Bear Trap/Crystal Ice Cave Trail

Trail Overview

This dirt road follows the route from Bear Trap Cave to Crystal Ice Caves and King's Bowl. The route can be traveled in either direction, as it is accessed by various BLM roads and trails. Watch for the deep chasm of King's Bowl Rift as you near the Wapi Lava Flow. In the 1970s, people often crowded the parking lot on their way to tour spectacular ice formations. The concessioner provided guides and sold souvenirs out of a trailer. A large sign proclaimed, "Welcome to the Crystal Ice Caves." Now the most visible evidence of those cave tours is the ridge of lava rubble adjacent to this parking area. From 1967 to 1988, commercial tours led to massive ice columns in a cavity 150 feet underground within the Kings Bowl rift. Short trails lead to the edge of the Kings Bowl explosion crater and deep fissures associated with the Great Rift, including the former entrance to Crystal Ice Cave.

Photos of Bear Trap/Crystal Ice Cave Trail

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Difficulty

This is a dirt road, so be aware that conditions can range from very dusty to very muddy, depending on the weather.

Technical Rating