Chip-chip, tap-tap, whack-whack. These are the sounds of ice climbers using crampons and ice axes to probe their way up frozen flows. These ice tools hold a climber’s feet and arms on precarious pillars of ice by digging in and catching an edge for climbers to leverage. If becoming ice Spider-Man sounds attractive, there are two fantastic climbing opportunities awaiting you this winter in the Northern Wilds. First up, Duluth Ice and Mixed Fest is being held February 6-7 in Duluth’s Quarry Park. Secondly, Nipigon Ice Fest is taking place March 6-8 on the Orient Bay and Kama Bay cliffs of Ontario’s Lake Nipigon region. Here’s how and why to tap into these two events, whether you just want to watch this extreme pursuit up close, or your inner snow leopard is telling you to go scale that icy cliff yourself.
Duluth Farms Ice
Duluth Ice and Mixed Fest is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026. The Duluth Climbers Coalition (DCC) hosts the event, and its aim is to get newcomers into ice climbing, while also providing peak ice conditions for climbers of all levels, thereby creating a community space for climbers to share techniques and learn from each other.
Duluth Ice and Mixed Fest features climbing clinics for people who want to try ascending ice but don’t own their own harnesses, crampons, ice axes, or ropes. Clinic attendees pay $85 for a three-hour session, with all necessary equipment included, and learn to climb with professional guides. DCC partners with Midwest Mountain Guides to conduct the clinics, thereby insuring top-level instruction and organized climbing processes for newbies. Beginners get a how-to lesson on using ice tools to start, then learn climbing motions, and finally try climbing real ice while being belayed by an instructor. The “mixed” part of the event name refers to climbing a combination of both frozen water and hard rock, all on the same climb.
DCC doesn’t only prioritize newcomers. Quarry Park is DCC’s pride and joy, and experienced climbers from around the region come to climb the quarry’s unique ice flows. “We have a few less clinics this year,” explains DCC board member Adam Fornear, “because we want there to be ice available for climbers who aren’t taking clinics too. We want to give people a taste of climbing, but we also don’t want to monopolize all the good climbs and ice for the clinics only. We want the whole ice climbing community to come together for a great day in Quarry Park.” Open climbing is available throughout the event alongside structured clinics with guides.
Quarry Park is not your average city park; the DCC has installed an ice-farming system here. Ice farming means pumping water to the top of the quarry, then dripping it back down during periods of freezing temperatures to create dramatic ice flows. This “farmed” ice can compensate for a lack of natural water seepage coming through the quarry walls in dry winters. Natural ice occurs at the quarry when excess water builds up within the rock, then seeps out. When dry falls precede winter, such as in the last two seasons, groundwater doesn’t saturate the rock enough for excess water to be released. In this instance, DCC can give Mother Nature a boost by dripping water down the best climbing locations with its pump system.
Spectators are also encouraged to come join the fun at Quarry Park. Acrobatic climbers scaling turquoise towers make for quite a show, and for good photography. Fornear recommends coming out even if you’re not going to climb. “For one, it’s a beautiful setting. We’re in an urban park, but you feel like you’re somewhere remote. You’re surrounded by frozen waterfalls and black rock, with white snow for contrast. We’ll have a campfire going, hot coffee donated by Duluth Coffee Company, crispy bacon, and other hot treats. You can walk a loop through the park and see all the climbing action up close, or hang out by the fire,” Fornear explains. Quarry Park is located in West Duluth at 1325 N. 59th Ave. W.
Finally, after the climbing is done on Saturday the 7th, there will be an afterparty at the American Legion at 5814 Grand Ave. from 6-9 p.m., with social time, speakers, pizza, and drinks. Tickets are $20, and come with a raffle ticket for gear prizes. You can also buy an “arm’s length” of raffle tickets, which Fornear promises will be measured off “by climbers 6 feet or taller.” The afterparty is a fundraiser for DCC, which uses the proceeds to help offset its hefty water bills from ice farming. For more information, check out the Duluth Climbers Coalition website at: duluthclimbers.org.
Dramatic Climbs North of Nipigon
Nipigon Ice Fest is Canada’s longest-running ice climbing festival. Going on its 40th year in 2026, the Ice Fest takes place at Orient Bay—a long stretch of cliffs north of Nipigon. While the “bay” is technically part of Lake Nipigon, it’s the climbing that steals the show here. “There are big hills and cliffs along this stretch of Highway 11,” explains Aric Fishman, director of Nipigon Ice Fest. The cliffs overlook a number of lakes and rivers between Lake Nipigon and Lake Superior. “It’s super gorgeous,” says Fishman.
The Orient Bay cliffs are designated as a conservation reserve. Climbing is permitted as one of the activities on the reserve. Another climbing location for the festival is Kama Bay, also in its own conservation reserve 20 minutes east of Nipigon.
Aric Fishman owns Outdoor Skills And Thrills guiding company (based out of Thunder Bay), which is both a sponsor of Nipigon Ice Fest and the event host. All of the climbing clinics at the festival are run by Fishman and his team on a volunteer basis. “We have a bunch of instructors and experienced climbers within the community who help. All of the climbing clinics are run through Outdoor Skills And Thrills,” says Fishman.
Nipigon Ice Fest is a fantastic way for people to come together as a climbing community. People of all skill levels can find ice climbs they can enjoy at Ice Fest. Clinics range from beginner to intermediate to expert. If you’ve never ice climbed, and want to see what it’s all about, this is your chance. “It’s all about everyone playing outside together,” says Fishman. “It’s kind of a reunion spot where people come from all over every year to climb together.”
Like in Duluth, there’s also an afterparty in the evening in Nipigon with presentations and games where people can win prizes and have a good time together. The afterparty takes place in the big hall at the Royal Canadian Legion in Nipigon Township.
Some of the climbs at Orient Bay are all-out waterfalls in the summer. These falls turn to ice in arctic temperatures. Fishman has been organizing Nipigon Ice Fest for 15 years now, and takes pride in the exquisite climbs and adventures that Nipigon Ice Fest presents. “It’s absolutely world-class ice,” says Fishman. “It’s a top destination in the world for ice climbing. It’s an amazing place to come and have fun.”
To attend a Nipigon Ice Fest climbing clinic, register beforehand at: outdoorskillsandthrills.com/nipigonicefest. Registration is limited and opens February 1 at 9 a.m. Clinic registration costs $50 CAD, and equipment rentals are provided for an additional $50 per person from Outdoor Skills And Thrills and The Wilderness Supply in Thunder Bay.
Some sports are so extreme, it’s not worth owning all your own equipment just to go once a year. “To go heli-skiing, you don’t own your own helicopter,” laughs Fornear. Ice climbing, likewise, is a gear-heavy sport. But thanks to these two climbing festivals in Duluth and Nipigon, you can get your feet wet on hard ice, even without your own personal ice axes and crampons. Take advantage of these two events to add ice climbing to your winter repertoire.