Hiawatha National Forest leaders are asking for the public’s help in answering some pressing questions concerning a prominent outdoor recreation offering in Alger County: Has the Rock River Canyon Wilderness — and, in particular, Eben Ice Caves — become a victim of its own popularity? And, if so, what can and should be done about it?

According to the U.S. Forest Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that manages the Hiawatha National Forest, Eben Ice Caves has experienced an increase in visitors in recent years.

Using trail counters and data sampling, local Forest Service staff report that about 4,700 people visited the ice caves last winter — including more than 400 on the busiest day. There were 13 days with more than 100 visitors.

The growing popularity of Eben Ice Caves is no surprise to Forest Service staff.

“It’s just a very beautiful place,” said Nate Carle, district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service’s Munising Ranger District. “I think people like to get out and recreate in nature, and they see a lot of [exposure on] social media nowadays, and it draws people to the area. They want to see it too.”

The increase in visitors to the ice caves has prompted some local residents to ask the Forest Service about its strategy in dealing with the crowds while maintaining the characteristics required of a designated Wilderness Area.

In response to these queries, Hiawatha leaders have initiated a process the Forest Service calls the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council Framework, or IVUMC. The goal of this process is to outline strategies and actions to better manage recreation in the targeted area.

This framework, Carle said, is rooted in public involvement.

“We take the public’s opinion into account whenever we try to move forward with any potential action,” he said. “What does the public think? Before we propose anything, let’s gauge what the public feels and thinks and see what their input is.”

The IVUMC timeline is made up of four stages. Each of these stages includes three or four concrete steps.

The Forest Service indicates that the conversation around the Rock River Canyon Wilderness and Eben Ice Caves is currently in the second stage of the process: “What: Define Visitor Use Management Direction.”

This stage includes three steps: define desired conditions for the project area; define appropriate visitor activities, facilities and services; and select indicators and establish thresholds.

A major component of this part of the process is gathering opinions, desires and ideas from the public. To facilitate these goals, the Forest Service hosted two public engagement workshops last week, one in Chatham on September 11 and another in Munising on September 12.

About 30 community residents attended the meeting in Chatham, along with eight Forest Service staff members. Those in attendance participated in three breakout sessions: Wilderness 101, which examined the federal Wilderness Act of 1964 and its ramifications on planning and intervention; Ideal Experience; and Opportunities/Changes. Insights shared by community members in these engagement workshops will help determine the next steps in the process.

“I’m super happy with the turnout,” Carle said. “The staff put a lot of effort into this to make it happen and make it a good event, so it’s nice when people actually show up. I’m really happy that people were so engaged.”

The U.S. Forest Service welcomes input in its planning effort through December 31, using several methods: Electronic form: Submit comments online at https://forms.office.com/g/zNfPa6h3My.

Send an email to SM.FS.hiawathanf@usda.gov. Add the subject line: Comment for Rock River Canyon Wilderness/Eben Ice Caves.

Mail a letter to Hiawatha National Forest, Attn. Rock River Canyon Wilderness, 820 Rains Drive, Gladstone, MI 49837.

Drop off a letter in person at any Hiawatha National Forest District Office.

Dawn Rondeau of Eben participated in the meeting in Chatham and shared some of her ideas to make a visit to Eben Ice Caves and the Wilderness Area in general even more enjoyable for outdoor enthusiasts.

“I’d love to see more signage,” she said. “We happen to live on the road [to the ice caves], and people just wander around. They stop at the New Moon to ask for directions. They stop wherever. Signage is very important.”

She said effective partnership with the Forest Service could lead to more use of the Rock River Canyon Wilderness — and more benefits for the surrounding community.

“We need more things in Rock River Township and this area,” she said. “There’s not a lot of industry; there’s not a lot of growth. … The ice caves are exploding in popularity in the winter, but that place is absolutely stunning up there in the fall. There’s fishing. You can camp there. You can light a fire as long as it’s manageable. … It’s an undiscovered mecca, stunningly beautiful. For me, it’s exciting to think about.”