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Ohio winters get a bad rap, but a hard freeze does something pretty amazing to our waterfalls. When the temperature stays below freezing for a few days, falling water turns into columns, curtains, and giant cones of ice.
The best part is that you do not need climbing gear or a long hike to see them. Every waterfall on this list sits a short, easy walk from a parking lot, and several have boardwalks, paved paths, or overlooks that make the trip simple for families.
You will find spots near Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and down in Hocking Hills, so there is likely one within a reasonable drive of your house. Parking is free at most of them, which makes this one of the cheapest winter outings in the state.
Grab a warm coat, watch the forecast for a cold snap, and plan a stop or two.
1. Brandywine Falls
Sixty-five feet is a lot of waterfall, and when a deep cold snap settles over northeast Ohio, all of it can turn into a towering wall of ice. Brandywine Falls drops over sandstone into a lush gorge inside Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Getting there is the easy part. The falls sit right off Brandywine Road in Sagamore Hills Township, and a well-built wooden boardwalk leads about a quarter mile from the parking area down to the viewing spot.
The boardwalk and its steps make this one of the more accessible big waterfalls in the region. I like it as a first stop for anyone who has never seen a frozen waterfall up close, because the payoff is huge for very little effort.
Winter is a smart time to go for another reason. The park draws plenty of visitors in warmer months, so a cold weekday can give you a calmer look at the ice.
Boardwalks can get slick in freezing weather, so shoes with good grip are a good idea.
2. Ash Cave, South Bloomingville, OH
Hocking Hills fans wait all year for a certain sight at Ash Cave: a giant cone of ice building up from the ground under the falls. The waterfall drops about 90 feet over the rim of an enormous sandstone recess cave, and in a hard freeze the runoff stacks up into a frozen pillar.
What makes this stop special is how easy it is. A paved, wheelchair-accessible trail runs about a quarter mile from the lot to the cave, with no steep climbing required.
The site is part of Hocking Hills State Park, located off OH-56 in South Bloomingville. Hours run 7 AM to 5 PM daily, parking is free, and there are restrooms and picnic tables.
Dogs are allowed, so the family pup can come along. Weekends tend to be busiest, especially Saturday and Sunday mornings into the afternoon, so an early weekday arrival is your friend.
3. Hayden Falls Park, Dublin, OH
Central Ohio does not have many waterfalls, which is exactly why Hayden Falls gets so much attention. The 35-foot cascade sits in a rocky gorge in Dublin, just minutes from Columbus neighborhoods.
A long wooden boardwalk carries you from the parking lot along the creek to an overlook at the falls. It is short, sturdy, and easy enough for kids.
When winter gets serious, the falls and the rock walls around them can freeze into icy curtains and pillars. Go after a stretch of cold days for the best show.
The park on Hayden Run Road is open 7 AM to 11 PM, parking is free, and leashed dogs are welcome. Weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds, so a weekday lunch break visit can work well if you live nearby.
4. Chagrin Falls Waterfall, Chagrin Falls, OH
How many Ohio towns are literally named after the waterfall running through downtown? Chagrin Falls is one, and the falls sit right off North Main Street, steps from shops and restaurants.
In freezing months, the river spillway builds thick layers of ice along its edges. It makes the village look like a winter postcard.
A staircase leads down for a closer view, and the overlook areas are along the village sidewalks. Street parking is paid, and a lot is nearby.
I would save this one for a day when you want a frozen waterfall plus a small-town stroll. The village, home to roughly 4,100 people, is known for its 19th-century buildings, so you can browse shops and grab lunch without moving the car.
5. Ludlow Falls
Population about 200, and a waterfall big enough to put the village on the map. Ludlow Falls is a small farm-country town in Miami County, northwest of Dayton.
The falls have a horseshoe shape, which sets them apart from the straight drops elsewhere on this list. In a long cold spell, that curved ledge can freeze into wide shelves of icicles.
You barely need to walk. The falls are visible from a paved path that starts a short, flat stroll from the parking lot, so this is a great pick for grandparents or little ones in strollers.
Combine it with nearby Charleston Falls in Tipp City for a two-waterfall morning in the Dayton area.
6. Charleston Falls Preserve, Tipp City, OH
Miami County Parks runs this preserve on Ross Road, and in a deep freeze its waterfall can turn into a solid wall of sculpted ice. The falls drop roughly 37 feet, making them one of the taller cascades in western Ohio.
The trails are a mix of wide gravel paths and grass trails, with boardwalks at viewing spots. The walk to the falls is short and kid-friendly.
There is more to explore if everyone is warm enough. The preserve also has forest, prairie, a small cave, Cedar Pond, and observation towers.
Parking is free, dogs are welcome, and restrooms and picnic tables are on site. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are the busiest times.
7. Great Falls of Tinkers Creek, Bedford, OH
Height is not the point here. The Great Falls of Tinkers Creek drop only about 15 feet, but they spread across a wide swath of sandstone cliff, and freezing weather can lock that whole crest in broad sheets of ice.
The falls sit in Viaduct Park on Willis Street in Bedford, connected to Cleveland Metroparks Bedford Reservation. History buffs get a bonus, with 19th-century mill ruins and a tunnel near the gorge.
Trails are easy, and the walk to the viewing area is short. Parking is free.
It also tends to be less crowded than the bigger-name falls, which makes it a nice photo stop. Weekend afternoons see the most visitors.
8. Honey Run Waterfall, Howard, OH
Knox County keeps this one low-key, and that is part of its charm. Honey Run Waterfall drops about 25 feet over a sandstone cliff in a quiet park on Hazel Dell Road near Howard.
Accessibility is a big plus. A concrete walkway runs from a handicap parking area straight to a viewing area, and short, easy trails lead to the falls.
In a hard freeze, the cascade can form layered ice flows and hanging icicles. The park is open 6 AM to 11 PM, parking is free, and dogs are allowed.
Stay on the trails and the viewing area, since the nearby river has strong currents. Mount Vernon is a short drive away if you want a warm lunch after.
9. Berea Falls Scenic Overlook- Barret Overlook, Berea, OH
Some winter outings need almost zero walking, and this overlook fits the bill. The observation deck sits right next to a small parking lot on East Bagley Road in Berea.
From the deck, you look down at the Rocky River spilling over Berea sandstone ledges shaped by erosion after the glaciers. Cold weather can freeze those channels into wide spreads of ice.
The entrance and parking are wheelchair accessible, and the deck is roomy enough to linger. Hours are 8 AM to 8 PM, and parking is free.
It is part of Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation, so more trails are close by. Weekday mornings are usually the quietest time to visit.
