On Sunday, December 1st, 2024, Clean Lakes Alliance will kick off its 13th annual Mendota Freeze Contest. Calling on weather watchers and ice experts of all ages, the contest asks people to guess the official ice-on date for Lake Mendota. All entries to correctly guess the date will be entered to win a $1,000 gift card, courtesy of Lands’ End. Make your guess beginning on Sunday, December 1st, 2024.
Support clean, healthy lakes with Clean Lakes Alliance’s 12th Annual Loop the Lake Bike Ride, presented by Lake Ridge Bank. It’s an at-your-own-pace bike ride around Lake Monona on Saturday, June 15th that raises funds to protect and preserve Greater Madison’s lakes. Make a day of it while you enjoy entertaining and educational activities at many parks along the route.
Cyclists of all ages and abilities navigate the scenic 13.8-mile loop around Lake Monona.
Saturday, June 15th Starting & ending at Olbrich Park (3527 Atwood Avenue, Madison) Course open 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (optional group start at 9 a.m.) $45 per in-person rider (through June 13th), kids 10 and under ride free with a paid adult Get a group to ride – purchase 6 adult registrations for the group rate of $200 $50 per in-person rider (same-day registration on June 15th), kids 10 and under ride free with a paid adult
Fun and educational stops (see information below) Super soft t-shirt, compliments of Lands’ End Food cart item Free beer or seltzer, courtesy of Bell’s Brewery (21+)
Loop the Lake is more than a bike ride – it’s an opportunity for our community to connect with our lakes! Event proceeds will support Clean Lakes Alliance’s work to protect and improve our lakes through on-the-ground projects, educational programs, and water quality monitoring.
You can also choose to ride, walk, run, or paddle from anywhere, at any time! Register for the virtual option for $55 and we’ll mail your shirt!
Due to continued warm weather, Clean Lakes Alliance has made the decision to cancel all Frozen Assets events scheduled to take place on Lake Mendota. The decision was made after multiple days of drilling test holes in Lake Mendota, as well as speaking with experts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a local meteorologist, and local law enforcement officials. Events including skydiving, Kites on Mendota, snowshoeing, pond hockey, and the Mary B will not be at Frozen Assets this year.
Join Clean Lakes Alliance for our Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, February 4th, 2023 at 10 a.m. and run or walk ENTIRELY on a frozen lake!
Take a break from the hilly pavement and bring your stride to the ice. In this 5K race, participants will run, walk, or snowshoe across the ice on iconic Lake Mendota with beautiful views of downtown Madison. The course will start and end at The Edgewater, right in the heart of the Frozen Assets Festival!
Your registration to this event includes admission to the race, an event t-shirt, and optional chip timing! Online registration closes Monday, January 30th for in-person participants. Registration closes on Sunday, February 5th for virtual participants. The registration pricing schedule is below:
Best of all, your registration supports work to protect and improve water quality in our lakes!
The event will be chip-timed for runners, or sign up for the walk pass for an untimed event. The top three male and female finishers will receive awards. Or, register to participate virtually.
Early Packet Pick Up: Wednesday, February 1st, 3-7 p.m. Beat the rush on race day and pick up your packet early on 5th floor of The Edgewater (immediately inside The Edgewater’s entrance from the parking garage).
Same-Day Packet Pick Up: Saturday, February 4th, 8-9:30 a.m. INSIDE The Edgewater on Level 5 (immediately inside The Edgewater’s entrance from the parking garage on the ice rink level).
Virtual Participants: Clean Lakes Alliance will mail your t-shirt(s) and event materials to you in mid-February.
If you choose to participate virtually, your t-shirt(s) will be mailed to you in mid-February.
You may access the ice down The Edgewater outdoor stairs, indoors through The Edgewater, at the end of N. Carroll Street to the west, and from James Madison Park to the east.
By registering for this event, you agree to the Frozen Assets 5K Terms & Conditions of Entry. All entrants must read and agree to this declaration.
