Ice Road in Bayfield

Each winter, the bay between Bayfield and Madeline Island freezes up so solid it basically flips from ferry lane to full-on Ice Road, turning Lake Superior into one giant, frosty playground. When the ice gets thick enough — and it usually does — you can snowshoe, skate, or even cruise your car across the two-mile stretch, cruising past evergreens like you’re in some trippy Northwoods snow globe. Just make sure to check the ice report before you go; this is the world’s largest freshwater lake, not a backyard rink.
Time your trip with the Bayfield Winter Festival and you can join the legendary Run on Water — a 4.3-mile there-and-back adventure where folks ski, run, walk, snowshoe, skijor, skate, or bike straight across the lake. It’s one of