How much ice is enough ice?

[Mike Stark]

This is from the MN DNR. You can find more info here.

Note: these guidelines are for new, clear solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe. White ice or "snow ice" is only about half as strong as new clear ice. Double the above thickness guidelines when traveling on white ice.

[Rick G]

Even know I have been on 2in of ice more times than I an care to remember, I feel much better on 3-4in

[pushbutton]

Obviously different for everybody, also how/where/ and on what body it was formed; but personally wont venture out on much less than 4 unless i know the area well....really like 5 as that way the wheelers start buzzing around "testing" the ice for me. Usually it is a matter of a day or two from 3 to 5 inches anyway....I can wait

[Tom Sawyer]

There are so many variables with ice. Obviously the body of water your venturing out on; currents from not only being a river system, but inlets, outlets, or springs all play a big role in my decision. Water depth, structure and vegetation beneath and above the ice will also effect, not only depth, but ice strength.

Personally standing on 4 inches of new ice makes me feel a lot more comfortable, then standing on a foot of last ice. Just keep in mind ice is never 100% safe. You can drop through with a vehicle on 2 feet of ice from pie shaped cracks, or many other things that can weaken ice suddenly. Most of which you may never see under the snow.

Creepy!

[ice_medic]

For me personally 3-4 inches of ice before i will go walking out on the lake. Either way i am very careful an first. I am always checking the ice for thickness about every 20 feet and paying very close attention to what is going on around me for sounds and what the ice looks like all around me. I am looking for cracks and water coming up and discoloration of the ice. When the ice first comes on and when it is very late season i will not venture out much past dark because it makes seeing what is going on around me difficult

[dfv87]

I am never in a rush to be first on the ice or first with my ATV or first with my wheel house... I let someone else be first and I be alive...

[Invader440]

4 inches minimum and I won't go out on early ice without the spud bar.

[fishnowworknever]

Yeah that graphic is great, but how much ice do I need before I can drive an 18 wheeler out there?

[20lbSloughShark]

I think Ice road truckers once said somewhere in the 30" range depending on your load.

[Ballyhoo]

Also stay away from snow drifts. Walk on bare ice. I have seen 6" ice on the bare ice and only 4" under a snow drift. It insulates and keeps it from freezing.

[OnAFly]

I almost learned my lesson on the snow drifts the hard way a couple years ago. Went from 4" easy to about 1".

[Dylan8351]

Anything over 2" will work for me but I need to know the area. I stay shallow and never venture out without a spud bar and a buddy with the rescue gear. Plus, you can beat using your head and knowing your limits.

[ski_otter]

I like about 2.5, but with safety gear and flotation, and hitting the ice with a spud with almost every step

[Cyberfish]

6 inches + I am in no hurry, it will be a long winter

[deerminator]

3-4 inches but I stay clooose to shore and in shallow water then. And most often, I am just setting up tip ups for pike in about 4 feet of water and then walking the 100 feet or so back to shore to watch them. I like that early ice action for shallow pike. But as a previous poster said, I use common sense and know my limits.

[BrandonN]

1.5" with a sheet of plywood! Just kidding don't do that lol!

Most of the time the difference between 2-3" and 4-6 is a day or two so its not that big of deal for me. 4-6" is a safe bet because you still may run into areas that are 2-3" as ice is never uniform.