Red Cliff Ice Cave Tour with Meyers Beach Kayaking in Bayfield

Bayfield, Wisconsin, sits on the southern edge of Lake Superior, a rugged zone where water meets ancient rock in a raw, awe-inspiring natural display. Meyers Beach Kayaking offers an unforgettable approach to this striking landscape with their Red Cliff Ice Cave Tour. This experience opens a window into a unique physical and geological phenomenon: ice caves that sculpt the imposing cliffs along the shoreline. Unlike the summer kayaking excursions, this tour spotlights the winter’s icy artistry—the caves form from freezing spray and snow over determined rock faces, creating translucent blue chambers and intricate icy formations.

The Red Cliff Ice Cave Tour is anchored in one of the region’s most distinct geological features, the Apostle Islands’ red sandstone cliffs. These cliffs bear witness to millennia of Lake Superior’s shifting power, marked by layers of iron-rich sediment that give the rock its characteristic rusty hue. The caves carve out an otherworldly passage through that sandstone, where frost has locked itself into towering columns and delicate sheets.

Guided by Meyers Beach Kayaking’s team, visitors glide quietly beneath overhangs and through narrow openings, allowing for up-close encounters with the frozen environment. Guides provide both navigational expertise and stories about the area’s natural history and Ojibwe heritage, which is deeply tied to these lands and waters.

In winter, winds whip across open water and layered ice, so trip leaders monitor conditions closely to ensure safety. Small group sizes are a hallmark here, allowing for a more intimate experience amid the cliffs and ice. Accessibility is enhanced with local knowledge of the safest entry points and the best vantage spots.

Meyers Beach Kayaking has earned strong praise for their knowledgeable guides and well-paced tours that suit both newcomers and seasoned paddlers seeking a rare seasonal spectacle. Whether it's the hypnotic glow inside the caves or the crisp silence of Lake Superior in winter, this tour offers a tangible connection to one of the Great Lakes’ most dramatic environments.