Indiana’s an absolutely beautiful place to live or visit – just ask anyone who’s been here! Everywhere you go, there are friendly faces, fascinating history, and, of course, jaw-droppingly wonderful natural wonders at every turn. It’s beautiful year-round, but in the winter… boy, the winter brings with it a special wonder that you just don’t find everywhere. Take, for example, Cataract Falls. During the summer, it’s one of those places that Hoosiers just can’t get enough of; in the winter, however, it truly comes into its own as a jaw-dropping spectacle you’ll never forget. While popular in the summer, Cataract Falls becomes a little-known hidden gem while coated in snow and ice. Check it out:

Now, let's establish something right away: Cataract Falls is utterly amazing all year, hands down.
photohiker/TripAdvisor
There's just something so amazingly mystical about waterfalls, and this one is the largest one in Indiana by sheer volume.
It consists of two parts, almost exactly one mile apart: Upper Cataract Falls, and Lower Cataract Falls.
anicole2801/TripAdvisor
If you're here during the winter (if you're a fan of amazing landscapes you ought to be), be sure to wear good, warm, sturdy shoes - there is a lot of ice 'round here and you definitely don't want to slip. There are lots of concealed rock to hurt yourself on... not to mention the below-freezing water.
If you arrive in the beginning - or toward the end - of snowy season, you might be gifted the sight of a flowing waterfall surrounded by snowy, white rocks and flora.
Amy_Sue_Who/TripAdvisor
Other times, especially during the coldest month of the year (January), you'll be treated to a waterfall that has, as if by some kind of wild black magic, managed to freeze up entirely.

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It's not easy to get flowing water to freeze, so props to our outrageously chilly winters for that.
Kate Gregg/AllTrails
But how lucky are we, that we get to experience such a thing?
To top it all off, not terribly far from the falls is one of Indiana's most beautiful covered bridges.
Christian Collins/Flickr
Seriously, what could be MORE photogenic than a red covered bridge spanning across a white, frozen river surrounded by fresh powder? Not a lot.
There are a couple of options when it comes to hiking the area.
Ijah McCulley/AllTrails
The famed Ed Dailey Nature Trail will lead you straight to the water, but remember: tread carefully. The frozen landscape can be unforgiving and harsh - so dress warm and stay weather-aware.
Have you ever visited Cataract Falls in Indiana? Have you ever visited it in the winter? Well, if not... you ought to, for obvious reasons.
Christian Collins/Flickr

For more information about Cataract Falls and the Cataract Falls State Recreation Area, be sure to check out the official Indiana DNR website. If you want to step up your hiking game (see what I did there?), you might want to check out AllTrails Plus… you’ll have no idea how you ever hiked without it.

What are your favorite snowy places to visit in the winter in Indiana? Let me know!

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Cataract Falls State Recreation Area, 2605 N Cataract Rd, Spencer, IN 47460, USA