Shoshone Indian Ice Caves
BY DANIELLE JONES
description
The Shoshone (pronounced Sho-sho-nee) Indian Ice Caves are subterranean caves that were created from volcanic flows a thousand years ago. They lie beneath the desert, and present the surrealism of ice inside of a volcano.
The temperature in the caves stays at freezing all year round, even when it's 100 degrees outside. So if you go, don't forget to take your coat!
Originally, when the cave was discovered and another entrance was added to it in 1940, all the ice in the caves melted. The problem was solved by closing the extra entrance and restoring the original air flow. It's neat how the air flow of the cave can make such a difference in it's atmosphere.
Among the inside of the cave are bridges that are suspended above sheets of ice several feet thick. The height of the cave varies from 8 feet to 30 feet, and the cave is 1,000 feet long. At the caves, tours are available and a gift shop is open. Nature walks, bird watching, and hiking are among the different activities available at the caves.
The temperature in the caves stays at freezing all year round, even when it's 100 degrees outside. So if you go, don't forget to take your coat!
Originally, when the cave was discovered and another entrance was added to it in 1940, all the ice in the caves melted. The problem was solved by closing the extra entrance and restoring the original air flow. It's neat how the air flow of the cave can make such a difference in it's atmosphere.
Among the inside of the cave are bridges that are suspended above sheets of ice several feet thick. The height of the cave varies from 8 feet to 30 feet, and the cave is 1,000 feet long. At the caves, tours are available and a gift shop is open. Nature walks, bird watching, and hiking are among the different activities available at the caves.
Best times to visit and fees
There is a fee of:
- $10 for adults
- $6 for children 4-12
- Children under 3 there is no charge.
Map
Location
The Shoshone ice caves lie just 16 miles north of the city Shoshone, and used to be a year round source of ice for Shoshone before the invention of freezers. It was the only place for a hundred miles where ice could be found in the summer. The ice caves are approximately 3 hours from Rexburg Idaho.