Michigan Bucket List: Ice Climbing in the Upper Peninsula
A Healthier Michigan
| 3 min read
If you are looking for an exciting outdoor activity to enjoy in the beautiful Michigan winter wonderland, you may want to look into ice climbing. Each winter, ice climbers both local to the Upper Peninsula and those who travel for the ice picking locations in the UP scale frozen waterfalls and cliffs.
What is ice climbing?
Ice climbing is a winter-specific sport that refers to scaling ice, usually frozen waterfalls. Ice climbing requires specific equipment to stay safe and secure while climbing, including ice axes, crampons – special gear with spikes attached to boots to help climb – and ice screws for a secure anchor in the ice. Having basic rock-climbing skills can be helpful before trying ice climbing, although it is not a requirement. Climbing safety knowledge, rope and knot skills and strength and balance training are also helpful for learning ice climbing. Here are some of the top ice climbing spots in the UP:
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising
Ice walls form in several spots along the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. These climbing locations provide a range of difficulty and size for climbers of all experience levels. The ice tends to last from December until as late as early April. Some of the climbing locations require a trek on skis or snowshoes. There are some authorized companies that provide guided climbing experiences at Pictured Rocks. Munising Falls are off limits to ice climbing and no camping or pets, either on or off leash, are permitted at ice climbing sites.
Hungarian Falls in Hubbell
Hungarian Falls is a 10-acre woodlands nature area in the UP near Hubbell. Huntington Falls includes three series of waterfalls from Dover Creek that form ice climbing spots in the winter when conditions are cold enough, including one set of falls that freezes under the bridge over Dover Creek. These are listed as easy-to-moderate difficulty ice climbing sites.
Houghton-Douglas Falls in Lake Linden
Houghton-Douglas falls reach higher than 100 feet near Lake Linden in the UP and is Michigan’s tallest waterfall. Climbers can reach the falls by following the Hammell Creek upstream from Lake Linden. This is a site best suited for experienced climbers because of the height and access difficulty of the falls, which can have high snow accumulation near the bottom.
Cliff Drive in Mohawk
Ice walls occasionally form on Cliff Drive, but less commonly than at other sites with waterfalls. However, in proper wintry conditions, ice does form along the sheer cliffs of Cliff Drive near Mohawk in the UP’s Keweenaw Peninsula. These are suited for experienced climbers as the surfaces are steep and the ice isn’t formed as consistently or as regularly as waterfall ice climbing locations.
Safety tips for ice climbing
Just like any physical activity, especially adventure sports, ice climbing requires your full attention on what you are doing. Always listen to climbing instructors and follow guidelines and rules for each ice climbing site. Beyond that, there are basic safety tips to keep in mind:
- Make sure your gear fits and functions properly.
- Whenever possible, follow planned or directed climbing routes.
- Wear layers to give you control over your body temperature and moisture.
- Bring and drink enough water.
- Make sure you have a flashlight or headlamp – daylight fades fast in winter.
Image: Getty Images
