When Does Leech Lake Freeze? Ice-In Dates

Short answer: in the Minnesota DNR record, Leech Lake has locked up between November 19 and December 17. The DNR has nine dates on file for the lake, spread across 1996 to 2023. The middle date is December 1. Four of the nine dates fall in November (Nov. 19, 20, 29 and 30). The other five fall in December.

That is a thin record with big gaps. Treat it as a rough window and not a promise.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

An ice-in date is not a green light. It is the day an observer says the whole lake is frozen and stays that way. It tells you nothing about thickness where you plan to stand.

What the records show

The DNR State Climatology Office keeps the state's lake ice-in records. Observers report them, and some dates come from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Here is the record for Leech Lake.

• Leech Lake (DNR lake ID 11020300, listed as "Leech"): 9 dates, first year 1996, last year 2023. Earliest November 19, 1996. Latest December 17, 1998. The DNR lists a median of December 1, and our own count of the nine dates agrees.
• Leech (Main Basin, ID 11020301): 3 dates, all from the MPCA. November 14, 2014, November 13, 2018 and November 25, 2021.
• Leech (Kabekona Bay, ID 11020302): 5 dates, all from the MPCA, 2004 to 2008. Earliest November 21, 2008. Latest November 30, 2006.

Leech is in Cass County. The DNR lists it at about 103,000 acres, with a mean depth of 18.5 feet and a maximum depth of 150 feet. It is a big, deep lake.

One note on the DNR feed. Its "earliest" field for Leech shows November 20, 2018. The list of dates itself includes November 19, 1996, one day earlier. We used the list, so the earliest date here is November 19.

The DNR draws its ice-in map markers only for lakes with 20 or more years of data. Leech spans 27 years from first to last entry, but it has only nine dates in that span.

Leech Lake ice-in dates

There are no entries under this lake ID for 1997, 1999 to 2005, 2009 to 2015, 2017, 2020 to 2022, or 2024 and 2025. We do not guess what happened in those years.

Sorted from earliest to latest, the nine dates are Nov. 19, Nov. 20, Nov. 29, Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 2, Dec. 8, Dec. 13 and Dec. 17. The fifth one, Dec. 1, is the median.

Sub-basin dates

Different parts of Leech lock up on different days. The DNR keeps the Main Basin and Kabekona Bay as their own records.

In 2018 the whole-lake record says November 20 and the Main Basin record says November 13. The DNR says the definition of ice-in can vary from lake to lake. In 2006, 2007 and 2008 the whole-lake dates (Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 8) came as late as or later than the Kabekona Bay dates (Nov. 30, Nov. 27, Nov. 21). The bay did not lag the lake in those years.

Three and five dates are too few to call a pattern. Use them as a clue, not a rule.

What "ice in" means here

The DNR defines ice-in for its citizen observers as the day the entire lake is frozen over and the ice cover remains through winter. Observers do not report ice thickness.

The DNR says plainly that it does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes. It also says ice-in dates should not be used to track ice thickness for recreation. And it does not post the current year's ice-in dates in real time, for safety, because the ice cover may not be permanent for the season.

So an ice-in date tells you roughly when a lake locked up. It does not tell you what is safe to walk on today. On a lake this size, a single date can also hide a lot, since the DNR keeps separate records for parts of the lake.

Ice thickness minimums (Minnesota DNR guideline)

These are the Minnesota DNR guidelines for new, clear ice only:

• Under 4 inches: stay off.
• 4 inches: ice fishing or other activities on foot.
• 5 to 7 inches: snowmobile or small ATV.
• 7 to 8 inches: side-by-side ATV.
• 9 to 10 inches: small car or SUV.
• 11 to 12 inches: medium SUV or small truck.
• 13 inches: medium truck.
• 16 to 17 inches: heavy-duty truck.
• 20 inches or more: heavy-duty truck with a wheelhouse shelter.

White ice is only about half as strong as new, clear ice. The DNR says to double these numbers on white ice. Ice is seldom the same thickness across a lake. The DNR notes it can be two feet thick in one place and one inch thick a few yards away.

The DNR also says these guidelines assume average equipment weight and solid, clear ice. You are responsible for knowing the weight of your vehicle, gear and crew.

Parked vehicles need more ice

The numbers above are for moving loads. For a vehicle that sits longer than two hours, the DNR lists thicker minimums. A loaded vehicle between 2,200 and 4,400 pounds needs 16 inches. A vehicle between 4,400 and 6,600 pounds needs 18 inches. The DNR says to park at least 50 feet apart and move vehicles every two hours.

If the ice is not thick enough to drive on and park away from shore, do not park on it at all.

How to check current ice

1. Do not rely on a date. Check thickness where you are standing.
2. Drill a hole. Measure clear ice, not slush or white ice.
3. Drill again every few steps. Ice changes fast.
4. Stay off the edges of pressure ridges, cracks, and open water.
5. Wear a flotation device and carry picks and a rope.
6. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.

Early ice is the risk window. First ice looks solid and often is not. The DNR says new ice is usually stronger than old ice, and that four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot. It also says a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not.

Current, springs, narrow areas and bottlenecks, wind, snow cover and plant decay all change how strong ice is. Check for them on a lake this large.

Do not drive onto ice because someone else did. A plowed road is not proof of safe ice. Measure for your own load.

We did not find an official source for a typical start date for the hardwater season or plowed road access on Leech Lake. So we do not give one. Check the DNR and local notices for current conditions.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

What we will update

Iceline will update this guide as new Leech Lake entries are added to the DNR record. Until the record grows, remember that the earliest date on file is November 19, and treat any first ice as unproven until you measure it.

FAQ

When does Leech Lake freeze?

In the DNR record it has frozen between November 19 and December 17, with a median of December 1, across nine dates from 1996 to 2023. That is not a promise for any year.

What is the earliest Leech Lake has frozen?

November 19, 1996. The latest on file is December 17, 1998. The record has big gaps, so an earlier or later date is possible.

How thick should ice be to walk on?

The Minnesota DNR guideline is 4 inches of new, clear ice for ice fishing or other activity on foot. Use 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV. Double the numbers on white ice. Check it yourself.

Does the whole lake freeze at once?

Not necessarily. The DNR keeps separate records for the Main Basin and Kabekona Bay, and their dates differ from the whole-lake record. Measure where you plan to go.

Does the DNR measure ice thickness on Leech Lake?

No. The DNR says it does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes. Your safety is your responsibility.