Ice, Ice Baby! A guide to Ohio's natural glass sculptures: The Magic of the Catawba Island Ice Shove
- heathre04
- Feb 4
- 3 min read
If you live near the North Coast, you know Lake Erie has a personality. Usually, she’s all summer breezes and sunset boat rides. But right now? She’s showing off her winter muscles.
With the lake currently over 95% frozen—the highest coverage we've seen in decades—a rare natural phenomenon is taking over our shoreline: The Ice Shove. 🌬️🧊
What exactly is an Ice Shove?
An ice shove—or 'ice tsunami'—as Mother Nature’s way of rearranging the furniture. 🌬️❄️ When high winds and shifting currents decide they’ve had enough of the lake, they force massive sheets of ice onto the shore in a slow-motion power move. We aren't talking about ice cubes here; These icy mountains can stack up to 40 feet high! It's as if Lake Erie woke up this week and decided to tell the shoreline: 'Take this lake and shove it... I ain't liquid here no more!' ❄️🎸
Where to witness the magic this weekend (Feb 6–8):
Gideon Owen Wine Company: They are hosting the first-ever Catawba Island Ice Shove event! Expect ice bonfires at 7 PM, outdoor ice bars with mulled wine, and cozy glass "warming huts."
Marblehead Lighthouse State Park: The "OG" spot for ice shoves. The way the point juts out makes it a magnet for those massive blue ice stacks.
Waterworks Park (Port Clinton): Great for a quick car-viewing of the shoreline.
Catawba Island State Park: High chance of seeing the ice pile up right near the boat ramps.
East Harbor State Park: The beaches here often look like an alien planet when the ice dunes form.
My Secret Staycation Spot: One of my all-time favorite ways to visit the area is from The Boathouse at Rock Harbor Cottages. It’s a literal over-the-water retreat right on East Harbor. I’ve spent a few nights there, and let me tell you—there is nothing like sitting in that massive, 3-person jetted tub while watching the frozen lake through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It feels like you have a front-row seat to the Arctic! 🛀✨
Want to book it? Because it’s so unique, The Boathouse is already snagged for this weekend (no surprises there!). But don't let that stop your winter adventure. Whether you’re looking for a cozy condo with a harbor view or a lakefront cottage where you can hear the ice "singing," I can help! Let's find another hot spot for this cool event!
Beyond the jetted tub and the views, what makes a stay at Rock Harbor Cottages so special are the people behind it. The owners, Brad and Julia, are some of the kindest, most "salt of the earth" people you’ll ever meet. They truly treat you like family the second you step onto the dock. We've stayed with them several times. Brad basically facilitated Zion's first fish catching free for all! We'd been trying to fish unsuccessfully from the dock and Brad happened by letting us know we were doing it all wrong (I knew... but didn't want to be all stabby stabby with worms) He showed Zion how to bait the hook and it was like magic - I couldn't get the fish off Zion's line quick enough, he must have caught about 20 fish in less than an hour!
If you’re looking for more than just a cozy place to hide from the wind, Brad is your go-to for the ultimate Lake Erie winter experience: Ice Fishing. 🐟 He knows these waters (and this ice) better than anyone. Whether you're a pro or a first-timer, booking a trip with them is the best way to see the lake's power from the "inside" out.
Even if the Boathouse is booked, they have other fantastic cottages on the property. It’s the kind of place where you come for the ice shoves but stay for the hospitality!
If you’re looking to plan a trip for a future "shove" or a summer getaway, shoot me a message. I’d love to help you find the perfect VRBO gem to make your own core memories.
A Quick Safety Warning
As beautiful as these are, please stay on the land! The ice is shifting constantly. The best view is from the shore with a hot chocolate (or a Gideon Owen mulled wine) in hand.
Comments