The annual Frozen Assets Festival will take place on Saturday, February 4th at The Edgewater. As always, this family-friendly daytime event will be FREE and open to all. Learn more at cleanlakesalliance.org/frozen-assets.
Race organizers reserve the right to alter the course due to factors including, but not limited to, ice conditions and weather. If conditions are deemed unsafe, the event may be canceled or moved to an alternate location. Participants will be notified of any changes ahead of the event.
All participants 21+ will receive a ticket for a free Michelob Ultra or Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer compliments of Wisconsin Distributors. This complimentary beverage will be available on the Boathouse Deck from 10:30 a.m. – noon.
The Market Café on the 7th floor and the Icehouse on the 5th floor will be open for coffee and grab-n-go breakfast starting at 7 a.m.
If you would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, email our Development Director Alex Vitanye at alex@cleanlakesalliance.org.
Is there parking available? Participants may pay to park at The Edgewater parking ramp. The ramp fills up quickly, so plan to arrive with plenty of time before the run/walk begins. You may also find street parking or use City of Madison parking ramps.
When can I check in or pick up my race packet? Participant check-in and registration the day of the event will begin at 8 a.m. on LEVEL 5 of The Edgewater. The run/walk will begin promptly at 10 a.m. on Lake Mendota.
What shoes should I wear? Participants are encouraged to choose their preferred footwear with weather, ice, and snow conditions in mind. Past runners and walkers have worn spikes, boots, snowshoes, and regular running/tennis shoes.
What is the course like? The 5K course begins off the end of The Edgewater’s pier. Runners and walkers will head out toward Picnic Point, past the Memorial Union, before looping back and finishing at The Edgewater.
Where can I leave personal items during the 5K? We strongly encourage you to only bring items you will use while walking or running. Any bags or gear left at The Edgewater or on Lake Mendota will not be locked or supervised. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
What happens if ice conditions are unsafe? Clean Lakes Alliance will make every effort to hold this event, while keeping safety in mind for all competitors. If conditions are deemed unsafe, the event may be cancelled or moved to an alternate location, with entrance fees being considered a tax-deductible donation to support our lakes. Participants will be notified of any changes ahead of the event.
What is the refund policy? Registrations are transferrable if you become unable to attend. In the event the Frozen Assets 5k Run/Walk needs to be canceled for weather, ice conditions, or any other circumstance, registrants can request a full refund for the price of the participation fee, excluding eventbrite fees.
We had so much fun at the Frozen Assets Festival and hope you did too! Whether you participated in person or virtually, we THANK YOU for supporting lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa!
On Wednesday, December 1st, 2021, Clean Lakes Alliance kicked off its 10th annual Mendota Freeze Contest. This year, Greater Madison experienced near-normal November temperatures. As of the first of the month, Lake Mendota, and the other four Greater Madison lakes, remained completely open. Despite this week’s mild temperatures, more than 165 years of data show the median freeze date for Lake Mendota is only a little under three weeks away on December 20th.
A warm temperature and a sunny sky greeted golfers participating in this year’s FORE! Lakes Golf Outing, held for a third year at Nakoma Golf Club. The event was made possible thanks to platinum sponsor, Johnson Financial Group; cart sponsor CG Schmidt; scoreboard sponsors Buye Law Office, Lands’ End, and Weed Man Lawn Care; and a host of hole and green sponsors.
Air temperatures below the freezing mark throughout the last week, combined with cold water helped Lake Mendota officially freeze on Sunday, January 3rd, 2021, as declared by the Wisconsin State Climatology Office. Lake Mendota, the largest lake in the Yahara Watershed, froze 27 days shy of January 30th – which is the latest date that ice-on has ever been declared (1/30/1932).
How much do you know about the frozen lakes that make Madison winters so special? Test your knowledge with this quiz! Or, read more about our Mendota Freeze Contest.
At Clean Lakes Alliance, we’re thankful to be part of a community that is surrounded by five beautiful lakes. Our Yahara lakes provide ecological diversity, recreational opportunities, economic benefits, and endless beauty to the Greater Madison area, its residents, and guests.
