Where is the Madeline Island Ice Road?
Usa, north-america
3 km
18 m
hard
Year-round
Ever dreamed of driving on water? Seriously? Then buckle up (or maybe don't, more on that later!) for the Madeline Island Ice Road in Wisconsin. Located on Lake Superior, this isn't your average scenic byway. We're talking about a 3 km (1.9 mi) stretch of frozen lake connecting Bayfield to La Pointe on Madeline Island. It's a winter-only phenomenon that replaces the usual ferry, and supposedly even shows up on official state maps!
This icy adventure isn't without its quirks. They mark the route with old Christmas trees, and the "road" is actually part of County Highway H. Sounds festive, right? But remember, this isn't a joyride. Speed limit is a crawl at 15 mph, and you need to keep a healthy distance from other cars.
Now for the important stuff. Before you even think about hitting the ice, roll down your windows all the way and ditch the seatbelt. Why? Because if you break through (and the lake is seriously deep in spots, from 50 to 250 feet!), you'll need to bail out fast. The road can be slippery and unpredictable, and the conditions change rapidly. Keep an eye on weather updates before you go! The route will be marked with evergreen trees, so stick to the trail to keep your car above water!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 3 km
- Max Elevation
- 18 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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