Ice shoves: What are they and where to find them

SALT LAKE CITY — You may have seen the photos of beautiful ice shards at the edge of Utah Lake. But what are they and how did they get there?

The formations are called ice shoves because, well, they look like stacks of ice. Just piles and piles of what looks like could be shattered glass sitting at the edge of the lake. It happens when the surface of a lake turns to ice but breaks apart and gets pushed to the shore by waves.

However, some specific conditions have to be met in order for them to form. For starters, it has to be cold enough to freeze the top layer of the lake but not cold enough that the whole lake freezes. It also has to be windy enough for the lake to be able to push the ice shards to the shore. And lastly, if you are hoping to see them in their prime, it’s better if it hasn’t snowed recently, or else the ice will be covered and it won’t give the same effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Matthew Johnson (@ksl_matt)

 

When and where to find ice shoves

According to UtahHikingBeauty.com Utah Lake is the perfect place to see ice shoves. “It is a shallow lake, so it is likely to freeze, but large enough that the wind creates waves, cracking the ice and pushing it up in stacks.”

So if you are hoping to find them, that would be a good place to start.

On utahsadventurefamily.com Natalie Ockey shared some of her suggestions of ideal places to potentially see them for yourself.

Places like North Lake Park, American Fork Boat Harbor, Sandy Beach, and Vineyard Beach are free and provide easy access to Utah Lake.

Ockey also said the best time to go is when it’s been cold for a long time but hasn’t snowed.

Also, word of warning if you do go, walking on the ice is not advised. It can be dangerous as ice shoves form when the lake isn’t frozen all the way.

Though it has been an unusually warm winter this year, winter is not over yet. There may still be a chance to see them.