Is There a Secret Magical Cave Behind Niagara Falls? Sort of . . . Cave of the Winds—or Aeolus’s Cave

For generations, visitors to Niagara Falls have whispered the same question:

Is there a hidden cave behind the waterfall?

The answer?

Kind of. But it depends when you’re asking.

Because once upon a time, there was a real cave—a secret, mist-shrouded chamber carved behind the Bridal Veil Falls. A place so mysterious, early explorers risked their lives to reach it. Today, its name is famous: Cave of the Winds. But the story behind it? That’s where the magic lives.

The Real Cave That Was—and the Name That Stuck

In the summer of 1834, a man named Joseph Ingraham from Boston came to Niagara Falls chasing a rumor. Locals spoke of a cavern behind the falls—something wild and unknown. Ingraham tied a rope around his waist and leapt into the rushing water, trying to reach it. He failed—dragged back under the foam, exhausted and lucky to be alive.

But two of his companions, G.H. White and George W. Sims, succeeded. They crossed the torrent and entered the cave from Luna Island. As one historian wrote, “To them belonged all the glory of first entering it.”

This wasn’t folklore. There really was a natural cave, created by wind and erosion, tucked behind the Bridal Veil Falls. It was roughly 130 feet high, 100 feet wide, and 30 feet deep—and for decades, brave tourists descended ladders to explore it.

Cave of the Winds—or Aeolus’s Cave?

Originally, some called it Aeolus Cave, after the Greek god of winds. The spray and howling air gave the illusion that the gods themselves had carved out a shrine. But eventually, the more poetic name won out: Cave of the Winds.

Parsons, a 19th-century guidebook author, admitted the first name was proper—but said the popular term “Cave of the Winds” had a beauty all its own. And it stuck.

The Collapse—and the Legacy

In 1954, the real cave collapsed. Time and erosion claimed it. But the name lives on, and today’s Cave of the Winds experience on Goat Island brings you closer to that original wonder than ever.

While the cave itself is gone, the magic is not. A system of wooden walkways and platforms now takes visitors just steps from the Bridal Veil Falls—close enough to feel the full fury of the water on your face. It’s not a hidden cave anymore, but it’s still a place where wind, water, and wonder collide.

So, Is There a Secret Cave?

There was.

There still kind of is.

And if you go there—especially alone, in the early mist of morning—you might just feel it.

The roar, the spray, the wind.

The magic.

Want to visit?

Go Niagara Tours operates year-round at Niagara Falls State Park. The Cave of the Winds one of the closest, rawest ways to experience the falls—no myth required. We can take you there!

The Cave of the Winds in winter is also a spectacular site!