Niagara Glen is the best antidote to the crowds at the brink of the falls. Trails drop from the Niagara Parkway into the gorge, where limestone boulders, mossy forest, and fast green water replace the tour buses and wax museums.
The paths are rough in places and can be slippery after rain, so this is not a flip-flop stroll. Go early, carry water, and leave time to sit near the river; the roar below is more memorable than many of the paid attractions above it.