For first time in more than a decade, foot access to Apostle Islands ice caves may open
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A natural spectacle along the Lake Superior shore that’s been off-limits to hikers for more than a decade may be accessible again starting Monday.
Officials at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northern Wisconsin announced Saturday that they’re planning to open foot access to the famed ice caves near Meyers Beach starting Monday if ice conditions on the lake remain stable.
In an update Sunday, park officials said “conditions remain on track to welcome visitors” to the ice caves starting at 8:30 a.m. Monday.
Foot access to the ice caves was last open in 2014 and 2015, when the frozen display drew thousands of visitors who walked more than a mile on frozen Lake Superior to see it.
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If access to the caves does open on Monday, there’s no telling how long it will stay open.
“This winter event occurs only when conditions meet minimum safety thresholds,” park officials said in a statement posted on Saturday afternoon. “Park officials stress that public safety is the highest priority and conditions can change rapidly. Visitor access may close with little notice if conditions deteriorate.”
Ice coverage on Lake Superior has increased from less than 10 percent in mid-January, to more than 50 percent now. But the effects of wind, waves and warming temperatures cause ever-shifting conditions.
The ice caves — located a few miles east of 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.
The crowds flocking to the caves increased exponentially the last time they were open — leading to changes in parking policies. If the caves do open Monday, there will be no parking at the Meyers Beach parking lot or along State Highway 13.
Instead, there will be shuttle buses from three designated parking areas farther away. Those cost $10 per person round-trip — cash-only.
There is also a $5 per person, per day park fee for visiting the caves, that must be paid online. That’s for people 16 and older; there’s no park fee for kids younger than 16. Park officials said visitors should pay those fees before arriving.
In its Saturday update, the park advised people heading to the caves to “be ready for a 2- to 6-mile round-trip hike on uneven lake ice with no shelter, water and limited cell service. Dress for harsh winter conditions. Standing water on top of the ice is possible.”
