The Screaming Tunnel of Niagara
A limestone tunnel near Niagara Falls is said to echo with the screams of a girl who burned to death there over a century ago.
The Screaming Tunnel of Niagara
Hidden in the woods near Niagara Falls, Ontario, a limestone drainage tunnel has become one of Canada’s most famous haunted locations. Legend holds that if you stand in the center of the tunnel and light a match, you will hear a girl’s scream as an unseen force extinguishes the flame.
The Legend
The tunnel was built in the early 20th century as a drainage passage under the Grand Trunk Railway. It is approximately 125 feet long and passes through a limestone embankment.
According to legend, a young girl ran into the tunnel while her clothing was on fire and died there. Some versions say she was fleeing from a burning farmhouse. Others claim her father set her on fire in a rage after losing custody of her in a divorce. A third version holds that she was attacked and set ablaze by an unknown assailant.
The Ritual
Visitors test the legend by walking to the tunnel’s center at midnight and lighting a wooden match. According to the story, the match will be blown out by a supernatural force, accompanied by the sound of a girl screaming.
Countless visitors have attempted the ritual. Many report their matches being extinguished despite calm air, though skeptics attribute this to drafts within the tunnel. Reports of hearing screams are less common but persist.
The Environment
The tunnel itself is eerie even without its legend. The limestone walls drip with moisture. The darkness is complete at the center, far from either entrance. The acoustics create strange echoes. Natural explanations for some phenomena are available, but they don’t fully explain all reported experiences.
Modern Status
The Screaming Tunnel has appeared in numerous films, including David Cronenberg’s “The Dead Zone” (1983). It attracts thousands of visitors annually, most arriving at night to test the legend.
Local residents report seeing a glowing figure near the tunnel and hearing screams on quiet nights. Whether these are genuine supernatural phenomena or the power of suggestion, the Screaming Tunnel remains one of Canada’s most visited haunted sites.