Winona Ice Park

The Winona Ice Park is a premier ice climbing destination due to its location within the city of Winona, trail accessibility, and the quality of ice. This attraction is not only for climbers, though, many hikers and snowshoers have been enjoying the trail up to the park and watching the climbers in action.

The Winona Ice Park, located within Sugar Loaf Park, is a manmade ice climbing park set high above the Mississippi River with wonderful views of the city of Winona below. Using the stone walls of an old quarry and hundreds of feet of hose, which slowly shower water down the cliff, the Winona Ice Park is one of just a few of its kind in the nation.

Follow the Winona Ice Park on Facebook for timely updates and seasonal information.

The Winona Ice Park and Sugarloaf Bluff are managed by the Recreation Alliance of Winona in partnership with the City of Winona. Each year volunteers put in 1000s of hours to improve trails, manage erosion, remove invasive species, restore bluff top prairies, manage the fixed anchors on the Sugarloaf, and create the Winona Ice Park. The Winona Ice Park(WIP) is one of only 5 ice parks in the United States and hosts over 100 routes, is up to 100ft tall, and located 600ft above Winona and the Mississippi River valley.

Visitors travel from as far as Texas, North Carolina, Kansas, and beyond to experience the man made ice flows at the WIP as well as the amazing offerings in Winona. This park feature drives winter tourism to the Winona region and creates an engaged user group who gives back to our community in both financial and volunteer means. We feel nothing sums up the Minnesota winter experience more than a day out climbing on frozen ice formations!

To access the WIP begin at the Sugarloaf trailhead and hike to the saddle, with way-finding signage, and follow the signs up to the ice park. Expect a 12-20 minute hike to get to the park.