Medina Waterfalls aren’t entirely frozen

Photos by Tom Rivers

Most of the Medina Waterfalls are suspended in ice. But a narrow spot is still roaring and flowing with water from the Oak Orchard Creek near the Erie Canal.

MEDINA – There’s been a lot talk in the news recently about the frozen Niagara Falls. It’s a spectacle getting world-wide attention and drawing tourists to the natural wonder when we were in our deep freeze recently. (Click here to see a story about the phenomenon.)

I wondered about the most powerful waterfalls in Orleans County. How has it held up in the freeze?

A good portion has been held up in ice. But the fast-moving part is still flowing strong, plummeting over a gorge.

The Medina Waterfalls as it appeared in early November.

I had never seen the Medina Waterfalls until November. I had heard about it and wanted to see it. It has the “wow” effect.

It’s disappointing to me how difficult it is to reach the falls. I stopped by on Saturday morning. It’s somewhat of a perilous journey through a wooded area, climbing over fallen trees. There are steep embankments and one slip could send you into the Oak Orchard Creek.

To get to the waterfalls, you can walk through this path or venture into a wooded area with fallen trees.

The powers-that-be should recognize this is a great untapped resource for tourism, recreation and improving our quality of life. I’d highly recommend a safe walking trail to the waterfalls, a ladder from the towpath, perhaps a pavilion area and some guardrails to improve the safety.

A stone wall is a relic from when powerful mills did business near the waterfalls in the 1800s.

Here is one more photo of the waterfalls, which are located near the Erie Canal, close to Horan Road bridge.