Minnesota · Cook County
Caribou Lake Ice-Out Dates
The ice usually goes out of Caribou Lake around May 5 — the first week of May. Earliest ever: April 3 (2012). Latest: May 19 (1996).
The 2027 season
Tracking resumes when the ice forms.
Every recorded ice-out
28 years on the books, 1979–2026. Newest first.
| Year | Ice-out date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | May 5 |
| 2025 | May 6 |
| 2024 | April 12 |
| 2023 | May 12 |
| 2022 | May 14 |
| 2021 | April 16 |
| 2020 | May 3 |
| 2019 | May 12 |
| 2018 | May 8 |
| 2016 | April 30 |
| 2015 | April 27 |
| 2014 | May 15 |
| 2012 | April 3 |
| 2009 | May 8 |
| 2008 | May 7 |
| 2007 | April 25 |
| 2006 | April 19 |
| 2005 | April 20 |
| 2003 | May 5 |
| 2002 | April 25 |
| 1997 | May 6 |
| 1996 | May 19 |
| 1995 | May 6 |
| 1994 | May 7 |
| 1990 | April 26 |
| 1984 | April 26 |
| 1980 | April 27 |
| 1979 | May 17 |
When Caribou freezes over
Caribou Lake usually freezes over around November 18 — the third week of November. Earliest on record: October 26 (1976–77). Latest: December 9 (1998–99).
A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2025–26 froze on November 29. Newest first.
| Winter | Ice-in date |
|---|---|
| 2025–26 | November 29 |
| 2024–25 | December 1 |
| 2023–24 | November 26 |
| 2022–23 | November 20 |
| 2021–22 | November 24 |
| 2020–21 | November 18 |
| 2019–20 | November 8 |
| 2018–19 | November 14 |
| 2017–18 | November 10 |
| 2016–17 | December 2 |
| 2011–12 | November 20 |
| 2007–08 | November 22 |
| 2006–07 | November 19 |
| 2004–05 | November 25 |
| 2002–03 | November 13 |
| 2001–02 | November 28 |
| 1998–99 | December 9 |
| 1997–98 | November 18 |
| 1996–97 | November 12 |
| 1995–96 | November 8 |
| 1993–94 | November 10 |
| 1989–90 | November 16 |
| 1984–85 | November 6 |
| 1983–84 | November 25 |
| 1982–83 | November 13 |
| 1981–82 | November 24 |
| 1980–81 | November 10 |
| 1979–80 | November 9 |
| 1978–79 | November 17 |
| 1977–78 | November 23 |
| 1976–77 | October 26 |
Records: Minnesota DNR ice-in records. Last checked August 2026.
Late ice is unpredictable — no date on this page says the ice is safe.
Records: Minnesota DNR ice-out records. Last checked August 2026.