Those of you who do this every year, please tell me that it doesn't matter how cold it gets this winter, the ice will be off by May 25. My first trip was in 2018 and I seem to remember the ice was off around the middle of May which was very late in comparison to other years. It's just so cold right now with so much snow and ice that I'm getting nervous. But then again I'm in Illinois so maybe it's not too bad up in Minnesota? Tell me to calm down.

It'll be off by the 25th

AndyEck84: "I'm in Illinois so maybe it's not too bad up in Minnesota? "

I believe it was -50F the other day.

There are a great many folks going in 7 - 14 days prior to you and they all sure hope your concern is unfounded!

yep, 5/16.

I am going to say there has probably been less snow than usual this year. So I guess we have that going for us lol.

Going in the 14th, better be!

I was in the BWCA this past weekend and their was only 13 inches of ice on the lakes I visited and not much snow. That would lead me to believe you’ve got nothing to be concerned about.

Tony

I think you'll be just fine.

I'm pretty sure we have had less snowfall than usual this year. I'm sure sometime around early May ice should be out.

You will be fiiiine in may 25. Don’t let this cold snap fool you. A snap like this in late December or early January would be much more meaningful to ice I think. Mid-Feb is not ice making season in general. Feb 16 sun is like Oct 26 sun and everyday it gets stronger. I’m not a weather man and I didn’t sleep in a holiday inn last night, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

sns: "There are a great many folks going in 7 - 14 days prior to you and they all sure hope your concern is unfounded!"

+1.

My entry permit is for the 18th. I'm hoping that wasn't wildly optimistic :)

Calm down

Two things. No, three things.

1. He didn’t say what his entry lake is.
2. I’ve seen ice on Gunflint in June.
3. It doesn’t matter what the Feb temps are. It matters in March or April. A very cold April will delay ice out. A very cold Feb will kill Emerald Ash borers.

Tom

Too soon to tell but in general there has been less snow and ice than "normal". We are coming off this cold front but now temps will go back to normal to warm here for the next week or two. It will all be OK just wish it into existence.

Here is a pic of how thick the ice was near the end of the Gunflint a couple days ago. Only 20 inches.

Start going through your tackle box. The ice will be long gone. :)

tumblehome: "Two things. No, three things.
2. I’ve seen ice on Gunflint in June."

According to the DNR the last time Gunflint ice-out happened in June was June 3, 1963. Definition of ice out can be somewhat subjective but it always means the lake is at the very least navigable.

2014 was the latest ice out date for Gunflint in quite some time -- May 20. That winter was much colder early on during the prime ice making weeks.

MN Ice Out Database

thegildedgopher: "

tumblehome: "Two things. No, three things.
2. I’ve seen ice on Gunflint in June."

According to the DNR the last time Gunflint ice-out happened in June was June 3, 1963. Definition of ice out can be somewhat subjective but it always means the lake is at the very least navigable.


2014 was the latest ice out date for Gunflint in quite some time -- May 20. That winter was much colder early on during the prime ice making weeks."

Well that's weird. I wasn't born yet. Hmm.
I've been stuck on land for several trips due to ice on the lake. When it goes out, it goes fast.
Tom

I'd also add from my own recent experience of heading in early May (around the 10th or 12th) I've never had a problem going in Moose Lake. There was one year though that I hit ice on Knife around the 10th but it blew out the next day and the lake was clear afterwards.

hopping the same four my group. we are going in on may16th

ditto

I'm planning on an early May trip (10th). With La Niña affecting the weather this year, it looks like the temps in the BWCA may be above normal for 2021. April 25th would be good. I've not gone this early before (hiking or canoeing). What's the time frame for Skeeters/Black Flies after Ice goes out?

Generally speaking, they have been nonexistent when I've gone in at that time.

You're going to be just fine. The worst we've seen up here in the last 10-15 years has been May 15thish, depending on what lake you're tracking. Generally, you can expect ice out to be the last few days in April or the first few in May.

Ice was only 18” on Daniels Lake this last weekend.

I also am hoping for a normal ice out with my 5/13 permit. :)