Minnesota · Clearwater County
Elk Lake Ice-Out Dates
The ice usually goes out of Elk Lake around April 19 — the third week of April. Earliest ever: March 26 (2012). Latest: May 14 (2013).
The 2027 season
Tracking resumes when the ice forms.
Every recorded ice-out
28 years on the books, 1988–2026. Newest first.
| Year | Ice-out date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | April 22 |
| 2025 | April 21 |
| 2024 | April 9 |
| 2023 | May 5 |
| 2022 | May 9 |
| 2021 | April 7 |
| 2020 | April 27 |
| 2019 | April 25 |
| 2018 | May 2 |
| 2017 | April 7 |
| 2016 | April 11 |
| 2015 | April 17 |
| 2014 | May 2 |
| 2013 | May 14 |
| 2012 | March 26 |
| 2011 | April 28 |
| 2010 | April 2 |
| 2009 | April 22 |
| 2008 | May 8 |
| 2004 | April 19 |
| 2003 | April 17 |
| 2000 | April 14 |
| 1994 | April 18 |
| 1993 | April 18 |
| 1991 | April 18 |
| 1990 | April 24 |
| 1989 | April 29 |
| 1988 | April 17 |
When Elk freezes over
Elk Lake usually freezes over around November 27 — the fourth week of November. Earliest on record: November 12 (2019–20). Latest: December 13 (2016–17).
A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2023–24 froze on November 28. Newest first.
| Winter | Ice-in date |
|---|---|
| 2023–24 | November 28 |
| 2022–23 | December 1 |
| 2019–20 | November 12 |
| 2017–18 | December 3 |
| 2016–17 | December 13 |
| 2012–13 | November 23 |
| 2008–09 | November 21 |
| 2003–04 | November 26 |
| 1999–00 | December 10 |
| 1993–94 | November 27 |
| 1992–93 | November 26 |
| 1991–92 | November 25 |
| 1990–91 | November 29 |
| 1989–90 | November 24 |
| 1988–89 | November 28 |
| 1987–88 | December 2 |
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.