Future Recreational Opportunities: Kona Hills Ice Park
Ice Climbing in the Midwest
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is arguably the crown jewel for Midwest ice climbing. Every winter Marquette and Munising transform into cold-season climbing meccas. The world-famous Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore boasts dozens of frozen waterfalls, including Curtis Falls, Dryer Hose, and the towering Grand Island Ice Curtains. Every February, the Ice Fest in Munising attracts climbers from across the nation.
Wisconsin holds its own too. Governor Dodge State Park and Willow River State Park near Hudson are regional favorites. Minnesota’s Gooseberry Falls and Robinson Park offer thrilling climbs for all skill levels, often with stunning views of Lake Superior.
A close up of the rock formations at Kona hills
Climbing in the Upper Peninsula
The Midwest boasts a vibrant community of climbing organizations dedicated to preserving access, promoting safety, and fostering the growth of both rock and ice climbing. In the U.P., the main groups are:
Upper Peninsula Climbers' Coalition (UPCC)
Based in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the UPCC is a non-profit Access Fund Affiliate committed to preserving and protecting climbing areas in the region. They collaborate with over 20 different landowners and have achieved significant milestones, such as the acquisition of Slug's Bluff—Michigan's first climber-owned crag. The UPCC also provides resources like bolting policies and organizes events to engage the climbing community.
Held annually in Munising, Michigan, the Michigan Ice Fest is one of the premier ice climbing festivals in the country. Since its inception in 1991 with just ten climbers, the event now attracts over a thousand participants from around the world. The festival offers clinics, demonstrations, and presentations, making it an excellent opportunity for both novice and experienced climbers to learn and connect.
The South Superior Climbing Club (SSCC)
A student organization at Northern Michigan University (NMU) dedicated to fostering a safe and inclusive rock climbing community for both students and local residents. The club organizes various events, including film screenings like Reel Rock 19, which showcases climbing films to inspire and engage the community.
Ice Climbing during Michigan Ice Fest at Kona Hills
Ice Climbing Considerations at Kona Hills
There is a unique opportunity to create an ice park at Kona Hills on the primary rock out cropping along US 41. This rock outcropping is approximately 200ft tall by 200ft wide and offers a wide range of climbing opportunities, naturally. With additional development and infrastructure, there is a wide range of climbing activities that could be facilitated at Kona Hills including:
Ice climbing
Mixed Climbing
Dry-tooling
Via Ferrata
While ice climbing in the UP is possible today, it is often limited by access. For example, some of the most unique climbs are at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but they are only climbable during Michigan Ice Fest, an annual one week event. Other prime climbing areas are often far away from population centers and harder to reach, especially during the winter months.
Kona Hills offers a centrally located climbing experience that can be used to teach and train climbers for more advanced skills.
Setting routes on the main cliff at Kona Hills
Learning from Other Parks
The Sandstone Ice Park in Sandstone, Minnesota, demonstrates how small communities can harness gravity-fed water systems to create reliable ice formations on former quarry walls. Similarly, Peabody Ice Climbing in Fenton, Michigan—one of the only dedicated ice parks in the Lower Peninsula—proves there's strong demand for controlled, community-focused climbing experiences even outside the traditional mountain regions.
A conceptual rendering showing ice farming at Kona Hills.
