Description:

There are places in the world that are difficult to describe, where the astonishing beauty is so far beyond our words. The Mawikwe Ice Caves, located along the mainland shoreline of the Apostle Island National Lakeshore, is one of those places.

This shoreline is dramatic with high sandstone cliffs – actually walls of sandstone rising some 40-50 feet above the Lake Superior water line. Over the course of time, dramatic wave action creates undercuts, eventually turning some of the formations into sandstone caves and caverns. This is an amazing destination in the summer for kayakers able to paddle in and out of these formations. In the winter, the scene changes with frozen shoreline waterfalls, frozen ice crystals clinging to the sandstone and a dramatic scene of icicles of all sizes and shapes. During each winter season, these formations evolve and change, providing further evidence of Lake Superior’s power.

Some winters provide opportunity to trek out to see these formations. If the waters of Lake Superior in this area freeze to appropriate depth, this provides a surface allowing folks to trek with good boots, snowshoes or skis the 1-2 miles along the shoreline.

Of course, there are words of caution. Access requires trekking on ice on Lake Superior, something to take very seriously. The Apostle Island National Lakeshore is there to provide guidance through their Ice Cave hotline – updated daily to provide current conditions and guidance on accessibility. This is a relatively remote area, with big lake winds.

Remember to take your camera! Enjoy!