Spectacular.
In a word, that was our experience at the ice caves.
We ventured up to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on the northern edge of Wisconsin with good friends the first weekend of March. They had gone last year and couldn’t shut up about it stop talking about how awesome of an experience it was to walk across a frozen Lake Superior and climb through dozens of caves full of icicles.
And it was pretty cool.
Photo evidence:
How to Visit the Ice Caves Next Year
First, go like the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Facebook page for the latest updates. Some years the caves are open, and some years they are not – it all depends on the weather. Once they start talking about the caves being open in early 2016 (it takes a while for the lake to freeze over), they post almost daily updates with what the conditions are and if the caves are open.
Plan ahead! It’s kind of a game of luck on whether or not the caves are open the weekend you have free to go up. This year hotels booked up with a hundred mile radius – if you want to go, book your hotel in Bayfield or Ashland early. And then hope the caves are open that weekend.
Arrive EARLY. We left Presque Isle for the 2 hour drive at 4:30 AM. We got to the park just before 7 AM and were able to park on the road right outside the parking lot – the lot was already full. When we left around 2 PM, cars were parked 3 or 4 miles down the road – and they still had a long way to walk just to get to the caves.
Bring the right gear. Wear warm, waterproof clothes. Make sure you have some Yaktrax
Prepare to walk. I was not quipped for how far we would be going, and I am NOT in shape these days. Make sure you are ready to walk a lot wearing heavy gear – it’s completely different than a leisurely stroll in the park.
I think that’s about it!
Would you visit the ice caves next year? Have you ever experienced something like this anywhere else in the world?
Love the pictures! I’m definitely going back again and again and no, I will not shut up about it. :)
That comment was just for you, Sue! Glad you caught it. :)
Thanks for inviting us along on the adventure!
Your pictures are gorgeous…the caves look amazing!
Thanks, Alicia! It was an awesome experience.
Wow, these pictures are beautiful! I’ve always lived in the south, so the closest thing I’ve ever seen is some mini waterfalls by my college campus that would freeze occasionally. So these are way more impressive! :)
Mini waterfalls = also awesome!
It’s funny how “regional” our lives in America often are. I have only visited “the south,” or what I consider to be the south – Louisiana to North Carolina, Florida doesn’t count – for a couple of days at a time for work, and almost exclusively in springtime. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not get snow, or to have 100+ temps on a regular basis.
It’s so true! I grew up in Virginia, and a lot of non-Virginians don’t think it’s a southern state, but Virginians insist it is — unless you’re from the DC area. I guess the DC area is kind of like Florida that way haha.
And I’ve never lived somewhere that snows like it does in the Midwest, and I can’t imagine having so much snow! And I haven’t been in Houston for a really hot summer yet, so I have a feeling I’ll be experiencing the 100+ degree weather pretty soon. Yay! ;)
Those are such gorgeous photos! I’m sure you could write an amazing story inspired by that atmospheric setting!
Thank you for stopping by, Jane – and for the compliment. It was a great trip – do you guys get ice like this in England at all?
Wow! This is gorgeous! My husband would be in heaven, because this is ONE winter adventure I’d actually be up for! Haha. Bookmarking for future reference!
Haha! Whatever keeps the family together, right? Might be a long trip from CA, though.