Lake Superior Circle Tour in Winter: Ice Fishing, Snowstorms & Remote Camping

What started as a route on a map became something much bigger — a journey through deep snow, frozen shorelines, unexpected road closures, and moments that felt almost too good to be real.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to travel Lake Superior in the winter… this is it.

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Munising, Michigan — Where It All Began

We started in Munising, Michigan, where winter feels alive in every direction.

The ice caves were surreal. Frozen formations shaped by wind and waves, glowing blue along the shoreline. It felt like stepping into something untouched.

And just like that, the trip began with a win.

We had luck ice fishing right away. The kind of start that settles you into the rhythm of a trip.

Cold hands. Quiet mornings. That feeling of this is exactly where we’re supposed to be.

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Westward — Ironwood & Black River Harbor

From there, we pushed west toward Ironwood and the Black River Harbor area.

We spent the day hiking through the most beautiful harbor and the national forest, chasing waterfalls more than five of them, each one unique.

The water ran deep with tannins, dark against the snow, while sunlight filtered through the trees and lit up the cedar trees and falls in a way that didn’t feel real.

We stopped for lunch in the forest. Venison over a fire, in the snow.

It doesn’t get better than that.

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Crossing into Wisconsin — Night Ice & Simple Joys

We arrived in Wisconsin just after nightfall and drove straight out onto the bay.

There’s something surreal about setting up fishing gear in the dark on Lake Superior. Headlights reflecting off endless ice, drilling holes with only the sound of the wind.

We prepped everything so we could hit the holes at sunrise. 

Back at the place we were staying, we opened the freezer…

Chocolate ice cream.

And somehow, that moment felt just as exciting as anything else.

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Sunrise, Fishing, and Food That Feels Earned

The next morning, we grabbed minnows and hit the ice as the sun rose.

We had luck again.

There’s something about early mornings on the ice. the brisk cold, the anticipation, the quiet confidence that comes with showing up.

Back at our place, we made trout lox.

It felt like a delicacy.
One of those meals that only exists because of where you are and the effort you are willing to put in.

 

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Slow Days & Unexpected Culture

The following day brought slower fishing, but more space to explore.

We leaned into the local culture and stumbled across something we never would have planned:

A figure 8 ice race with derby cars.

It was completely unexpected… and one of those moments you wish you could bottle up and revisit. Pure joy on the ice that afternoon.

We stopped at a local artesian well, filled up our water bottles and hit the road again.

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Split Rock Lighthouse: Cold Nights & Quiet Days

Next stop: Split Rock Lighthouse, this is a stop that has been on my bucket list for years.

We camped for two nights in freezing temperatures along the shore of Lake Superior.

Hiked the shoreline.
Cooked incredible meals.
Spent long stretches of time just being at camp and prepping for the remaining part of our trip.

It wasn’t about chasing anything.

It was about being there.

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Into Canada: A Whole New Level of Winter

Crossing into Canada brought us into another level of winter.

We fished out of a preset shanty — pre-drilled holes, a wood stove inside, and a port-a-potty (very exciting for a lady on the ice).

And the fishing delivered.

Perch.
The biggest pike either of us had ever seen.
And a walleye right as our ride pulled up to take us off the ice.

It was one of the coolest experiences.

We spent the afternoon hiking to an iconic overlook, standing there in silence, already talking about coming back in the summertime.

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Deep Cold, Whitefish & Wilderness Days

We stayed out in the Canadian wilderness for a few more days.

It was the coldest weather we had ever experienced.

Kyle snowshoed through deep snow, fished for whitefish, and leaned fully into the rhythm of winter life while I stayed back with the dogs. Some days, you just have to know your limits and call them what they are.

These were the days that I saw as the hardest but the most rewarding.

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Wawa: When the Plan Stops

Then came Wawa.

What was supposed to be a short stop turned into four days.

The highway closed due to severe weather.
And it stayed closed.

Snow piled nearly five feet high.
Subzero temperatures kept us inside.

We made the most of it making fish taco bowls, a full fish fry featuring for the first time, air fried fish. Slow meals, and slower days.

But by day two, cabin fever started to creep in, we couldn't watch any more Ice Road Truckers.

This is the part people don’t always talk about.

The waiting.
The uncertainty.
The lack of control.

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The Road Home: And Perspective

The last morning, the sun started to make an appearance, we decided to pack up and make a stop at Tim Hortons for good luck. An hour later, the roads opened and we started heading home.

The roads were still treacherous as we saw a few almost disasters with semi's and steep climbs through the North Shore.

And as we drove through the town that we planned to stay in, we realized:

We wouldn’t have been able to fish our next planned stop anyway.
The ice wasn’t safe.

Sometimes the plan changing… is exactly what was supposed to happen.

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Full Circle

We made it home late that evening, just as another snowstorm rolled in.

And somehow, it felt right.

We had done it.

A full Lake Superior circle tour in the winter.

Around what is the greatest lake in the world by surface area.

Not everything went to plan.

But that’s what made it unforgettable.

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Watch the Full Adventure

If you want to see the full experience the ice fishing, the exploration, the food, and everything in between:

Watch our full Lake Superior Winter Adventure on YouTube
https://youtu.be/CYDc49IkMPg?si=LxkGv_ZvSSSbED6Q