Photos by Cheryl Landes, all at the U.S. side of Niagara Falls in Buffalo, New York

The wind always blows here.

And the winter cold is bone-chilling. Even with multiple layers, I feel frozen all the way through.

But the scenery is worth braving the bitter cold.

At Niagara Falls in the winter, the falls don’t freeze because of the sheer volume of water flowing over the cliffs.

But the mist rising from the falls creates some beautiful artwork: Icicles and complex frozen patterns along the falls’ edge, ice floes in the river below, and a frosty glaze on tree branches and trunks in the park.

And on days when the sun shines, the mist draws rainbows when the light intersects at the right angle.

I usually recommend the Canadian side for the best panoramas of Niagara Falls, but in the winter, I prefer Niagara Falls State Park on the New York side for the beautiful ice formations. If you get too cold and need to take a break, there are plenty of places to warm up. During our last trip here, we ate lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe near the falls.

Here’s a list of restaurants for your break. Hotels are also plentiful. Check ratings on Trip Advisor and Yelp.

There’s a lot of parking, too. Find a parking spot here.

Learn more about Niagara Falls State Park.