Is Niagara Falls open in the winter?

Yes, Niagara Falls is absolutely open in the winter, and honestly, it's one of the best times to visit if you can handle the cold. The parks and pathways are open year-round, and the falls themselves don't freeze solid (that's a myth), but you'll see massive ice formations on the railings and mist turning into a frozen wonderland. The big catch: the Maid of the Mist boat ride shuts down around early November and doesn't reopen until April, so you won't get that classic soak. But the Cave of the Winds boardwalk on the U.S. side is usually open until late November or early December, weather permitting.

For winter-specific stuff, the Niagara Falls State Park is free to enter, and parking is about $10-20. The Niagara Parks Commission on the Canadian side keeps the Queen Victoria Park pathways open, and you can walk right up to the Horseshoe Falls for epic ice-crusted views. The Skylon Tower and Clifton Hill attractions stay open, but expect shorter hours and fewer crowds. One pro tip: wear waterproof boots and crampons or Yaktrax—the paths get icy as hell, and you don't want to wipe out. Also, the Winter Festival of Lights runs from mid-November to early January on the Canadian side, which is free and actually pretty impressive. So yeah, it's open, it's quieter, and it's gorgeous—just dress like you're going to the Arctic.