What You Need To Know Before Visiting Apostle Islands Ice Caves

For the first time in over a decade, the Apostle Islands Ice Caves are opening to the public. Being that access by foot to this winter attraction is as rare as it is, lots of people are very excited to explore the stunning, icy scenery.

Whether you've never had the chance to visit the ice caves before or you were lucky enough to enjoy the spectacle (albeit, it was 10+ years ago), there are some important things you need to know before making the trip, as there are some things that are likely different than the last time you may have gone.

Getting there, parking, and costs

UPDATE 12:00 pm 2/16/26 - Long waits for shuttles and full parking lots at shuttle pick-up areas are being reported by park and county officials. Prepare for a wait if you plan to go.

Officials with the National Park Service stress that you will need to shuttle to the access point to the ice. Parking at Meyers Beach and along the access road will not be an option, as the access road will be closed to public vehicles.

In addition, parking along Highway 13 will not be an option, as the Wisconsin DOT has prohibited parking along the road.

So, where do you park? How do the shuttles work?

Shuttles operated by Bayfield County will be running from lots in Cornucopia to the west and the Sand River Gravel Pit to the east of Meyers Beach. Parking is $10 per vehicle in these lots. The county-run shuttles are $10 per person round-trip with first pick-up from the lots at 8:30 am and the last ride back from the ice caves at 5:30 pm.

You can learn more about the shuttles and see parking maps on the Bayfield County website.

On top of your parking and shuttle fees, there is also a $5 per person access fee for anyone ages 16 and older paid to the National Park Service, which must be paid online. That can be done here.

That said, for a single person to make the trip, you'll be in it for $25 to get on the ice between your NPS fee, parking fee, and shuttle fee.

What to know about visiting the Apostle Islands Ice Caves

Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth

Once you're there, know you're going on a hike. Having been there before myself, I can tell you that you'll be walking mile across the ice before you get to anything of interest. Once you're there, though, it is pretty beautiful!

Total trip, plan on anywhere between 2 and 6 miles of walking from the beach, depending on how far you want to go. Remember, you are walking on ice, so ice cleats/traction devices are HIGHLY recommended.

There are also no amenities of any kind on the ice. No food, no water, no bathrooms. You're on a frozen chunk of Lake Superior. So you'll need to bring water and snacks with you. As far as bathrooms are concerned, there are porta-potties available at Meyers Beach, where you'll start your trip.

There is also no shelter or places to warm up. You'll want to dress warm, in layers, with windproof outer layers, and wear warm & waterproof boots.

How's the cell phone coverage?

Coverage overall is spotty in this area. It varies by carrier, but on land in this area is sparsely populated and cell phone coverage should not be relied on.

When it comes to things like paying that fee for the National Park Service you have to pay online, I'd recommend doing that ahead of time. I'd also suggest downloading offline versions of any maps you may want for your journey.

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You won't be alone, as there will likely be lots of other people around in the event something happens, but they also will have spotty cell phone service.

How long will the Apostle Islands Ice Caves be open in 2026?

Well...there's no way of knowing for certain until we see what the weather does, but there's a chance that this year's window to visit is very short-lived.

Wind is a major factor that can ruin the ice, and a gale watch is issued for Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon during the incoming winter storm we're anticipating in the region.

Those strong winds could cause the ice to break up or render it otherwise unsafe, which would make this year's ice caves opportunity essentially a one-day affair. Again, we'll have to see what the weather actually does, but that's not a promising forecast.

Here's a look at my trip to the Apostle Islands Ice Caves back in 2014 to give you a taste of what to expect. It is pretty awesome!