The onset of cabin fever can be a nightmare for Clevelanders. The nagging boredom, seasonal depression, and overall sense of gray can be hard to fend off as wintertime descends on the region. Fortunately, there’s a panacea for cabin fever: frozen waterfalls in Greater Cleveland! As these gorgeous natural structures fight to fend off the chill, their waters create stunning icicles and nature-shaped ice sculptures. Bundle up, because you’re going to want to brave the winter weather to check out these pretty frozen waterfalls in Ohio.

1. Great Falls of Tinker's Creek

Cleveland Metroparks / Facebook
Great Falls of Tinkers Creek, Willis St, Bedford, OH 44264, USA
Cleveland Metroparks / Facebook
Tucked away in Bedford Reservation is a stunning gorge that once hosted a hub of human activity. While its grist mills, sawmills, and other structures no longer remain, evidence hints at their history. Bricks, tunnels, and other incredible mementos of mankind dot the landscape around the majestic waterfall of Tinker's Creek.

Head to Tinker's Creek in the winter to view Great Falls in this video from Chirag Parmar:

2. Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls, Walton Hills, OH 44146, USA
Cleveland Metroparks / Facebook
Deerlick Creek is an enchanting waterway through the Cleveland Metroparks' Bedford Reservation. Bedford is home to a number of waterfalls, but the aptly-named Bridal Veil Falls is perhaps its most delicate. This dreamy trickle creates a veil-like effect even in the winter.

3. Mill Creek Falls

Mill Creek Falls, Cleveland, OH 44105, USA
Cleveland Metroparks / Facebook
Cleveland is a busy, busy city, so it's only natural that it hides many surprises. However, most don't anticipate that our lovely hometown also hosts the tallest waterfall in Cuyahoga County. Amazingly, this 48-foot-tall wonder in Garfield Park Reservation was created by mankind. When a railroad company diverted its namesake creek, it created this massive cascade.

Take a look at what Mill Creek Falls looks like during a winter in Cleveland in this video from Traveling Around Ohio:

4. Green Springs of Wolf Creek

Garfield Park Reservation, 11350 Broadway Ave, Garfield Heights, OH 44125, USA
Cleveland Metroparks / Facebook
If one waterfall in Garfield Park Reservation wasn't enough, perhaps a second will wow you. The Green Springs of Wolf Creek are a hidden wonder in the park, complimenting the many trickles along the creek's cobblestone bridge-lined expanse.

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5. South Chagrin Reservation's Falls

Cleveland Metroparks / Facebook
North Chagrin Reservation, 3037 SOM Ctr Rd, Willoughby Hills, OH 44094, USA
Gabe Leidy Photography / Facebook
South Chagrin Reservation boasts several incredible trickles along the Chagrin River. In the winter, these powerful cascades create icicles and impressive sculptures in a snow-covered landscape. Also worth visiting in the park are the Henry Church Rock and the Burnett Historical House.

6. Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls, Sagamore Hills Township, OH 44067, USA
Erik Drost/Flickr
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the only national park in Ohio, and it also includes one of the most impressive cascades in the region. Brandywine Falls is 65 feet tall, pouring powerfully into a gorge that can be accessed via the 1.5-mile Brandywine Gorge Trail.

7. Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls, Brecksville, OH 44141, USA
Cleveland Metroparks / Facebook
Gentle and babbling, the gorgeous Buttermilk Falls in North Chagrin Reservation cascades over Ohio Shale and Berea Sandstone, the latter of which helped local industry boom. To this day, antique edifices of Berea Sandstone impress visitors in historic towns and community centers.

8. Blue Hen Falls

Cuyahoga Valley National Park / Facebook
Blue Hen Falls, Brecksville, OH 44141, USA
Cuyahoga Valley National Park / Facebook
The landscape of the local national park is vast, and it hides several natural features worth exploring. Blue Hen Falls is fed by the waters of Spring Creek, which creates a gentle, trickling stream in the summer. In the winter, that same stream creates massively impressive ice sculptures that are absolutely otherworldly.

Check out some winter views of the Cuyahoga Valley waterfalls in this video from Northeast Ohio Hikes and Bikes:

In the winter, visits to frozen waterfalls in Ohio are the perfect cure for cabin fever. The eight listed above are easily accessible and open to the public, and they’re the perfect addition to every bucket list.

Longing for more frozen fun? Some of these waterfalls also fit into a tour of local ice gardens.

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More to Explore

Winter In Ohio

Chris Muras | December 06, 2023

What are some winter attractions in Ohio?
Since Ohio gets several dozen inches of snow each winter there are plenty of winter activities to keep us busy. Here are a few winter attractions in Ohio you can put on your bucket list:

  • Brite Winter Festival, Ohio City, OH: After the holidays there is a lull before spring - put an end to those winter blues by attending the Brite Winter Festival. It is an outdoor and indoor music festival with great music, bonfires, hot drinks, and a fun festive vibe. Come support your favorite local and regional bands while warming up toward the end of February.
  • The Chalet, Strongsville, OH: Located in the heart of the Mill Stream Run Recreation Area, The Chalet is a fun winter destination in the Cleveland Metroparks. If you enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or winter hiking you'll love The Chalet. However, one of its most interesting features is the 700-foot toboggan run that you can zip down in an old-fashioned wooden toboggan at speeds up to 50 MPH!
  • The Clifton Mill, Clifton, OH: The historic Clifton Mill was built in 1802 and it is still in operation! In fact, it is one of the largest water-powered mills in operation in the US. All year round there are activities to enjoy at The Mill as well as a mighty delicious restaurant and a lovely gift shop featuring its legendary pancake mixes. But the wintertime brings the much anticipated Legendary Lights event that transforms the mill into a winter wonderland of holiday cheer.

If you happen to be in the Cleveland area of Ohio, here are some winter destinations you can check out within an easy drive. These day trips near Cleveland are especially nice in the winter. Grab an RV from RVShare and hit the open road for some fun winter driving.

Related Articles

Featured Addresses
Great Falls of Tinkers Creek, Willis St, Bedford, OH 44264, USA
Bridal Veil Falls, Walton Hills, OH 44146, USA
Mill Creek, Ohio, USA
Garfield Park Reservation, 11350 Broadway Ave, Garfield Heights, OH 44125, USA
Brandywine Falls, Sagamore Hills Township, OH 44067, USA
Buttermilk Falls, Brecksville, OH 44141, USA
Blue Hen Falls, Brecksville, OH 44141, USA