Thanks for your interest in signing up for the 2025 Michigan Ice Fest!  In this registration form you will find all of the options available at this year's festival including equipment checkout, classes, a chance to donate to some of our community iniatives, and more.

The registration fee is $70, which gets you into all of the events through out the week including the presentations and after parties. This fee is automatic and does not need to be selected on the form. 

We offer A LOT of options to help you create an ice fest experience that meets your interests.  Because of this, the registration form is pretty long and can occasionally be slow to load. Please be patient.

As always, if you have any questions, or if you just want to chat about climbing, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Equipment Fee

---

If you don't have your own equipment and need to use ours, you'll need to add the $70 Equipment Fee. This will get you access to gear for the entire weekend. The Equipment Fee for those who register at the door will be $100.

Please note that equipment is picked up each morning and returned each evening.  Checking out gear can involve a wait as we equip hundreds of people each day.  Please make sure you arrive on time to pick up your gear to maximize your climbing time.  

IMPORTANT: If you sign up for a class, gear is included for the day of your class only. If you plan on using gear the rest of the weekend you must pay the $70 Equipment Fee. Free Ground School classes do not receive gear.  If you do not plan on climbing outside of your class, you will not need to pay the Equipment Fee.

Local Guidebook

---

Featuring details and directions to hundreds of ice climbs in the Upper Peninsula, An Ice Climber's Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula is an invaluable resource for anyone visiting to climb.  It can make the difference between a classic climb and a long walk.

There is also a companion book available for summer climbing.  A Rock Climber's Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula features dozens of climbing locations and hundreds of routes across the U.P. If you order either book now it wil be waiting for you when you sign in at the festival.

Add Ons

---

A park entry pass is required for everyone entering Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  This individual pass cover one person during the festival if you are taking our free shuttle to classes, open climbing, or any of the climbs in the park.  Passes will also be available from the Park Service during the event. Individual Entry Pass $15

Alpinist magazine has been a suporter of Ice Fest fo year's and is offering the Ice Fest family a special deal on an annual subscription.  You can get a year's worth of the best climbing magazine around for $15 (regularly $59.95).

Ice Fest Initiatives

One of our major goals with the Michigan Ice Fest is building a bigger, better, stronger climbing community. We've grown from a few people, to a family that extends around the world. A lot has changed, and we want that change to be positive. So we are always working to make our community, and our world, a better place. Please consider supporting these causes that we are passionate about:

Carbon Neutral Ice Fest - Our world is being impacted by climate change and we can't ignore that we are part of the problem. Each year this event results in tons of carbon being released into the atmosphere. This is a problem we can fix, and you can help. Every person who drives to the event creates, on average, about 500lbs of CO2. We are encouraging everyone to try to reduce the total CO2 produced by filling every seat in your car and driving fewer cars to the festival. In addition to trying to reduce, since you have to get there somehow, we're giving you the opportunity to help us offset your CO2 emissions through a donation to our offset program. 100% of this donation will go to carbon offset projects through Alex Honnold's Honnold Foundation which helps expand equitable solar energy access in marginalized communities, reducing the need to for more detrimental energy sources. 

Detroit Outdoors at Ice Fest - In 2020 we started working with several organizations in the BIPOC community who are creating opportunities for people of color in the outdoors. We are working to make the festival more inclusive and open and have enjoyed working with organizers at Detroit Outdoors to reach this goal.  100% of donations will go to Detroit Outdoors to create opportunities for people of color at Ice Fest.

Classes

---

We do our best to provide classes for all skill levels, from the first timer to the more advanced climber. These classes are a great place to start if you have never climbed ice before, or to grow your skills if you are looking to move up to more challenging climbs. All of our climbing classes are full day and the price does vary. You can take classes every day if you'd like, and if you're just getting into ice climbing we'd suggest taking a progression of skills beginning with our Introduction to Ice Climbing class, followed by Intermediate Ice and finally a Backcountry Adventure to test the skills you've learned.

You can see a complete class schedule and class descriptions HERE.

All climbing classes include gear (boots, tools, and crampons) for the day of the class.  If you would like to use gear the rest of the weekend you'll need to select the equipment fee above. If you do not plan on climbing outside of your class, you will not need to pay the equipment fee.

 

PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT, RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

---

Please take a moment to read our digital waiver before you sign it below.  Your signature is required for participation at the event.

Click Here to Read the Waiver