Apostle Islands Ice Caves: Limited Access Due To Open Water

Despite the stretch we've been in, which featured plenty of sub-zero temperatures during both the day and night, it appears your options for venturing out to the ice caves this year will be limited. A recent post from the Apostle Islands social media page outlined the conditions and the unlikely nature that some caves will be available to see, unless you've got a boat.

********************UPDATE 1/30/26**************************

An update to this story reflects that the Apostle Islands page referenced offers tourist excursions to the area. A member of the Bayfield Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce and Tourism called to clarify. The official National Parks Page is linked at the bottom of the page.

Apostle Islands & Ice Caves

The Apostle Islands, which are located in northern Wisconsin on Lake Superior, is a 21-island archipelago known for its historic lighthouses, extensive sea caves, and sandy beaches, and is a fun day trip for Minnesotans no matter the time of year. Unfortunately, if you had visiting the ice caves on your bucket list this year, you are going to be limited on what you can safely see.

According to a business social media page that operates under the name Apostle Islands, one set of caves most likely won't be available to be visited by the excursion company, unless you've got a boat, as the caves are still exposed to open lake water even after the cold stretch we've had.

After this cold stretch even with the cold we have had, most of Lake Superior is still wide open. Satellite imagery makes it very clear. Because of that, the Mawikwe Bay ice caves, better known as Meyers Beach, are not going to open this year.

Every single year that Meyers Beach ice caves have opened, there has been solid ice connecting Devils Island over toward Two Harbors and Duluth. We are nowhere close to that pattern this year. I am not a fortune teller, but I would honestly give 10 to 1 odds that it does not happen. I am extremely confident, even though some people are pretending otherwise.

At this point, if you are thinking about walking out to the Mawikwe Bay ice caves, do not do it unless you are prepared to go swimming, or you are on a boat. That shoreline is still exposed to open lake energy.

Right now, the only place where walking on ice even makes sense is inside Chequamegon Bay.

Important distinction that a lot of people mix up

Mawikwe Bay ice caves, also called Meyers Beach

These face the open lake, depend on full lake wide ice, and are extremely dangerous without it.

Chequamegon Bay ice caves, also called Houghton Point

These are inside a protected bay, form under very different conditions, and are the only realistic ice walking option right now.

Please be smart, ice does not care about optimism.

What's disappointing about this news is knowing that, despite the cold weather, we still didn't get enough ice to open all the ice caves for visitors to experience.