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Ice caves can be one of the great natural wonders of the wintertime. One of the best places to explore the wonders of winter is in Michigan's often-overlooked Upper Peninsula. The Eben Ice Caves are one of the greatest hidden gems in the peninsula that everyone should visit, given a chance.
People who love the grand outdoors can find the Upper Peninsula to be the perfect holiday destination. The Upper Peninsula is located on Lake Superior and has some of the best coastlines of the lake on the American side of the lake. During the summer, take a circle tour of Lake Superior and discover North America's greatest lake.
Why The Eben Ice Caves Are Worth Visiting
The remarkable Eben Ice Caves (also called Rock River Canyon Ice Caves) are located in the Upper Peninsula's Rock River Canyon Wilderness up in the Hiawatha National Forest. The national forest is managed by the Forest Service, so visit their website for more visitor information.
The best time to come and visit the Eben Ice Caves is obviously in the winter after the stunning ice formations form. The caves are located near Munising and are one of the most rewarding places in the Upper Peninsula to visit in the winter.
Many people come to the Rock River Canyon Wilderness to see the Eben Ice Caves. They are not true caves. Instead, they are made up of vertical walls of ice that form after the weather cools by the water seeping through the sandstone bedrock cliff edge.
The intermittent leaks create an impressive mosaic of ice stalactites over the entrance to the bedrock undercuts. As the water runs over the edge of the cliff, it freezes, forming the eye-catching "ice caves" one sees in the winter. The small cliff has the perfect combination of slow snow melt and frigid temperatures.
Return to the Eben Ice Caves in the summer, and one will only see algae-covered rocks and dense foliage.
Ice Climbers are allowed to climb the ice formations.
How To Visit The Eben Ice Caves (& What To Wear)
The trailhead to the Eben Ice Caves is an easy drive from Munising. There are yellow signs on Eben Road and Frey Road that read "Ice Caves." The trail to the Eben Ice Caves passes across an open field toward a wooded path.
- Entry Fee: None - Free To Visit
- Trail: Around 0.75 Miles
The hike from the parking lot to the Ice Caves is around 0.75 miles or just over a kilometer. The first quarter mile is flat and through a farmer's field. While this is not a long distance, it is winter.
Check the weather before heading to the trail. Being in the Snowbelt, it's never a bad idea to bring snowshoes along - they may be needed if it has recently snowed and there hasn't been time for it to be compacted down. Alternatively, wear ice cleats (around half the people visiting the Eben Ice Caves wear ice cleats, and around half of the people wish they wore them).
Take Ice Cleats And/Or Snowshoes
According, to Michigan.org, the ice cleats enable visitors to walk around inside the ice caves with reasonably sure footing.
There may be a concession stand offering hot beverages and snacks open when visiting.
What Makes Michigan's Upper Peninsula An Outdoor Paradise
Michigan's Upper Peninsula offers a journey into the wild outdoor side of the Great Lakes (the side one may associate with Canada). The Upper Peninsula is massive, sparsely populated, right in the middle of the Snowbelt from the lake effect snow. Even though the Upper Peninsula has around 29% of the land of Michigan, it has only around 3% of the population of the state (around 300,000 residents).
- Population: 300,000 Residents (3% of Michigan)
People who live in the Upper Peninsula are called Yoopers (derived from "UP-ers"). They have a strong regional identity.
The Upper Peninsula is separated from the mainland of Michigan (the Lower Peninsula) by the Straits of Mackinac. The Upper Peninsula is bounded by Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan.
The peninsula receives more snow than most of the eastern USA and is heavily forested. It is an outdoor paradise with a large range of wildlife, including moose, wolves, deer, black bears, eagles, coyotes, foxes, owls, and other animals.