How thick does ice have to be before it is safe to walk on?
They say that ice thickness starts to be safe around 4-6″, but ice doesn’t freeze evenly across a pond or lake. It can easily be 5″ one spot and be less than 3″ just 2-3 feet away. Be wary of ice with snow on top because snow is a great insulator and will keep the ice from being very hard. The ice nearest the shore is very variable. That is where you have to be very careful! Here is a rundown of what the different thicknesses are suitable for: 3″ (7 cm) (new ice) – KEEP OFF 4″ (10 cm) – suitable for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and walking (approx. 200 pounds) 5″ (12 cm) – suitable for a single snowmobile or ATV (approx. 800 pounds) 8″ – 12″ (20 – 30 cm) – suitable for one car, group of people (approx.
