Ice caves at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore open, drawing visitors and shuttle delays

Over the weekend, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore announced plans to open the Lake Superior ice caves to visitors on Feb. 16 after ice conditions were deemed safe for public access.

With stable ice conditions remaining as of Monday morning, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore near Bayfield, Wisc., opened to the public and experienced high visitation, resulting in full parking lots and delays to shuttle service.

The renowned ice caves are only accessed on foot on Lake Superior and are located nearly two miles from the ice cave trailhead at Meyers Beach. Located along the Lake Superior shore, visitors can explore six unique ice caves rarely seen due to the variable ice conditions each winter. The last time the Lake Superior ice caves were open to the public was 2015.

Ice Caves at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | Photo by NPS

Ice Caves at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | Photo by NPS

On-site parking at Meyers Beach is currently unavailable, so visitors are shuttled from off-site locations to the trailhead, park officials said. Shuttle services were provided from Cornucopia and the nearby Sand River Gravel Pit.

Just a few hours after opening the ice caves to visitors this morning, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore posted on Facebook at 10:30 a.m., noting, “We’ve been receiving reports that shuttle wait times are long and parking lots are filling up.”

In response to the congestion, Bayfield County Tourism deployed additional shuttles to help ease delays, though officials said wait times remain.

Once arriving at the Meyers Beach trailhead, visitors can expect to walk several miles on uneven lake ice with no shelter, water, or limited cell service. Park officials advise the public to dress for harsh winter conditions, wear waterproof boots with traction devices, and windproof outerwear.

With changing ice conditions and an impending weather system moving into the area on Tuesday afternoon, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore said rangers would be closely monitoring conditions. Closures may occur if “ice conditions or visibility become dangerous,” park officials said.

Ice Caves Graphic | By National Park Service

Late Monday night, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore announced on Facebook that the ice caves would be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 17. “A strong winter weather system will impact the region tomorrow and with today’s heavy crowds and transportation congestion, the ice caves will be closed,” the Facebook post said.

Park officials said the ice caves will remain closed for several days while rangers evaluate ice conditions after the storm.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Visitors on February 16 | Photo by NPS

Kalli Hawkins February 16, 2026