Shoshone Ice Caves: A Unique Family Activity in Southern Idaho
Welcome to a chilling adventure into the depths of Southern Idaho's mesmerizing Shoshone Ice Cave! In this guide…
3 minute read | may contain affiliate links
Welcome to a chilling adventure into the depths of Southern Idaho's mesmerizing Shoshone Ice Cave! In this guide, I invite you to join us on an extraordinary tour through this natural wonder.
Discover the hidden marvels and geological wonders that lie beneath the Earth's surface as you delve into the mysterious corridor and icy formations of the Shoshone Ice Cave.
Unveil the fascinating history, unique features and breathtaking beauty of this subterranean wonderland. Prepare to be awestruck as we explore the secrets of this icy realm and provide you with all the essential information you need to plan your own unforgettable journey.
Let's embark on an exploration like no other and uncover the enchantment of the Shoshone Ice Cave!
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Shoshone Ice Cave Location, Parking & Fees
The Shoshone Ice Cave is located in the Southern Idaho city of Shoshone, about 20-minutes from the downtown area.
It’s about two hours southeast of Boise and slighty less than an hour north of Twin Falls (an equally great area to visit).
You can see the entrance from the highway as the red logged structure makes it easy to spot (never mind the giant green dinosaur).
That red structure is where you’ll check in and present/purchase your tickets and is also where the tour will begin. Parking is abundant and free.
The only tours available are guided. Self-guided tours are not permitted. Fortunately, the prices for the tour are reasonable.
As of July 2023, tour ticket prices are:
$12 (Adults - age 13 years & up)
$8 (Child - ages 4 - 12)
Free (Children ages 3 & under)
Keep in mind that while children are welcomed, the trail to and inside the cave isn’t stroller (or wheelchair) friendly.
The cave is open to the public May 1st - September 30th each year. Tours are available every hour between 9am and 7pm during peak season.
Shoshone Ice Cave Tour
Your tour will begin behind the gift shop through the back door. Your knowledgable tour guide will go over a brief safety discussion and breakdown the history of the area.
You’ll follow your guide along a short trail through a lava field as you make your way to the mouth of the cave.
If there’s another group still in the cave, your guide will have you wait while they make their way out. The trail inside is narrow, so they keep it to one group at a time.
As you make your way down the rocky stairwell towards the mouth of the cave, you’ll immediately notice the temperature difference as it gradually cools.
It’ll become more apparent as you enter the cave proper. No matter how hot it is outside, the temperature of the cave varies between 23 - 33 degrees, year round.
*Pro Tip: Even if you’re here in the dead of summer, bring a hoodie
After entering, you’ll make your way down a wooden staircase which will lead you to the wooden boardwalk that traverses above the 1,000 foot long ice block.
The ice block varies in depth from 8 to 30 feet thick and runs nearly the entire length of the cave. Some additional stats of cave are:
It is 100 feet under the surface
1,700 feet long
50 feet wide
and 45 feet in height
The only light in the cave is artificial and minimal. It’s lit up just enough to allow you to see where you’re going.
You’ll eventually reach the dead-end where your guide will further discuss the cave and demonstrate how dark the cave naturally is by briefly turning the lights out.
From here, you’ll turn around and go back in the same direction you came. After exiting, you’ll return to the gift shop via another trail and get brief views of additional cave entrances.
Before leaving, feel free to support them by browsing the gift shop and checking out the statue attractions in the parking lot.
I hope you’ll consider taking a tour of the ice cave. My wife and I enjoyed it immensely and thought it was a cool experience.
Consider visiting another exciting cave just a few miles away from this one:
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The 5 Best Things to do in San Antonio this Saturday
In 2024, a whopping 40 million people visited the Alamo City and we were fortunate to be among them. San Antonio was one of those cities…
In 2024, a whopping forty million people visited the Alamo City, making it one of fastest growing cities in the United States. San Antonio is known for many things, including being the second home of the late, famed Tijana performer, Selena. In fact, parts of the 1997 movie of the same name was filmed along the banks of perhaps the city’s most popular attraction; the world-famous Riverwalk.
