Manitou River Canyon Access
Access and Guidelines (2026)
For the 2026 ice season, climbing access in the Manitou River Canyon will be strictly limited to twelve designated dates. All trips will be coordinated by the Minnesota Climbers Association (MCA), with participation restricted to those who sign up in advance. Typically, the ice climbing season in Manitou Canyon runs from January through mid-March. The climbing dates for the 2026 season are as follows:
January: 17, 24, 25, 31
February: 1, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28
March: 7
Registration and Participation
To register send an email to manitou@mnclimbers.org with your preferred climbing dates. You will receive a waiver to sign and additional information about climbing in the Manitou River Canyon. Each trip will be limited to a maximum of ten climbers per day. Registration will be free of charge, with no associated fees.
Any cancellation, postponement, or modification of trip dates may be made by the landowner at any time and for any reason, with MCA receiving at least 24-hour notice of any changes.
Trip Confirmation and Rules
MCA will confirm participation with registered climbers two days prior to each trip, providing all necessary rules and trip information, which include:
No unregistered climbers, visitors, or additional attendees are permitted during trips.
Climbing and recreational access are only allowed on approved trip dates.
Parking is restricted to registered participants.
Participants must pack out all items and dispose of human waste appropriately.
Noise should be always minimized.
No campfires, drugs, or alcohol are allowed.
No dogs or other pets are permitted.
No commercial guiding
The MCA and others have worked diligently on this access success story. Deciding not to follow the rules of access established by the property owner, and outlined above, threatens access to this special place to all.