niagara region only.

WEGO buses are fully equipped to ensure persons with disabilities are able to travel comfortably and independently. Key features include kneeling buses, mobility device securement positions and wider doors and aisles.

Charters based on availability.

The following resources are available to assist with licencing information, applications and test preparation.

Tour Guide Licence Application - A Niagara Parks tour guide licence is required to conduct tours on Niagara Parks property. Applications and tests can be submitted online. View Online Application

Sightseeing Vehicle Licence Application - Sightseeing vehicles must have an annual or daily permit to operate on Niagara Parks property. Class 1, 2 and 3 Sightseeing Vehicle Permits are available for purchase online and class 3 permits are also available for purchase in person.

Bus Licensing Bulletin - The Niagara Parks Bus Licensing Bulletin provides important information about licensing, fee changes, requirements and exemptions. [Bulletin PDF for 2024 Season]

Niagara Parks Tour Study Guide - All individuals conducting tours on Niagara Parks property must write the guide test and have a passing grade of 80 per cent or greater. To prepare for the test, the study guide is available in four languages: [EN] [FR] [MAN] [KR]

Niagara Parks Tour Study Guide Niagara Glen Addendum - All individuals conducting tours within the Niagara Glen must write an additional test. To prepare for the test, the study guide is available in four languages: [EN] [FR] [MAN] [KR]

Niagara Parks is committed to providing its guests with a consistent, quality experience. To achieve this, all tour guides operating on Niagara Parks property must obtain a Niagara Parks Tour Guide Licence, which includes a written test demonstrating knowledge of the Niagara Parks brand and its products and experiences.

The process for obtaining a tour guide licence involves an online application, licence fee payment, and online knowledge test. A score of 80% or higher is required to pass the test. Guides who pass the test on their initial attempt are exempt from re-writing for two subsequent years. All guides must still submit an application and licence fee annually.

Upon submission of the guide application, you will receive an email with instructions to submit the licence fee payment. Within 2 business days of payment receipt, a licensing representative will contact you with an invitation to write the guide test, available in English, French, Korean and Mandarin. Fees may also be paid in-person by cash, credit, debit or cheque.

All vehicles transporting persons for compensation on Niagara Parks property must carry an Niagara Parks Sightseeing Licence. For the purposes of sightseeing licences, vehicles are separated into four classes:

Class 1 - a sightseeing vehicle designed to carry one to six passengers, operating on a regular schedule (2 days per week or more) approved by Niagara Parks and excluding groups being conveyed from schools. (Apply now)

Class 2 - a sightseeing vehicle designed to carry seven or more passengers, operating on a regular schedule (2 days per week or more) approved by the Commission and excluding groups being conveyed from schools. (Apply now)

Class 3 - a sightseeing vehicle not operating on a regular schedule (less than 2 days per week) and excluding groups being conveyed from schools. (Buy Online)

Class 4 - a sightseeing vehicle that conveys passengers on a trip from a school.

For your convenience, Class 3 permits can be purchased online or in-person at Table Rock Bus Management (year-round); Grand View Bus Management (seasonal); Butterfly Conservatory (year-round); Old Fort Erie (seasonal); Whirlpool Aero Car Gift Shop (seasonal); Floral Clock (seasonal); McFarland House (seasonal). Please check hours of operation for specific times and dates.

Niagara Parks has provided a procedure for absorbing the fee for non-profit organizations under strict criteria and guidelines. To qualify, the non-profit group must apply in writing (letterhead preferred) or e-mail with the details of the organization’s name, address, phone number and purpose and declaring that there is no fee charged for the group attending the Niagara Parks. In addition, any bus service provider must be donating their services to the group, or, failing that, the group must be operating on a strict cost recovery basis and not profiting from the trip. If your application is approved you will receive confirmation in writing. That letter must be presented on the day of your visit at one of our bus management locations to receive a daily permit with the fee absorbed by Niagara Parks.