Opening for first ice
Ice and trail conditions for every lake in the North.
Thickness in inches. Trail groom status. The time of every reading. Opening for first ice in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and across the North.
Get alerted when your lake locks up
No ice is ever 100% safe. Check thickness yourself as you go.
- Lake of the Woods, MN. No ice reports yet.
- Rainy Lake, MN. No ice reports yet.
- Red Lake, MN. No ice reports yet.
- Lake Vermilion, MN. No ice reports yet.
- Leech Lake, MN. No ice reports yet.
- Mille Lacs, MN. No ice reports yet.
- Lake Pepin, MN. No ice reports yet.
- Lake Winnipeg, MB. No ice reports yet.
- Devils Lake, ND. No ice reports yet.
- Lake Oahe, SD. No ice reports yet.
- Big Spirit Lake, IA. No ice reports yet.
- Chequamegon Bay, WI. No ice reports yet.
- Lake Mendota, WI. No ice reports yet.
- Lake Winnebago, WI. No ice reports yet.
- Lake Gogebic, MI. No ice reports yet.
- Houghton Lake, MI. No ice reports yet.
- Saginaw Bay, MI. No ice reports yet.
- Lake Champlain, VT. No ice reports yet.
- Oneida Lake, NY. No ice reports yet.
- Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. No ice reports yet.
- Moosehead Lake, ME. No ice reports yet.
Knowtheicebeforeyoudriveon.Everynumbershowsitsage.Nothinghereiseveraguarantee.
One color system
Five colors. Same on the map, the page and the share card.
Colors follow Minnesota DNR guidance. Every lake page will show the full guidance next to the number.
- 12+inches
Ice
12 inches or more
TrucksTrail
Groomed
Groomed and open - 8inches
Ice
8 to 12 inches
ATV and snowmobileTrail
Fair
Fair - 4inches
Ice
4 to 8 inches
Foot trafficTrail
Poor
Poor or ungroomed - <4inches
Ice
Under 4 inches
Open water or under 4 inchesTrail
Closed
Closed - n/a
Ice
No data
No data or early seasonTrail
No report
No report
What opens at first ice
A dated page for every lake and trail.
Current thickness, last updated time, how many reports came in over the last 72 hours, a 10 day outlook, and trail groom status. Reporting takes under 15 seconds and needs no account.
- 10States at launchMN, WI, MI, ND, SD, IA, NY, ME, NH and VT, plus the border lakes in Ontario and Manitoba.
- 72Hours until a report fadesOlder readings turn gray. We never show a stale number as if it were current.
- 4Inches for foot trafficBelow that, stay off. Every lake page shows the thresholds next to the number.
Read this first
No ice is ever 100% safe.
Ice changes with currents, springs, snow load and the week. A reading is a report from one spot at one time. Check it yourself with a spud or auger, wear a flotation device, and tell someone where you are going.
Read the full ice safety disclaimer