Winter outdoor recreation enthusiasts have another reason to gear up and hit the trails: The Winona Ice Park opened for the 2024 season to the delight of climbers across the region and beyond.
The La Crosse Tribune shared tales from the icy bluffs in a recent feature, “New and experienced climbers find challenges, motivation at Winona Ice Park“, including participants who braved near-zero-degree temperatures to take on the Midwest’s largest ice wall. Members of the Chicago Mountaineering Club traveled more than four hours to climb in Winona.
More than 100 climbers attended opening weekend, most of whom traveled to Winona from hundreds of miles away. According to Big River Climbing Guides owner and Winonan Eric Barnard, each visiting ice climber can spend up to $375 per weekend in the Winona area, causing a ripple effect on the local economy.
The Winona Ice Wall will also be the center location of the first-ever Winona Ice Fest, February 22-25, 2024, a collaborative event between the City of Winona, the Recreation Alliance of Winona, and Big River Climbing Guides in an effort to celebrate the Winona Ice Park and ice climbing with friends new and old. Attendees can participate in group climbing clinics, workshops, socials in downtown Winona businesses and more.