Whether you'll be visiting or you're a newly minted local looking for something to do on a Saturday, there are many local attractions with live music, culinary events, live entertainment, and more. Below are my five recommendations for best things to do in San Antonio on a Saturday.
1) San Antonio River Walk
One of the most famous attractions in the city, the San Antonio River Walk is 15-miles long and winds through roughly 5-miles of the downtown area. There is no fee to enjoy the River Walk and you can begin at any of the multiple starting points off the street.
Dotted along the river are local and brand restaurants, hotels, shops and various attractions that charge their own fees. The most popular being cruising the river itself. We took a cruise with Go Rio Cruises and found it be fun, informative and relaxing.
We didn’t try many restaurants on the river, as we tend to drift away from the touristy areas and dine where the locals do. There is one that I highly recommend, though, and that’s “Boudro’s on the Riverwalk”. Both the food and service were fantastic.
Throughout most of the year, you'll likely encounter live entertainment along the river's banks, including live music, performances, festivals, and other free events. There are also seasonal parades, including the Ford Parade of Lights in the summer and Day of the Dead parade in October. You can view the full schedule here.
2) Japanese Tea Garden at Brackenridge Park
The Japanese Tea Garden is located within the grounds of Brackenridge Park. Admission is free and it's not far from the downtown area, making it an easy drive or ride share away. It's open every day, between the hours of 7am and 5pm.
As stated above, admission is free but if you’re looking to do a professional photoshoot here, you’ll need to contact them to obtain a permit. Additionally, you can bring your dog here, provided you keep it on a leash.
You could easily spend hours here enjoying the year-round flora, stone walkways and bridges, the 60-foot waterfall, Japanese pavilion and more. When we were here (mid-day in July) there was only a few other people there. It was peaceful, tranquil and the perfect way to escape the hoards of tourists at the more popular spots.
Also located on Brackenridge Park grounds is the Witte Museum. It's the most visited museum in San Antonio, inspiring visitors and locals like to shape the future of Texas through relevant and transformative experiences in science, culture, and nature.
3) The Alamo
When planning a trip to San Antonio, especially for the first time, The Alamo is right up there with the River Walk as a must-see attraction. The Alamo is a significantly historic building where many people died during the Battle of the Alamo is 1836 (including Davy Crockett).
As with the prior two entries in this list, the Alamo is free to visit (timed reservations now required). I highly recommend paying a visit and seeing it for yourself. The interior is small and won’t take long to look through, but you’ll also be able to explore the beautiful grounds behind it that includes a mini museum, a water fountain dedicated to Davy Crockett and bronze statues of the most-known individuals who fought here.
4) Natural Bridge Caverns
The Natural Bridge Caverns gets its name from the 60-foot limestone bridge above it and was discovered in 1960 by four college students. It has since turned into a huge entertainment complex with zip lining, mazes, wall climbing, obstacle courses, restaurants and shops making up the surface activities.
Under the surface, however, is where the main attraction lies. There are two tours available. The first being the Discovery Tour, which is their most popular. You’re guided 180-feet below the earth’s surface through multiple cavern "rooms". For the more adventurous, the Hidden Passages Tour takes you through the natural darkness of the cave and into rooms not seen in the Discovery Tour.
Tickets can be purchased online or on-site (you’re better off with the former) and it seems that prices are determined by which day you want to come. Weekends are higher priced than mid-week. Adult tickets start at $37.75 with child tickets starting at $24.50. Note that these prices are for the cavern tour and do not include access to the surface activities. Parking is complimentary, so there's that.
I would avoid this tour in the summer, as the caverns remain at a year-round temperature of 70 degrees and a sweat-inducing 99% humidity. If you happen to be here outside of the summer when it's cooler, it's the perfect activity to get out of the elements for a while.
5) The Historic Pearl District
We discovered the Pearl district by complete accident and it ended up becoming our favorite part of the trip. We were on our way to a great bakery in the area called, “Bakery Lorraine”, and after our brunch, we decided to abandon our plans and stay to explore the area.
