By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Jan 17, 2018 at 5:05 PM

Although the Apostle Islands ice caves are not currently open to the public, they hopefully will be soon if quality and thickness of ice remains stable. Located in Bayfield County, the Apostle Islands are 370 miles from Milwaukee, and it takes six-plus hours by car to get there, depending on weather.

At this point, the ice caves are not open, but this can change based on the condition of the ice thickness. Check the website before planning a trip and be prepared for the information to change on short notice.

Last time they were officially opened was 2015. Tours might be available, but the National Park Service does not recommend people visit at this time.

But put this trip on your bucket list for the future because the stunning ice caves, ice formations and thousands of icicles of various sizes adorn the striking pink and red sandstone formations, forests and lake.

Visitors should expect to walk two to six miles, dress appropriately and remain very alert because falling ice and rock is a possibility.

But the adventuresome will be rewarded.

Stacy La Point and Jessica Laub and their sons visited the Ice Caves in 2014. "The crazy part for me was walking on the frozen lake and thinking how far out from shore we were, but we felt like we were on land," says La Point.

La Point says it was so cold that at times her camera was frozen, but she and Laub still managed to take some gorgeous photos. Enjoy.

For more information on the Apostle Ice Caves, click here.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.