Niagara Falls partially frozen following days of bitter cold
It's a beautiful view, if you can stand the chill.
If you live in southern Ontario and are willing to brave the unusually cold weather we’re experiencing, you may want to consider a visit to Niagara Falls.
If you do, you’ll be treated to a rare spectacle: Several days of above-average cold have caused the Canadian side of the falls to partially freeze.
Partially frozen falls, Dec. 2025-Jan. 2026. (Niagara Parks)
“One of the world’s most iconic natural wonders has transformed into a breathtaking winter scene,” Niagara Parks says in a press release circulated and republished on several media outlets.
“Following an extended period of extreme cold and snow, Niagara Falls has partially frozen, creating frosty mist and dazzling ice formations, captivating visitors and photographers worldwide.”
RELATED: The day that Niagara Falls completely stopped
Partially frozen falls, Dec. 2025-Jan. 2026. (Niagara Parks)
While the falls appear to be frozen solid, Niagara Parks says the “volume and constant movement” of the water make a full freeze nearly impossible — partial freezes, though, are relatively common.
In winter, about 85 million litres of water per minute tumble over the falls, hitting speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour.
The falls on January 26, 2026. (Niagara Parks)
The day the falls stopped
The one time the falls stopped was in March 1848.
High winds on Lake Erie sent millions of tonnes of ice toward the channel leading to the falls, blocking the water flow.
The falls were silent for 30 long hours.
During that time, an ice bridge developed. This type of formation occurs when water currents and slush freeze and build a temporary pathway across parts of the Niagara River. Visitors walked out onto the ice bridge that formed on the lower Niagara River to get an up close and once-in-a-lifetime view of the frozen falls.
That would never happen today, even if the same ice bridge developed. It was an extremely risky thing to do, and today’s officials would prohibit it.
If you’re interested in visiting the falls, check out the Niagara Parks website.
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Header image courtesy of Niagara Parks.