Had a blast on the new trail. I have been here several times and I learn something new every time.

I had a lovely visit to see the ice cave and extinct volcano. I feel like the views are amazing and trees are lush. There are plenty of volcanic caves to check out and the trails are well labeled. I truly felt transported back to a semi Jurassic period. I would recommend this hike for families as it's easy enough and visually stimulating for all ages. read more

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So this is pretty cool but it is really far out of the way. It's basically 2 trails. One to the right 1/4 mile is the ice cave with 72 stairs to a platform to see it. You can't leave the platform or see it from any other viewpoint. The stairs have rails and aren't too bad. The other trail is to the left, it's to the volcano 1/2 mile. They also give you a handout with descriptions of 17 yellow markers around the trail. It's a fairly quick hike/walk. The day we went in early April. It was 23 degrees with active snow and snow on the ground so be prepared for cooler weather (Albuquerque was also in the 40's that day so lower than average). The guy in the store was helpful and really enjoyed his job. The gift shop has a lot of jewelry, art, etc.. read more

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Glad we stopped by here to visit. Price was very reasonable and the cave, nature trail and volcano were pretty cool. This establishment was also only about 30 minutes off I-40 and worth the detour to visit. It is located in. beautiful area and the temperature change from the surface to inside the cave is amazing. Had a nice little gift store, clean restrooms and ample car and RV parking. read more

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This was the perfect length of trail (about an hour) to see two unique sites; an underground ice cave and volcano with lava flows. The price is very reasonable for the trail and great prices in the store for native America. gifts. Wear sturdy hiking boots. The lava formations and views were beautiful and interesting such a unique place in New Mexico read more

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano - The lava flow - Hiking Near Me - Grants, New Mexico

The hike around the volcano was nice. The ice cake is small and you look from an observation deck. We visited an ice cave in Colorado last summer and you could climb in and go through a small cavern. This place is touristy it has some small cabins and lots of items for sale in the shop. I have no idea who this money goes too. Is it unique? Yes, but is it worth it? Meh, it's just OK. We enjoyed the walk very much but you can go elsewhere in a park to walk around dormant volcanoes in AZ and NM without the fees. read more

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano - Ice cave - Hiking Near Me - Grants, New Mexico

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Definitely a cool experience, like 31 degrees cool, after descending 72 steep, wooden, uneven steps. Closed, supportive shoes are advised. Short dresses will please the guys. Worth the trouble, for sure. The Ice Cave is one of nature's oddities. The ice never melts, is 20 feet thick and well insulated by the cave rock walls. Evaporation is replenished by spring runoff. It is an interesting blue-green color, probably due to algae. It's south of I-40, about 20 miles or so, near the metropolis of Grant's, NM. Admission is $12, which includes a hike over to a crater. We declined the crater visit due to time constraints and the fact that we had previously viewed the Meteor Crater in AZ. read more

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We've driven west on I40 several times likely seeing (and ignoring) the billboards advertising this place but glad we finally got off the Highway to see this place (about a 30 minute drive one way from I40 in Grants). Family owned business for generations with camping, cabins, trails, and a trading post. Well worth the $12 to see the ice cave (where it never gets above 31 degrees) and the Bandera volcano. The trail to the ice cave is short but there are stairs; the trail to the volcano climbs up so you should wear sturdy shoes and be in reasonably good shape. There is a pamphlet to accompany you on the trails explaining the history and geology and the trails are well marked. You could make this a day trip from Grants or, like us, camp for the night but either way, don't miss it! read more

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The path to the ice cave is definitely worth it, very serene and quiet while you're in there I'm very breathtaking. The volcano trail lots of loose volcano rock to walk on probably wouldn't do that walk again, but we will definitely do the ice cave trail over and over. read more

So I'll be honest, I'm not near as fit as I used to be, but this was still a really nice little outdoor experience! The snow definitely makes the trek a little more challenging. I slipped a bunch, but I definitely lived! I highly recommend wearing super comfortable yet highly supportive shoes! If you don't you will be in for trouble! Also make sure your shoes are somewhat waterproof, or you will go home with wet feet. I made the mistake of wearing boots that were too big with flimsy socks, and my heels are not happy now. Also plan for bits of the rocks to get in your shoes! Even though there was snow, it wasn't really cold outside. A basic hoody and long sleeve shirt will keep you warm! This overall is a really neat outdoorsy adventure. Between the gift shop, museum, the volcano, and cave, you could easily do everything in like an hour. If you want to take your time and go at a slower pace plan for about 2-2.5 hours. I think getting to see the cave was my favorite part hands down, and that is truly an easy trail to walk. The volcano's path is a bit more challenging (especially when snow is on the ground). The volcano path has basic uphill hiking on the way up, and the cave has the uphill segment (climbing the stairs) on the way back up. If you've never been, I highly recommend visiting the place! It is a nice little pitstop. I genuinely loved my visit! read more

