Yes, winter in Wisconsin means months of frost and snow.
But winter in Wisconsin also means months of frigid and snow – months to do things in that frigid and snow that you can’t do at any other time of year.
When else can you cross-country ski on the Great Lake, with giant bonfires and ice lanterns lighting the way?
When else can you drive on a four-lane highway across a frozen lake?
When else can you watch people racing on barstools down a snowy hill – regardless of your uncle’s backyard?
Winter is inevitable in Wisconsin, so we might as well make the most of it. Here are 12 ways to do so—think of it as a winter bucket list.
Snowshoes or skis by candlelight
Wisconsin hosts numerous candlelight events during the winter, and Book Across the Bay in far northern Wisconsin is the granddaddy of them. In February, 10-kilometer ski and snowshoe races take place on frozen Lake Superior, with ice lights and giant bonfires lighting the way. Some do it during a race clip, but others take their time on the route across Chequamegon Bay from Ashland to the opposite shore south of Washburn and back.
However, no matter your pace, trekking over 10 km on a frozen lake at night is not straightforward. If you want to capture some of that magic without going massive, go skiing, snowshoeing by candlelight, or hiking in a park or nature preserve – there are over 50 of them across the state this winter.
More information about Book Across the Bay and registration can be found here: batb.org.
Bicycle on a frozen lake
If you’ve been hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing on a frozen lake, it’s time to go for a spin on a frozen bike.
During Bike Across Bago, hardy cyclists ride 18 miles across the frozen Lake Winnebago. The free ride ($10 donation recommended), scheduled for the first Saturday in February, begins and ends at Paynes Point Hook & Spear Fishing Club south of Neenah, with a few stops along the way. The ride is challenging — you’re riding on ice, after all — and studded tires are best. See the event Facebook page for more information.
North on Lake Superior, bike 10 or 20 kilometers on frozen Lake Superior in February during Bike Across the Bay, following part of the same course as Book Across the Bay, which takes place the day before. The fat bike race requires a minimum of 3.5-inch tires and spikes are recommended. More information can be found at Northcoastcycling.com.
Drive on a frozen lake
Are you really a Wisconsinite if you’ve never driven on a frozen lake? No ice is 100 percent sheltered to drive on, but at least Lake Winnebago has a regular checkup. When the ice is bulky enough, local fishing clubs clear the snow and maintain the 75-mile network of roads, including building bridges over the cracks. Anyone can employ the roads — including commuters between Oshkosh and Quinney, on opposite sides of the 10-mile lake — and some fishing clubs charge voluntary membership fees to assist pay for snowplows, gas and bridges.
Farther north on Lake Superior, when conditions permit, an ice road lined with evergreens opens between Bayfield and La Pointe on Madeline Island. At times, the road is open only to local traffic—that is, those living on the island. When open to the general public, it can be used to drive to Big Bay State Park. For current conditions, call (715) 747-5400.
Visit the ice castle
Like in “Frozen,” the Ice Castles first appeared in the Dells in 2017 and then in Lake Geneva in 2019. The Utah-based company brought them back to Lake Geneva this year, now at the Geneva National Resort & Club. The castles are built from hundreds of thousands of icicles that are sprayed with water to create walls of ice, into which builders then carve walkways, slides and thrones. Colored LED lights add to the spectacle at night.
The locks are weather dependent, but usually open in mid to delayed January. Tickets usually go on sale in November and usually sell out in advance. Look icecastles.com.
But long before Ice Castles took over social media, Eagle River was building its own ice castle from giant blocks of ice harvested from Silver Lake. Volunteers from the local fire department build the 20-foot structure when conditions allow, usually in delayed December or early January when the ice on the lake is at least 5 inches bulky. You can’t go inside the castle, but you can take photos outside – for free or, if you choose, by donating to the fire department.
Visit the ice cave
Nature creates its own ice castles around Wisconsin. The most renowned are on the Apostle Islands, where water freezes into ice formations along the reddish-brown sandstone cliffs and caves on the national lakeshore. The ice caves are even more special because they can’t always be reached — Lake Superior has to freeze over enough to allow people to walk about a mile from Meyers Beach on the northwest side of the Bayfield Peninsula to the caves on the mainland. That requires long periods of frigid weather without winds to break up the ice. The caves have been accessible only twice in the past 10 years: in 2014 and 2015. If the National Park Service deems them accessible, it likely won’t be until February. Call (715) 779-3398 (ext. 3) or visit nps.gov/apis to check current conditions and do not go onto the ice unless NPS gives permission.
