Minnesota · Hennepin County
Rice Lake Ice-Out Dates
The ice usually goes out of Rice Lake around April 2 — the first week of April. Earliest ever: March 4 (2024). Latest: April 30 (2018).
The 2027 season
Tracking resumes when the ice forms.
Every recorded ice-out
17 years on the books, 2002–2026. Newest first.
| Year | Ice-out date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | March 29 |
| 2025 | March 20 |
| 2024 | March 4 |
| 2023 | April 14 |
| 2022 | April 10 |
| 2021 | March 24 |
| 2020 | March 30 |
| 2019 | April 9 |
| 2018 | April 30 |
| 2017 | March 23 |
| 2016 | March 13 |
| 2014 | April 19 |
| 2012 | March 18 |
| 2008 | April 20 |
| 2005 | April 3 |
| 2004 | April 2 |
| 2002 | April 5 |
When Rice freezes over
Rice Lake usually freezes over around November 30 — the fourth week of November. Earliest on record: November 20 (2022–23). Latest: December 19 (2015–16).
A freeze-up crosses New Year, so each row is the winter it belongs to: the winter of 2025–26 froze on November 28. Newest first.
| Winter | Ice-in date |
|---|---|
| 2025–26 | November 28 |
| 2024–25 | November 30 |
| 2022–23 | November 20 |
| 2021–22 | December 1 |
| 2018–19 | December 8 |
| 2017–18 | December 7 |
| 2015–16 | December 19 |
| 2011–12 | November 22 |
| 2008–09 | November 23 |
| 2007–08 | November 25 |
| 2004–05 | December 11 |
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.