Nature on ice: A selfie worth the shivers

A couple was caught by the camera Feb. 1st capturing a memory in front of the frozen falls at McCormick's Creek State Park (MCSP) east of Spencer. The month began with the scenic park encased in an icy cathedral following a month of volatile winter weather.

In January 2026, "Sweet" Owen faced a series of intense weather events, including a major winter storm from January 24–26 that dropped between six and 13 inches of heavy snow across portions of Indiana. Temperatures during the month plummeted well below freezing, reaching a bone-chilling low of -9°F on January 28, leaving the park's famous falls encased in thick, shimmering ice.

Despite the month of January bringing heavy snow and bone-chilling cold, the park's beauty remained a significant draw. Winter transformed the Indiana landscape into a serene sanctuary, where the typical rush of the falls was replaced by the delicate tinkling of "ice bells" and the sculptural beauty of snow-laden hemlocks.

The lack of foliage offered hikers a unique, unobstructed view of the park's rugged geology, proving that the limestone canyons of Owen County are just as breathtaking draped in snow as they are in summer green.

The sheer volume of recent visitors was also evident in the snow-packed trails; a vast tapestry of overlapping shoe prints and boot treads created a silent ledger of the thousands who braved the record-breaking cold to witness the falls in its frozen state.

While the bitter cold of January kept many indoors, the hushed beauty of the limestone canyons and the sculptural ice formations proved an irresistible draw for those seeking the serene "hushed" majesty of Indiana's first state park in winter.