Brandywine Falls in Winter: A Short Hike with a Big View

Brandywine Falls is one of the most iconic waterfalls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and in winter it becomes an especially striking destination for hikers and photographers. As temperatures drop, the 65-foot waterfall often partially freezes, creating dramatic ice formations and icicles that cling to the sandstone cliffs of the Brandywine Gorge. Snow-dusted boardwalks and overlook platforms offer beautiful, safe views of Brandywine Falls in winter, making it one of the best winter hikes in CVNP. The surrounding forest takes on a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, with fewer crowds and crisp views through bare trees. Winter hiking at Brandywine Falls highlights the raw geology of the gorge, including layered rock walls and the winding creek below. For anyone exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the colder months, Brandywine Falls is a must-see, photo-worthy winter waterfall.

Trailhead elevation 667'

Water seasonal from Brandywine Creek

Don't miss walking up the creek (if fully frozen) to view the falls from below...take extreme caution)

Hiking the Brandywine Gorge Loop

We’re nearing the end of a long stretch of bitter cold in Northeast Ohio, and before temperatures finally climb above freezing, I decide to squeeze in a quick winter hike to Brandywine Falls. Winter conditions can completely transform the falls, and I want to see what weeks of ice, snow, and subfreezing temperatures have created. Instead of hiking in from Stanford House—which is a longer route with fewer scenic payoffs this time of year—I'll hike the Brandywine Gorge Loop Trail. It’s a shorter hike that still delivers nice views, especially in winter. From the trailhead, I'll hike clockwise, saving the falls for the end of the loop.

Within the first 0.15 miles, I pass an unofficial and often discouraged off-trail route leading down to Brandywine Creek. Some hikers use this "path" to view Brandywine Falls from below, but with icy conditions covering everything, it’s not worth the hassle today. A few hundred feet later, I turn left and carefully descend a staircase packed with snow and ice, dropping down to the valley floor.

The trail winds through a forest of bare hardwoods before reaching a footbridge that spans a frozen Brandywine Creek. Footprints crisscross the snow upstream, a sign that many hikers have been exploring the icy creek bed. With limited time, though, I stick to the main trail and continue on.

As I follow the gorge floor, several access points offer easy routes down to the creek, but I pass them by. Shredder Falls, a small cascade downstream of Brandywine Falls, is completely buried under ice and snow and nearly unrecognizable in winter.

I press on as the trail gradually climbs back up the north side of the gorge, where mature eastern hemlocks and small rock outcroppings begin to reemerge.

At the top of the gorge, the trail connects with the Summit County Bike & Hike Trail. To the left sits The Inn at Brandywine Falls, a beautifully restored historic bed and breakfast known for its incredible breakfasts. In warmer months, the inn’s goats often roam near the fence line, greeting passing hikers—an unexpected but memorable part of hiking Brandywine Gorge.

The Bike & Hike Trail runs near the crest of Brandywine Falls and offers a nice overlook into the gorge. In fall, when peak colors fill the valley, the view is spectacular. With the trees bare, I can clearly spot the main observation platform in the distance to the south. Surprisingly, there’s no one else out trying to catch a glimpse of the falls today, which is rare even in cold weather.

Soon, the hike transitions onto the boardwalk section, passing the remains of the Champion Electric Company, a 1920s-era factory that once produced restaurant appliances. Before that, a gristmill operated here in the 1800s.

At the top of a short staircase, a viewing platform offers a distant look at Brandywine Falls from above. It’s a decent preview, but not the main event, so I keep moving.

About a hundred feet later, I descend the boardwalk stairs toward the main observation area. The rock walls flanking the boardwalk usually host massive icicles in winter, but it looks like someone recently knocked them down—normally an incredible sight, but not today.

After descending a few more steps, I reach the main lookout and enjoy the best view the trail offers. While Brandywine Falls isn’t completely frozen, a small stream still flows near the bottom, likely due to slightly warmer temperatures the last few days. A week earlier, when temperatures were stuck in the single digits, this would have looked slightly different. Even so, the view is stunning, with the north wall of the gorge still lined with towering icicles, some stretching more than 20 feet long.

After soaking it all in, I climb back up the stairs, finish the boardwalk, and return to the trailhead. It’s back to work, but the 30-minute winter hike was well worth it. I’ll be back next winter during another deep freeze, when conditions allow for walking up Brandywine Creek and seeing the falls from below—one of the best winter hiking experiences in the park.