The same incredible geologic processes that formed Idaho’s awe-inspiring mountains and carved our breathtaking rivers also formed yet another Idaho wonder: caves of every size, shape, and color — some impossibly located, others utilized by Native Americans as shelters long ago.
There are 3 basic types of caves in the Gem State: corrosion, solution, and lava, all of which make phenomenal exploring grounds for the daring and non-claustrophobic. Some of these caves may take some extra hiking to get to, but if adventuring in underground tunnels or historic hideaways is your thing, Idaho is definitely the place to be. So grab a flashlight, don a jacket (it’ll be chilly in there!), and check out these 8 Idaho caverns:
This limestone cave is located high above Bear Lake in Southern Idaho. With nine travertined rooms that are home to a number of bat species, Minnetonka is also one of Idaho's best spots to see stalactites and stalagmites of all shapes and sizes.
The Niter Ice Cave in Grace, Idaho formed as the outside of a lava flow hardened while lava continued to flow inside. This lave tube is relatively short compared to many others, and runs under farmland as well as a rural road which passes right over the cavern.
The Shoshone Ice Cave boasts below-freezing temperatures all year long, and ice up to 30 inches thick. Restored by the land owners in the 60's, a wooden walkway will lead you through the cavern, while brightly colored statues linger outside the sinkhole entrance and await photo ops with the kids. No hiking required.
Evidence in this cave near Jerome, which looks like a deceiving pile of rubble from a distance, suggests the Snake River Plain's oldest human presence. Black, fine-grained basalt makes up the butte, which opens into an expansive cavernous bubble that branches northeast into two tunnels. Wilson-Butte is a relatively recent -- an important -- archaeological find.
Craters of the Moon is an unearthly, apocalyptic reserve in Central Idaho roughly the size of Rhode Island. Formed from ancient lava flows, there are over 400 documented caves in the area, ranging from lava tubes and fissure caverns, to rare weathering caves, some of which require more equipment to traverse than others. although only 5 are open to the public without a permit as boulders, ice, and skylights dot the way through the main cave hike,
The hike up to the Darby Wind Caves near Rexburg and Driggs in Eastern Idaho is one of Idaho's best: pristine forests, flowered meadows, and a scenic cascade descending from a cave big enough to walk around in. Moderately strenuous and slightly muddy, but well worth it for the view, there are multiple tunnels off of the main branch that can be explored with the right equipment. A short hike past the Wind Cave will also take you to the Darby Ice Cave,
The Paris Ice Cave in Paris, Idaho is a wide cavern best explored in late summer or early fall when the water has dried out to make the trek safer. There are a number of cracks and crevices to explore, but those looking for the traditional stalactite and stalagmite experience might be disappointed, as the gray limestone cave -- a fifty-foot chamber -- is open to the sky and narrows into a crawlspace for the brave at heart to wiggle through.
It’s safe to say that Idaho’s underground network is an adventurer’s paradise, but there are dozens more caverns that we haven’t listed and/or need photos of. If you’ve ever explored an underground paradise or lava tube in Idaho, please share your stories and pictures below!
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