About Michigan Ice Fest
Michigan Ice Fest is the beating heart of Midwest ice climbing, headquartered in Munising on the doorstep of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Every winter the cliffs sprout more than 150 named ice routes — curtains up to 200 feet tall forming directly above Lake Superior — and the festival has grown into one of the largest gatherings of ice climbers in the country.
The multi-day February event packs in introductory and advanced climbing clinics, demo gear from major manufacturers, athlete presentations and guided outings, with festival headquarters at Central Elementary School on Chocolay Street. Beyond festival weekend, the organization runs a winter-long guide service and education program: private and small-group guided ice climbing days, gear rentals covering boots, crampons and tools, and instruction scaled from never-touched-an-axe beginners to climbers pushing into steep terrain.
No other operation in the Midwest offers this depth of ice climbing infrastructure — professional guides, a full rental fleet and a formation-rich venue minutes from town. For travelers, it means a first taste of ice climbing at Pictured Rocks is a booking away rather than an expedition, and the festival itself has become a bucket-list winter weekend for climbers across the country.
