Welcome to the River Road lookout point! Directly below This location is one of the highest points along the Niagara Gorge, a perfect view for peering down at the vast and dangerous water below. Several of the famously competitive tightrope walking stunts were performed by Charles Blondin and The Great Farini during the 1860"s golden age of Niagara Falls.

The River Road lookout point is located near the Whirlpool International Bridge directly across the intersection between Queen Street and River Road, Niagara Falls Ontario.

This location was a popular point for curious spectators to watch the daring tightrope walks that took place along the Niagara Gorge in between the Whirlpool Rapids and the Rainbow Bridge.

Charles Blondin was a stuntman from France who came to Niagara Falls seeking fame and fortune. He set up a rope in the gorge over the whirlpool rapids for his first stunt. After successfully completing his whirlpool walk, Blondin decided to set up a permanent tightrope walking attraction along the Niagara River. During the summer months he would set out several times a week and walk across a think rope above the water as he was watched by thousands who began to travel from all over to see this feat of bravery for the price of 25 cents.

One such man to come see Blondin's stunt was a Canadian stunt enthusiast named The Great Farini. Being a stuntman himself and seeing a chance for fame and fortune, the Great Farini decided that he would set up his own tightrope along the gorge and whatever tricks that Blondin did, he would do one twice as difficult. The Great Farini set up his tightrope near where the Rainbow bridge is today, directly across from Charles Blondin's regular location. On the days Blondin performed, Farini would also perform, stealing the crowd with his daring stunts. The most notable tightrope walks that Farini accomplished were when he carted a washing machine on his back and did his laundry whilst balancing on the middle of his rope, and when he hung from his toes on his rope above the roaring river below. Blondin's most famous stunts included carrying his manager on his back across the tightrope and cooking an egg whilst in the middle of the rope.

This rivalry brought people from around the world to see these brave daredevils compete and revived the reputation and economy of Niagara Falls for the local residents. Farini and Blondin eventually retired, having both survived hundreds of walks across the Niagara River.

Down the road upstream from the Niagara River is Bird Kingdom, a family friendly indoor aviary.

Downstream from the lookout point is the Whirlpool International Bridge, an official border crossing into the United States of America.

Across the street and down the road from the lookout point is Downtown Niagara Falls, a shopping district with a variety of specialty shops.

This location is wheelchair accessible, however may not be suitable for access during winter months.

The next destination on the Bravery Along the Niagara River tour will be the Rambler's Rest Pavillion where you will learn about the brash stunts performed by Arthur Midleigh and Alonzo Gardner and the daring boat ride by Captain Joel Robinson.

To continue the Bravery Along the Niagara River tour to the Rambler's Rest Pavilion, please head South towards Niagara Falls following the Niagara Parkway in the opposite direction of the flow of the river.

Drive for 1 kilometre and then park in the lot behind Bird Kingdom or part in the metered parking spaces by the Rainbow Bridge along the Niagara Parkway.

Alternatively, the WeGo Bus system runs along the Niagara Parkway and will stop beside all of the sites on this tour. To purchase tickets for the WeGo and to find out the schedule, please visit this website for more details.

Alternatively, the average person on a fall day could walk from the River Road Lookout to the Rambler's Rest Pavilion in 20 minutes by following the sidewalks along the Niagara Parkway towards Niagara Falls. If you plan to walk, please do so at your own pace, be mindful of the weather conditions and give yourself ample time to travel.

Please note, this information is subject to change and is seasonally and weather dependant.

Additional Reading:

Click Here to access a Smithsonian article on the career of Charles Blondin.

Articles on the History of Niagara Falls by Niagara historian Sherman Zavitz can be found by clicking here.

Niagara by Pierre Berton is a book that extensively details the entire history of Niagara Falls. It can be found at:

A timeline of Niagara Falls daredevil stunts can be found here.

Drummond Hill Cemetery in Niagara Falls Ontario is where several of those who performed acts of bravery along the Niagara River were buried. To see a list of grave locations click here.

Photograph Sources:

Advertisement of Stunt to Be Performed by Farini - 1860. 1860. Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, Niagara Falls Library, Niagara Falls Ontario.

Blondin Carrying Colcord on His Back over the Niagara River 1859. 1859. Niagara Falls Heritage Foundation Collection, Niagara Falls Library, Niagara Falls Ontario.

Blondin Broadsheet. July 16, 1859. General Photograph Collection, Niagara Falls Library, Niagara Falls Ontario.

Blondin Broadsheet. Niagara Falls Heritage Foundation Collection, Niagara Falls Library, Niagara Falls Ontario.

Blondin on the Rope 1859 Crowd at White's Pleasure Ground in the Background. 1859. Niagara Falls Heritage Foundation Collection, Niagara Falls Library, Niagara Falls Ontario.

Farini with His Patent Washing Machine on His Back - 1860. 1859. Niagara Falls Heritage Foundation Collection, Niagara Falls Library, Niagara Falls Ontario.

Signor Farini - Rope Ascension (c.1859). 1859. Niagara Falls Heritage Foundation Collection, Niagara Falls Library, Niagara Falls Ontario.

Information Updated as of November 2018