Ice caves forming on the Great Lakes, bringing beauty and danger

With the return of frigid temps, ice caves and ice volcanoes are forming on Lake Michigan
Ice can be dangerous, and adventurers are urged to be cautious heading out on the lake
The Great Lakes are roughly half-covered in ice

LAKE LEELANAU — James Schaberg was exploring Sleeping Bear Point in Glen Haven when he came across a series of ice caves and ice volcanoes on the big lake.

“I’m always timid and cautious,” Schaberg said. “It’s rare to see them grow to this size.”

Schaberg says the caves and volcanoes he spotted that day were the largest he has seen since the winter of 2014-15, after growing up in the area.

The phenomena formed as Michigan experiences its coldest and snowiest winter in a few years. Several Up North towns are buried under snow exceeding seasonal averages and some already have more snow than an entire typical season.

A woman stands in the entrance to an ice cave — Juniper Schaberg stands tall at the entrance of an ice cave at Sleeping Bear Point over the weekend. (Courtesy of James Schaberg)

Grand Traverse Bay has frozen over for the first time since 2019.

As temperatures warmed early this week, there may be some melt of the ice caves before colder temperatures return near the end of the week.

Ice volcanoes are cone-shaped mounds of ice, slush, and sediment that form along the shores of larger lakes when strong waves force water up through cracks in an ice shelf, freezing into structures that can grow over 20 feet tall.

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An ice cave is a natural formation that happens when wave-sprayed lake water freezes into solid ice along the shore.

“I approach it with extreme caution and don’t go alone,” Schaberg said. “Go out with someone who has a device to call for help if you get into trouble. There is no safe way to get out, and one way to get in for some dangerous ice dams.”

Some of the most popular locations for ice caves on Lake Michigan include Empire, Glen Haven, Leland, and Northport. Stronger winds and waves can create larger caves with multiple openings, driven by wave thrusts.

“Stay well away from the actual edge of water and keep away by 100 feet … I always investigate it from above before ever going below to see what ice formations have been created. The sunset is an amazing time to go with the warm light reflecting off the ice,” Schaberg said.

Although ice shelves on Lake Huron aren’t building as fast as on Lake Michigan, there is more solid ice on Lake Huron, with over two-thirds of the lake covered, while Lake Michigan sits at roughly a third.

“There’s a little ice shelf built up according to our crew, but not much right now,” Negwegon and Harrisville State Park Superintendent Eric Ostrander said.

Lake Superior is nearly a third frozen, while Lake Ontario sits at 37.23%. Lake Erie is the most solid, with over 95% of the surface covered in ice. Lake Huron (77.49%) is the second-most-covered Great Lake.

Lake Michigan’s ice cover high was 93.2% in 2014. The last time Lake Erie was completely frozen over was in 1996.

Ostrander said this year is certainly a heartier winter than in years past, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that snowfall is above the norm for the Thunder Bay area.

The rocky beaches of Negwegon are known as a rock-hunting spot that attracts visitors even in winter. Prime conditions for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing remain busy at Negwegon.

“The trails have all been active, and there’s a good base,” he said.

The Coast Guard Station at St. Ignace has warned adventurers about unpredictable ice conditions in the Straits of Mackinac.

One person was hospitalized after falling into Lake Michigan near South Haven Sunday.

The person was taken to the hospital and suffered a leg injury about 100 yards offshore, representing the second such reported incident in the South Haven area.

No such incidents have been reported in northern Michigan so far this winter.

As of the beginning of February, more than half of the Great Lakes are now covered in ice, with an additional frigid front arriving in northern Michigan that will further extend ice cover, according to the US National Ice Center.

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