Is driving on a frozen lake safe?

DNR says to stay off any ice less than four inches thick. Four inches of clear blue ice are OK for ice fishing or other activities on foot, five to seven inches for snowmobiles and ATVS, eight to twelve inches for a car or small pickup, and twelve to fifteen inches for a medium truck.



People Also Ask

Ice is not considered safe to walk on until it is at least four inches thick. At that thickness, it is suitable for ice fishing, cross country skiing, and walking, and can support about 200 pounds. At five inches, it should be enough to hold a single snowmobile or ATV or about 800 pounds.

MORE DETAILS

Water currents, wind, and snow coverage will also make a difference in the integrity of the frozen surface. So once the weather and temperatures stabilize after several weeks, you can venture onto the ice and inspect its thickness. Ice is not considered safe to walk on until it is at least four inches thick.

MORE DETAILS

Water under the ice typically stays very cold, but above freezing. Most lakes that form ice at the surface stay at about 4oC most of the winter months.

MORE DETAILS

While ice fishing is the most common activity we see on frozen waters in Minnesota, that is not the only way to explore our frozen lakes on foot. Many Minnesotans enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, iceboating, windsurfing, and kiteboarding among other activities on the ice.

MORE DETAILS

Health risks Winter swimming can be dangerous to people who are not used to swimming in very cold water. After immersion in cold water the cold shock response will occur, causing an uncontrollable gasp for air. This is followed by hyperventilation, a longer period of more rapid breathing.

MORE DETAILS

If you can see the ground through the ice, then there's going to be warmer water under it. Out in the middle, the ice grows thicker over the cold dark depths. Also, ice always melts away from the shore first.

MORE DETAILS