The Ice Caves: A Breathtaking and Rare Winter Adventure

THE ICE CAVES ARE CURRENTLY INACCESSIBLE. 

We will update this page as conditions change.

You can also call the “ice line” updated every Thursday for current conditions: 715-779-3398 ex. 3.

What You'll See

As snow and ice transform the quiet landscape during the winter season, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore offers a popular attraction in the dazzling shoreline ice caves. The caves are part of the mainland unit of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. 

The winter adventure of seeing the beauty of the ice caves will take your breath away. Lakeshore cliffs along Lake Superior form crimson red borders to create an arctic landscape. Pillars of ice extend to the cliff tops where waterfalls have hardened in place. Frozen Lake Superior water encrusts the base of the cliffs. Inside the ice caves await a fairyland of needle-like icicles. The Lake Superior ice cave formations change from chamber to chamber and from day to day.

How to See The Ice Caves Inside the National Lakeshore

While access to the ice caves along the shoreline is inaccessible at this time, you can see them from above by following the Apostle Islands Lakeshore Trail that extends above the mainland sea caves from the Meyers Beach parking lot. The trail alternates between boardwalk and a rugged path with stream and ravine crossings and can be challenging in the winter. Make sure you have the proper footwear and poles as there are no railings along the trail. 

Thin, moving ice and open water have not allowed safe access to the Meyers Beach ice caves since 2015 on the lake. Access to Meyers Beach ice caves is currently closed due to unstable ice conditions. For the most up-to-date information visit: Ice Caves - Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service.

The caves at Meyers Beach are very exposed to the open lake, which creates constantly changing ice conditions. Stable ice at Meyers Beach requires months of low winds, subzero temperatures, and calm wave conditions. This rarely occurs and has a narrow window in February when it is most likely.

Visiting ice caves can be dangerous due to extreme cold and constantly changing ice shelf conditions.  It can mean extended exposure to sub-zero temperatures and requires walking many miles on slippery, uneven ice on the surface of Lake Superior.  Dressing for sub-zero temperatures and wearing spiked footwear is essential for winter activities on Lake Superior. 

See Ice Caves Outside the National Lakeshore 

Outside of the Lakeshore, people can access the Lake Superior shoreline on their own and at your own risk. Please be aware that the sandstone/brownstone cliffs along the shoreline outside of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore are not the same as the Apostle Islands ice caves and are less dramatic since the shoreline is more protected from the crashing waves, which creates the more distinct formations that appear in the National Lakeshore.

Several local businesses in the area provide guided tours of the ice formations outside of the lakeshore for a fee. Please note, you do not have to pay a fee to see the ice caves. 

There are other off-ice recreational activities in the area, including skiing, fat tire biking, hiking, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and much more.

Also, when there is solid ice on the Chequamegon Bay but not out at the actual sea caves at Meyers Beach, check with local bait shops for information on where ice fishing is occurring. There are places on the Chequamegon Bay where the ice is usually stronger and more stable where there is free public access to get out on the ice to view ice formations along the shoreline even when the mainland caves are not accessible.

Fees

When ice caves are accessible at Meyers Beach - $5/person (16 years and older). This is only in effect when the ice caves are officially deemed accessible by the National Park Service staff. It is a "special event" fee in order to pay for the extra staff and resources required to accommodate people in an area that is not normally accessible to the public.

When ice caves are NOT accessible at Meyers Beach - there is a daily use fee to access the trail and beach - $5 per vehicle 20 feet or less; $8 per vehicle over 20 feet.

The National Park Service does not permit any entity or individual to charge a fee for tours of ice caves inside the lakeshore.