If the caves on land are not open, there are caves on the eastern side of the peninsula that can be reached most winters as this side is more sheltered from the powerful winds. These caves are located on land owned by the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and are only accessible on a Rustic Makwa Den tour led by tribal members. Tours typically run at 10:00 and 14:00 daily from January to March; Look apostołislandsrusticmakwaden.com or call (715) 209-3319.
To see similar ice formations around Wisconsin, visit the Kickapoo Valley Reservation near La Farge, Cave Point County Park in Door County, and Wequiock Falls County Park and Fonferek’s Glen County Park outside Green Bay.
More:5 Places Other Than Ice Caves to See Ice Formations in Wisconsin
Go dog sledding
Mushing, or dog sledding, is part thrill ride, part scenic drive through Wisconsin’s attractive winter landscape. Several dog sledding companies in northern Wisconsin offer the opportunity to drive your own sled or simply ride in a sled, including Wolfsong Adventures in Mushing out of Bayfield. The company offers morning, afternoon and sunset tours that include the opportunity to harness and feed the dogs. Call (715) 779-5561 or visit Wolfsongadventures.com.
Top of the Hill Huskies, near the Wisconsin-Michigan border in Phelps, offers two-hour sledding adventures through the Northwoods. Call (715) 891-2704 or view topofthehillhuskies.com.
The largest vertical drop in Ski Wisconsin
Wisconsin doesn’t have the vertical drop of the state’s mountains, but Granite Peak at Rib Mountain is the state’s largest, with a 700-foot drop. The ski area outside Wausau has 68 runs — the longest is almost a mile — and four terrain parks served by seven lifts, including three high-speed lifts. The ski area also offers equipment rentals and lessons for children and beginners.
An end-of-season visit as part of the annual spring madness in which costumed skiers and snowboarders attempt to glide across a tiny puddle of water on the ski jump.
For lift tickets, hours of operation and more information, call (715) 845-2846 or visit skigranitepeak.com.
To sled
For a different kind of drop, try toboggan run at Lowell Park in Waukesha. Bring your own sled or rent one for a 350-foot lighted ride. A one-day pass costs $10 (cash only), which includes rental (driver’s license required or $60 deposit); prior registration is required. If conditions permit (i.e. there is snow), the track is open on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
On weekends during the high season you can employ the water slide for free Waukesha JanBoree in January, but registration is still required. Other attractions during the festival include ice carving shows, balloon glow and fireworks.
Race on a barstool
Wisconsin winters inspire innovative solutions to stave off boredom, and Drummond’s Bar Stool Races top the list. Competitors decorate bar stools with skis, handles and more, then race down a snowy hill behind the Black Bear Inn. The annual event, set for the third Saturday in February, is a fundraiser for the local snowmobile club, Sno-Jacks, and features food, drinks, drawings and prizes. Registration is $30 in advance, or you can watch the show for free. See Drummondwi.
Have a beer outside at Mitten Fest
The city of festivals never sleeps in the winter. When cabin fever strikes in February, the Milwaukee bar Burnhearts hosts Mitten Fest, a street party/beer festival hybrid with live music, a craft fair, food trucks, and a wide selection of cocktails and beer for sale, including sporadic offerings from breweries like Central Waters and Bell’s. The free festival also does something good by collecting food, winter clothing and money for the Hunger Task Force.
Watch the master of snow sculpting
Teams of artists transform giant blocks of snow into masterpieces in Lake Geneva during the US National Snow Sculpting Championship, usually the last week of January or the first week of February. See their work along the downtown waterfront during the week and vote for your favorite before the final judging. See visitlakegeneva.com/winterfest.
Immerse yourself in polar water
There are several good reasons to plunge into icy water. Special Olympics is one of them. The nonprofit organization hosts several polar expeditions across the state in February and March, during which each participant raises at least $75 for the organization. There are safety measures in place at the events – including lifeguards on site – and heated changing tents in which you can stay balmy afterwards. See polarplungewi.org.
RELATED:50 Things to Do with Kids This Winter Around Milwaukee, From Ice-Flying to Disney on Ice
Contact Chelsey Lewis at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @chelseylew AND @TravelMJS and Facebook on The Guardian’s Travel Journal.
