Only True Winter Adventures Are Brave Enough to Drive This Ice Road in Wisconsin

Ice is great for drinks, skating, and sometimes fishing, but for driving on? Some people in Wisconsin sure think so!

Say hello to the Madeline Island Ice Road located in the heart of Chequamegon Bay in Wisconsin...

This seasonal road, which is also called the Bayfield Ice Road, spans across nearly 3.4 miles of Lake Superior and links the city of Bayfield, Wisconsin to La Pointe on Madeline Island according to onlyinyourstate.com. While traveling on it may be a thrilling, unique adventure, it is not for the faint of heart!

RELATED: 4 Magical Frozen Experiences You Need to Have in Wisconsin This Winter

For those brave enough to take on the Madeline Island Ice Road, the rewards are great. The views are breathtaking, with the frozen expanse of the bay stretching out as far as the eye can see. The crisp, clean air is invigorating, and the sense of adventure is palpable, but the road can be slippery and treacherous, with hidden cracks and fissures lurking beneath the surface. It takes a steady hand and a cool head to navigate these icy roads safely.

Important Things to Remember About Driving on the Madeline Island Ice Road

One of the most important things to remember when driving on the Madeline Island Ice Road is to take it SLOW. The ice is much less forgiving than pavement, and even a small mistake can have serious consequences. It's important to give yourself plenty of time to react to any hazards that may come your way.
It's also important to make sure your vehicle is properly equipped for the conditions. This means having good winter tires and making sure they are properly inflated. It's also a good idea to carry a spare set of tires, just in case.

2 Fascinating Facts About the Madeline Island Ice Road

While I'm still unsure about purposely driving on a frozen lake, I did discover two fascinating things about this ice road that may convince me to try it.

1. Madeline Island Ice Road is the only ice road that appears on official state maps according to onlyinyourstate.com.
2. Repurposed Christmas trees are placed along the Ice Road for a very important reason. See the trees marked by arrows in the picture below? Each year they are placed along the road to not only mark the road edges for safe travel but they are also placed in specific distances and patterns to help travelers distinguish mile markers.

Other Ways to Travel the Madeline Island Ice Road

If driving a vehicle across a frozen lake is just too extreme for you, perhaps biking, skiing, snowshoeing, skating, or traveling by this cool Windsled is more your speed?

To discover more cool things to do on Madeline Island this winter, or to stay up to date on the ice road conditions,  click here.