You hear the roar of both — the falls and the rapids blend into one steady rumble.

Yes, you can absolutely hear the falls from the islands. But it’s not like a single dramatic waterfall sound. It’s a constant, deep roar — the Horseshoe Falls thundering in the background mixed with the faster, sharper crash of the rapids closer to you. On Goat Island or Luna Island in Niagara, you’re basically standing inside the noise. It’s overwhelming in the best way. You don’t hear “the falls” as a separate thing. You hear the whole river doing its thing.

If you want just the falls sound, get closer to the edge itself. But honestly, the blend is better.