The old Pearl Brewery building has since been converted into, “Hotel Emma”, and is a stunningly beautiful hotel. Stunning goth and industrial style decor come together to form the interior. The lobby is open to the public and we highly encourage you check it out. Next time we’re in San Antonio, we’re definitely booking a room here.
On Saturdays the Pearl hosts a famers market, the third campus of the Culinary Institute is here, as well as numerous restaurants, coffee shops, stores, and more! There’s also a small section of the river behind Hotel Emma. This vibrant community is well worth exploring. You could spend a couple hours or all day here.
Where We Stayed
JW Marriott
My wife and I very much enjoyed our stay here. They take great care of the property as everywhere you look you’ll find an abundance of lush greenery and flora. The lobby is huge and instead of just a pool, they have an entire water park out back that’s included in the price of your room.
The rooms were clean and well organized while the bedding was incredibly comfortable. The shower was walk-in style and the view from our balcony was amazing. The customer service from the staff was impeccable in every way possible. It’s truly a great property.
The only downside was how far away it was from literally everything in the city. Thankfully, the majority of the event we attended took place on property and transportation was provided to us for activities off property, so it wasn’t a huge issue. For clarity, it is a 30-minute drive from this hotel to the Riverwalk (one-way). Just something to keep in mind if you’re thinking of booking here.
Our Airbnb
Since the event was only going to be a few days, we decided to extend our time in San Antonio by booking an Airbnb that was closer to the action. After searching through all the listings, we decided on the, “Butler’s Attic”. It was located in a quiet neighborhood that’s just a short walk from the Pearl District and a quick ride share from just about everything else.
The owners took great care in designing this one. They managed to make this relatively small space feel roomy and comfortable. The shower is walk-in and all the amenities such as body wash and shampoo were provided. You can come and go as you please through the side door with coded, keyless entry. The only downside, to me, was the stairwell. Dragging our luggage up that thing wasn’t fun.
Stairs aside, this was one of the best Airbnbs were ever stayed in and would not hesitate to book it again. You can view the full listing here.
Tips For Your Trip
Avoid summer, if possible. We visited San Antonio in July and believe me, that would not have been our first, second or even third choice. The event we were attending was in July and it was that or nothing, so off we went. Summer is miserably hot, humid and attractions are crowded. We were told by multiple locals that spring and winter are the best times to visit.
Ride sharing is prevalent. Outside of any sponsored event activities in which transportation was provided to us, we utilized Uber for practically everything except for the Caverns (which was event sponsored). We never had an issue with any drivers and never waited longer than a few minutes for one to arrive.
Eat local. San Antonio has many, many solid local restaurants to choose from. Unfortunately, a lot of people stick to the branded ones located along the River Walk. With Boudro’s being the sole exception, we were told by multiple Uber drivers and locals to avoid the restaurants there as they cater to tourists and don’t have very high standards. A few places we can recommend are Bourdro’s, Bakery Lorraine (Pearl), and NOLA.
Take day trips! There are a few day trips you could take from San Antonio that I wish we had time for. Some of these include Austin, Fredericksburg, Guadalupe River State Park, New Braunfels, Gruene, and more! Be sure to look into some of these and include one (or more) into your plans.
Idaho’s Mammoth Cave: The Perfect Family Friendly Destination
Southern Idaho is so packed full of amazing natural wonders you could easily spend the entire month exploring it all. One of them can be conveniently found just 8-miles north of the historic town…
Southern Idaho is so packed full of amazing natural wonders you could easily spend the entire month exploring it all. One of them can be conveniently found just 8-miles north of the historic town of Shoshone.
We’re referring to, “Idaho’s Mammoth Cave”, a volcanic cave formed by a massive eruption millions of years ago. It was discovered in 1902 by settling sheepherders and is currently the largest volcanic cave in the world open to the public.
That’s not all this place offers, though. Also on site is what they dub, “Shoshone Bird Museum of Natural History”. It’s a massive collection of exotic animals, rare rocks, dinosaur fossils, and more!
