Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Andrew Krueger

Apostle Islands ice caves access not looking promising this winter

Chilly winds and cold didn't stop visitors.
Single-digit temperatures, a chilly wind and fresh ice formations greeted visitors at the Apostle Islands ice caves on March 5, 2015 near Cornucopia, Wis. Park officials say access to the ice caves is not looking promising this winter.
Derek Montgomery for MPR News file

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

While there still are weeks of winter ahead, officials at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northern Wisconsin say it's not looking promising for access to the park's famed Lake Superior ice caves.

"While we certainly don't want to get anyone's hopes up or dash them, conditions are not looking great for the Mainland Ice Caves to be accessible in 2022," park officials posted in an online update last week.

The region has seen a lot of subzero temperatures in recent weeks, which can help form the lake ice that's needed to access the ice formations on foot. But there've also been a lot of gale-force winds on Lake Superior, which can quickly break that ice into pieces and sweep it away from shore.

"As we enter January, there is still a LOT of open water on Lake Superior, and since walking across the frozen surface of Lake Superior is required to reach the caves, it is impossible to reach the caves at this time," park officials wrote in Thursday's update.

Icicles descend
Icicles descend from and visitors walk by one of the many ice caves of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Feb. 4, 2014 near Cornucopia, Wis.
Derek Montgomery for MPR News file

Ice coverage on Lake Superior was at about 7 percent as of Saturday — below the long-term average for this point in the season.

Furthermore, park officials noted, "the NOAA ice cover forecast for this winter on Lake Superior is 8.5% maximum ice cover. In years that the Mainland Ice Caves have been accessible, Lake Superior ice cover has been over 90%." That was the case in 2014 and 2015, when the frozen spectacle drew thousands of visitors who walked a mile or more on frozen Lake Superior to see it.

The lake ice conditions are monitored closely by park staff all winter, to determine whether it’s safe to allow public access.

"Lake Superior is warming rapidly, ice cover is decreasing, and the likelihood of access to the ice caves has become a rare event," park superintendent Lynne Dominy said last winter. “One of the most common phrases you hear around here is ‘the Lake is the Boss’ — which is true in the summer and in the winter."

The ice caves along the lakeshore near Cornucopia, Wis., are formed by water seeping down through the sandstone cliffs and freezing into icicles and other ice formations, similar in appearance to rock formations in a cave. The icy display also can be enhanced by spray from Lake Superior waves.

Find more information on the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the ice caves here.