Wisconsin’s Famed Ice Caves Are Vanishing as Lake Superior Refuses to Freeze

Apostle Islands Ice Caves, Wisconsin

When Lake Superior freezes just right, the waves freeze against these cliffs and create miles of frozen waterfalls and ice-filled caves. The lake has to be frozen solid before anyone can visit, and unfortunately, that hasn’t happened for over a decade now.

Here are some interesting facts about the Apostle Islands Ice Caves while we wait for them to reappear.

The Never Look the Same Twice

The formations change completely from year to year, and even day to day. You’ll see different ice columns, curtains, and stalactites throughout the caves based on how cold it’s been, which way the wind blows, and how the waves hit the shore.

The Rock That Looks Like a Movie Monster

There’s a rock formation that looks just like the monster from the “Alien” movie, and it’s probably the most photographed spot in the caves. You can see it both when it’s covered in ice during winter or from the trail above during summer.

Look for three other amazing formations while you’re there: arches that remind you of cathedrals, walls with honeycomb patterns, and ice pillars that seem to float in mid-air.

The Hidden Ice Caves Most People Never See

The best ice caves aren’t even the ones most people know about. Devil’s Island has much more impressive formations, but you can only get there when the entire lake freezes solid.

These hidden caves have massive ice arches that seem impossible and caves buried under walls of pack ice more than 30 feet high. Only professional photographers with serious safety gear ever document these places.

Regular visitors never get to see them because they’re too dangerous and remote to reach.

Each Island Has Different Types of Ice Caves

The mainland caves get all the attention, but there are sea caves on Devils Island, Sand Island at Swallow Point, and Stockton Island too.

On Stockton Island, you can find amazing sea stacks surrounded by ice, while Cat Island has delicate ice arches formed by specific wind and wave patterns. These island formations are hard to reach but show some of the most untouched winter scenes on Lake Superior.

Lake Superior “Breathes” When It’s Frozen

When you walk across the frozen lake to reach the caves, the ice actually moves slightly under your feet. This happens because the ice sheet bends a little with the water moving underneath.

You absolutely need good ice cleats or crampons because this movement makes the surface slippery and uneven. Many first-time visitors say it feels like walking on a giant waterbed.

How Local People Keep The Ice Caves Running

The only reason you can visit the caves when they do open is because of volunteers from the local community.

People from the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Apostle Islands, and the Town of Bell all help out. They keep the roads plowed, the parking areas clear, and make sure there’s enough staff to handle visitors.

These volunteers also mark safe paths across the ice, keep emergency equipment ready, and answer questions from visitors.

That Time When Visitors Created a Traffic Jam

During 2014 when the caves were last open, 138,000 people came to see them over eight weeks. The next year, 38,000 visitors showed up in just nine days before they closed again.

The sudden popularity created traffic jams along Highway 13 like nobody had ever seen, with cars parked for 1.5 miles from the main lot. This meant you had to walk quite a distance before even starting the hike to the caves. Park rangers had to create special crowd management plans for this usually quiet spot.

February is the Best Time to See the Ice Caves

Note for the future: February gives you the best shot at seeing the ice caves in their full glory. January is typically too dark and cold for a good experience, and they start to melt during March.

February usually has the right mix of stable ice, bearable temperatures, and enough daylight to enjoy your visit. By this time, the ice has grown thick enough but hasn’t started breaking up yet.

Park rangers check the conditions every day during February, making sure there’s at least 10 inches of solid ice before letting anyone cross.

It’s Been a Decade Since the Ice Caves Were Seen

No one has seen the ice caves after 2015. According to the National Park Service, “The ice caves are currently inaccessible due to non-existent or unstable ice conditions.”

The caves need a perfect mix of very cold weather, calm winds, and gentle waves for months straight, and it’s just not happening anymore. In fact, NOAA’s data shows only 17.5% ice coverage in February 2025. There’s barely any snow in and around Apostle Islands too.

How To Plan Your Visit to the Apostle Islands Ice Caves

Right now in April 2025, you can’t visit the mainland ice caves. They’ve been closed since 2015. To check current conditions before planning a trip: 

• Follow the National Park Service Facebook page
• Call the ice line at 715-779-3397 ext.

In the meantime, there’s still so much to do at Apostle Islands. You can go kayaking, hiking, fishing, camping, boating, and so much more. You can even scuba dive and go hunting or trapping if you have permits.