Let’s get into it and fill you in on how you can visit this amazing place for yourself.
Mammoth Cave
Idaho‘s Mammoth Cave entrance sign. Shoshone, Idaho.
How To Get There
Address: 251 West Thorn Creek Street. Shoshone, ID 83352
If you’re coming from Shoshone or Twin Falls, Mammoth Cave will be on your left. You can’t miss it as you’ll see big blue wooden signs spelling out, “CAVE” (pictured above) just off the highway.
Idaho’s Mammoth Cave entrance. Shoshone, Idaho.
From here, continue another couple miles or so on a fairly well-maintained gravel/dirt road until you arrive at the pedestrian entrance and parking lot.
Find a spot to park along the fence line and walk through the entrance. You’ll see animal pens off to your left and a residential home up ahead. Continue walking until the path turns right to the Bird Museum. This is where you’ll pay the admission fee.
Admission Fees
Idaho’s Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
$12.00 per adult
$6.00 per child ages 6 - 12 years
Free for children 5 years and under
Your admission fee includes access to both the cave and museum. You can choose to skip the museum and only do the cave but it will not get you a discount. It’s also your choice on which order you’d like to do each attraction.
Bird Museum of Natural History
Idaho’s Mammoth Cave Bird Museum. Shoshone, Idaho.
After we paid, we choose to walk through the museum first. Initially, I wasn’t excited about it because I’m not into birds that much. However, after walking in, I quickly realized it was much, much more.
The museum is packed to the gills with all sorts of native and exotic animals, birds, dinosaur and fish fossils, art artifacts, Native American pieces, rare rocks, minerals, and much more.
Dinosaur fossil at Mammoth Cave Bird Museum. Shoshone, ID.
Bears at Mammoth Cave Bird Museum. Shoshone, Idaho.
It’s touted as being one of the largest private collections in the world and we don’t doubt it. You could easily spend a couple hours or more exploring all the displays and is worth the price of admission alone.
When you’re finished looking through the museum, simply head out the same way you came in and let the attendant know you’re ready to explore the cave.
Mammoth Cave
Entrance to Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
After notifying the attendant that you’re ready for the cave, they’ll give you a quick run down on what to expect and hand each person a lantern. If you have your own flashlight, you can use that instead.
(We should warn you that there is NO natural or artificial light once you get past the cave’s entrance. The lantern was the only source of light. We turned ours off and couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces).
Mammoth Cave entrance. Shoshone, Idaho.
After getting your lantern, you’ll be directed down a dirt path that does a half circle around the building you were just in and towards the cave’s one and only entrance/exit.
Watch your head and keep an eye on the little ones. The entrance is a bit of a squeeze and you immediately begin a descent into the cave via a narrow path.
Inside Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
Inside Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
As you reach the bottom of the stairs and begin to make your way through the cave, you’ll begin to take notice of the unique color of the cave walls. This is due to a rare growth of mineral deposits that give the walls a look of pure silver.
You’ll also take notice of name markings on the walls. This was not due to vandalism (well, kind of). It was done by the early settlers who were the first to discover the cave back in 1902.
Silvery walls inside Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
Inside Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
Many different animals made use of the cave for shelter such as bears, buffalo, and horses. The bones of which have been discovered along the cave’s dirt floor.
The walk from the entrance to the end of the cave is only 1/4 of a mile. At the end of the designated path, you’ll see a sign describing the scene ahead of you. The ceiling of the remainder of the cave is about 50 feet high and surrounded by thick layer of lava rock.
End of the trail. Mammoth Cave. Shoshone, Idaho.
From here, you’ll simply turn around and go back in the direction from which you came. In and out, you’re looking at a half mile’s worth of walking along an easy dirt path.
Adults and children of all ages would be able to complete the trail. You’ll need to watch your footing, but the occasional rock is your only real hazard.
Unfortunately, the sheer nature of the cave floor and its entrance would make it difficult for those with certain handicaps and impossible for those in need of a wheelchair. The museum, however, can be enjoyed by all!
Conclusion
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Safe travels and thanks for reading!