[Guest]

There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice!

Found this helpful table with guidelines on the minimum thicknesse of ice for a given load.  Obviously everyone has to make his/her own decision as to what they're comfortable with.  There are very few lakes in Colorado I would ever consider driving on.

4" of new clear ice is the minimum thickness for travel on foot.

5" is minimum for snowmobiles and ATVs.

8"- 12" for cars or small trucks.

12"-15" for medium pickup.

 

[epic]

This is a vary debutable topic, you will find most "experts" will say different stuff example:
The Old Farmer's Almanac safe ice - http://www.almanac.com/outdoors/safeice.php
The American Pulpwood Association - http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/icefish.html

If you use common sense you should be safe, I know alot of trout fisherman love the early morning bite and have to get out on that ice as soon as possible. Luckily these thin ice trout fisherman remain pretty shallow as trout head shallow for food.

 

[Guest]

there is one guideline missing on this chart - skating on thin ice with the wife! when doing that how much is too thin?

nice illustration on sensible guidelines.

 

[lucky7]

Thanks for the helpful chart! I was wondering how thick it needed to be for my snowmobile. Thanks again Don!