If you are up for an adventure and are all right putting a few miles on the car/truck, the time is right for you to get up to the Apostle Islands and check out the ice caves. The caves, which are only accessible during some winters when it's cold enough to freeze that far out on Lake Superior, are bucket list worthy.

With St. Cloud's Bold & Bright happening this weekend, we've already got plans, but we are doing some serious thinking about loading up the Griswald family cruiser and heading up to check it out. there are some things I am learning about you should know before heading out on an ice cave adventure.

I started following a page that is all about the Apostle Islands, and they have some advice for those coming to the area to check out the ice caves, and what is a legit tour and what isn't a legit tour. Here's what they had to say about the ice caves, and what people need to know heading out to the islands on Lake Superior.

Important Announcement About Our Ice Cave Tours 

WE DO NOT DO TOURS TO THE MEYERS BEACH ICE CAVES.

All of our ice cave tours take place outside the park in Chequamegon Bay. We’ve been doing these tours since 2017. Let’s clear up any confusion:

None of our tours are at Meyers Beach.

None of the photos we share from our ice cave tours are from Meyers Beach.

We are not charging an access fee; instead, people are hiring a guide to ensure they reach the right location safely and efficiently. Similar to ice fishing guides on Chequamegon Bay, hiring a guide is entirely optional but highly recommended for those who are unfamiliar with navigating the frozen surface of the bay. Our goal is to enhance your experience and ensure your safety during this unique adventure.

We’ve always been transparent about this, but people have occasionally misunderstood and claimed we are misleading. To be perfectly clear:

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Based on the way the NPS operates, we do not believe the Meyers Beach Ice Caves will ever open again.

When you see our photos, know they represent the amazing experiences we provide outside the park. We make every effort to clearly state that these are not the Meyers Beach Ice Caves.

Here are some stunning pictures from our past tours! 

Thank you for understanding and for supporting our dedication to offering incredible, respectful ice cave adventures. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

How sweet do these pictures look!

Below is a note from the National Parks Service page for the Apostle Islands, as you can see, the National Park Islands aren't open, but the 'unofficial' islands are open, as you read above.

The ice caves at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore are currently inaccessible due to insufficient or unstable ice conditions. The last time access to the ice caves was possible was in 2015. Visit https://www.nps.gov/apis/mainland-caves-winter.htm for more information.

According to the National Park Service, the caves are a “fairyland of needle-like icicles.” The ice formations change from chamber to chamber and from day to day. The beautiful rock formations hanging above you and jutting up from the ground below you are covered by ice. If you crawl underneath them, the ice floor is like a clear sheet of glass through which you can see the bottom of the lake.

The last time the official National Park Service ice caves were available to be seen by the public was in 2015.

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