Eben Ice Caves Trailhead

Category: Cave

Address: Frey Rd, Deerton, MI 49822, USA

Reviews

Sabrina Marie

Mar 1, 2022

A bit smaller than I expected, but definitely a spot to see. Snow cleats are a must, it starts to get uphill and slippery once you make it to the ice cave. The trail to the spot is easy to walk. It's better to go earlier in the day too, it started getting crowded around 2-3pm

Tj Dunklee

Feb 20, 2022

Beautiful! Everyone can move at their own pace. Ice cleats are a must to go in the cave. Dog and kid friendly. Just sit down and slide on the way out! No risk of a fall that way, and it's FUN! From pictures I have seen weekends are busy. We went on a Monday, and there were a dozen people.

Patti Wontorcik

Feb 13, 2022

The ice formations are definitely worth the hike! It's pretty easy going until the very end, then it's quite hilly. It's recommended to wear spikes on your shoes, but don't let that stop you from going! I didn't and was able to make the hike.

Stephen Shelley

Jan 18, 2022

Eben ice caves is a fantastic place to visit. That being said, it is VERY TOUGH to get to if you don't have spikes on your boots/shoes or have small children with you. If you want to go, please make sure you have a good set of spikes (plenty of options on Amazon) with you. Also, it's about 2 miles hiking/walking round trip to see it so be prepared for that as well. It's a beautiful hike but might be worth bringing water or a small snack.

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Questions & Answers

Will the ice caves still be there this upcoming weekend?

Mari Fly | May 2, 2018
Rebecca Caldwell | May 3, 2018

I would suggest calling a local park office or visitors center to ask. Thats what was suggested to me when i traveled to the caves. It's also good practice to check that conditions are safe on the day or weekend of the trip before making the hike.

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Are the ice caves still open?

Danielle hartjes | May 2, 2018
Michael Landis | May 3, 2018

They are always open. It is a seep that trickles over the edge in the warmer months and the trail is dirt. There is still an ice cave there. Wednesday was the coldest day this week with a high temperature of 23 so there should be good ice. On warmer days the trail might get slushy.

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Is the cave open today?

Gary SanSouci | May 2, 2019
Jason Merritt | May 3, 2019

Everyday

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Are there bathrooms somewhere on the trail or at the trailhead?

Alexandra Ward | May 1, 2021
Jessica Ostrye | May 2, 2021

There are port-a-potty's at the trailhead

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Can you rent spikes to walk the ice caves

David Obenauf | May 1, 2020
David Wachter | May 2, 2020

No don't go!

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Are the ice caves situated best for an early sunrise or sunset? Not sure which way everything faces.

Terrie Sanders | May 2, 2019
Terrie Sanders | May 3, 2019

Thanks for the helpful tips!!

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Can you rent ice cleats up there?

Pam Melson | May 2, 2019
kathy Peterson | May 3, 2019

No...bring your own.

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How far is the walk from car to caves?

Calvin Smith | May 2, 2018
Rebecca Caldwell | May 3, 2018

I dont know exactly how far, buy i can tell you it is not easy. Plenty of people expect it to be and are not prepared, just wearing, for example, jeans and tennis shoes. It will be quite steep and slippery. Wear the best footwear you can (simple crampons would great!)

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Is there cost to see the ice caves

Lisa Call | Mar 2, 2022
Penny | Mar 3, 2022

No.

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How are the conditions of the ice caves this month. With the warm winter I was just wondering.

Vicki Fall | May 1, 2021
Holly Smitty | May 2, 2021

They are pretty. It is a very extreme hike ...Wear cleets

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Does anyone know whether ice has formed inside the caves by this time (December 21, 2020)?

Pruthwiraj Santhosh | May 1, 2021
Courtney Hartranft | May 2, 2021

I just left the caves and there was ice. Prepare for a slippery hike. Use appropriate footwear.

When is the best time to go see this? I was planning for around christmas?

Heather Teets | May 1, 2021
Courtney Hartranft | May 2, 2021

Now is a great time!

What do you need for foot wear and how long is the tour?

Annette Gruss | May 1, 2020
C. m | May 2, 2020

No tour that I'm aware of. Blue moon bar rents yak traks.

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Is it worth the drive from Illinois tomarrow?

Alexander Waldal | May 1, 2020
James A. “Jim” Sturgill | May 2, 2020

Absolutely. Plan time to explore the area while you're there.

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Are all of the roads on the way to the caves paved

Bahh Crue Productions | May 1, 2020
Alex S. | May 2, 2020

There is at least one small patch that is not paved, but everything is covered in snow and ice so it is hard to tell.

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Will the steel cleets on my snowshoes be sufficient?

Christine Emmert | May 2, 2019
John Kruze | May 3, 2019

The trail can be quite tight for snowshoes, it's typically pretty narrow once a few hikers have been through. Unless you plan on blazing your own snowshoe trail use slip on ice cleats.

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How late into the spring do the ice caves normally last?

Rick DeHaan | May 2, 2019
Mayank Gandhi | May 3, 2019

End of March would be the limit, IMO.

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Is the snow to deep to walk threw this weekend?

Wanetta Rex | May 2, 2019
Peggy Schmidt | May 3, 2019

No, it is packed down by all the foot travel on the path. Good cleats are a must for walking into the caves!

I am planning to visit the Ice caves with my family February 16-17 Any guide available?

Honorio Valdes Murua | May 2, 2019
Mark Noble | May 3, 2019

Many questions have been answered. But here we go. Better have a decent set of tires on your car cause the road isn't plowed right down to rock. The blue moon bar before heading down the road rents the ice cleats there $7 and a refundable $13 deposit. It's about a mile walk from the street side parking. As you see the trail head and turn left down another road there us normally a turn around plowed at the end. Give yourself time to walk to it and walk out remember it gets dark around 6pm and you dont want to walk out in the dark. The trail is well traveled but there are some areas that lean towards cliffs and some hills. Nothing too tough but elderly or anyone with physical limitations wont make it without alot of help. Anyone without cleats can make it down there but you will end up on your backside alot and wont be able to walk into the caves or around them. Have fun there will be many people there so expect some others. Probably wont get a picture without strangers in it.

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How long it takes to walk to the caves?

ayelen wacker | May 2, 2019
Scott Lange | May 3, 2019

At least 20 minutes. It's just over a mile there with ice everywhere so you have to take it slow

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are they open during the week, from the farmers parking area?

Vicki Miller | May 2, 2019
Mark Noble | May 3, 2019

Never Closes

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Hey guys! Does anyone know if the Ice caves will be open January 4-6?? Need to know asap. Thanks! :)

Meg Kanuszewski | May 2, 2019
Heather Crandall | May 3, 2019

They are always open. The question is how well the ice formation off of the rock walls/cliffs have formed. Some fluctuating temps help, some melting with refreezing.

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How early in the winter can it be seen! Thinking of going before Christmas this year

Randy Linton | May 2, 2019
Tristan Summers | May 3, 2019

It all depends on weather but they are generally best in February.

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Just curious.. Do these still exist in the summer months? I'd like to take someone for their birthday

satina waites | May 2, 2019
Jacob Tasiemski | May 3, 2019

No. It's only in the winter time.

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Can you rent ice cleats from somewhere close to Eben ice caves?

Holly Rucinski | May 2, 2018
Joel Miley | May 3, 2018

Not that I am aware of. There are some small businesses along the drive; however, the Wal-Mart in Escanaba had some. $8 a pair. What our family did not have, the Wal-Mart did.

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