The Belle Isle Ice Tree Drive-By Guide

The Ice Tree Lives!! 2012 update: As of 12/28/2011, this year's Ice Tree is up and running. It's not much to look at yet, but we're just starting a cold patch, so it should be looking good by New Year's Day.


So you ended up on my site looking for the famous Ice Tree, but I all I had was a few pictures of ice-dipped branches, dogs, and some buildings and flowers. Congratulations, I added this page for you. I'd rather that you were looking to spend a whole day exploring the island's many other wonders, but if you must do a drive-by, here's the deal:

The Ice Tree is on the Detroit side of the island, east-northeast of the bridge. (I recommend going to the Tim Horton's at Jefferson and Grand Boulevard for a to-go coffee or cocoa before you get on the bridge.) You can see the Ice Tree from the bridge crossing over, but you can't drive directly there. Why not? Because it is on a one-way road that rings the island not going the way that you want to turn. So just follow the one-way road around the island. It is a fine tour for the money. You'll pass many other cool things along the way. (You can cut across the interior of the island, but you'll miss the best views if you do.)

After 5-10 minutes, you will have made your way around the ring road to where the Ice Tree stands. You can park along the side of the road and take pictures out your window, or you could even get out of your car and walk around. It's perfectly safe...I do it all the time and I am a girl (well, an old girl). The breeze off the Detroit River is refreshing this time of year.

Before the Ice Tree on Belle Isle, there was the Ice Fountain on Washington Boulevard. A photo...

And a postcard...

I hope you get home after your drive-by and find yourself thinking, "That was pretty great", and then maybe find yourself coming back again in warmer weather to ride your bike, or watch the sunset, or bring your kids to the playground or zoo or beach, or walk your dog. Welcome to Belle Isle.

2010 model