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Pretty interesting but I wouldn't say it's a must see. Located on highway 53, it's about an hour and half drive from Albuquerque. Admission is $12 since it's privately owned, so the national park pass doesn't cover it. A little brochure is provided that gives you information on the sights you're viewing as you hike. They recommend seeing the volcano first and then the ice cave. The volcano itself is about a half mile hike uphill, but not very strenuous. The ice cave afterwards is nice. Very refreshing when it's a hot day and after the hiking. read more

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4.5 stars I had been wanting to stop every time I drove by here. That sign was just so enticing, but I guess I hadn't realized it was so far off the highway. A quick daytrip from Albuquerque. We started the route to the volcano first and it was an easy hike. The Bandera crater is very neat to see- I can just imagine how it was back in the day, large, vast. There are picnic tables near the front and benches along the way to have a little snack. Then, it was on to the ice cave. As others have mentioned, the further you walk down the 72 steps, the "cooler" it became. While you can't walk inside the cave, it's amazing to see. (I would say it's worth even going to Alaska to visit some of the larger ice caves). Lots of lava rocks, birds, squirrels, and interesting trees along the way. It's a little much at $12 a person, but they do take a dollar off for seniors and military (I don't mind paying a little more if it's family owned either). We stopped at the little museum to check out some of the Native artifacts, which surprisingly some of them were still fully intact. They had some ice cream, coffee, and chips for sale inside. They had the little trading post, parking lot, and beginning of some of the trails decorated with cute Halloween decorations. 2021 #99 read more

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I had driven by here like 6 times but never stopped because I just thought it was a tourist trap. But, no, this was really cool. I think I definitely enjoyed it more because I was with my kid, but the ice cave was so weird that I think I would've appreciated it without him there. Definitely worth the time and maybe the money. read more

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano - Hiking Near Me - Grants, New Mexico

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Place was amazing how ice can exist in 100degree heat.. It's well worth the look. Everyone there is super accommodating. For me I could not believe I was at a site of a dormant volcano..! read more

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This place was closely located to Grants, NM and was near the El Malpais National Monument. The facility is privately owned and maintains the area through fees charged to hike the trails. We checked into the Gift Shop and the cashier was very friendly and engaging. The fee was not unreasonable and she provided a guide with numbered marker descriptions along the self-guided trail. We got there early and luckily missed most of the crowds that started to show up as we were wrapping up. We went up to the Bandera Volcano first which was along a lava rock-lined roadway. You could see other smaller calderas along the route. There were plenty of log benches to stop and sit if you needed it. The climb was mostly uphill but not too difficult. Once at the top, the view was great for the volcano and the lava tube and flow trail. After reaching the gift shop we headed the opposite direction toward the ice cave. This trail was much shorter and not as much of a climb. There are sites to see along the trail before you get to the cave. At the cave, you have to climb down a series of stairs to get to the ice. You can definitely feel the temperature drop as you descend into the cave area. The platform at the bottom of the stairs is suspended over the blue-green ice bed. It was worth the trip, in my opinion, to see the two unique features in one location. read more

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano - Stairs to the Ice Cave - Hiking Near Me - Grants, New Mexico

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On a cross-country trip out to Tempe, AZ, we notice an ice cave and volcano on our map. So of course, we took a side trip out to what the locals call The Ice Cave and the [dormant] Bandera Volcano. Mind you, it was January and it was cold with snow on the ground, but we decided to go anyway. So glad we did! I recommend if you go in the winter time, make sure your car has snow tires and dress warmly. Also, the staircase down to the ice cave is pretty steep so make sure you wear proper shoes and definitely watch your step. This is a self guided tour and the owners were super nice. Overall, this is well worth the drive to go and see as I think it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to checkout one of the most hidden places in the USA. Right next to it is a dormant volcano that, unless you happen to live in the area, you would never know that it existed. I hope to go back one day when the snow has melted to truly appreciate their volcano and take better pictures. Otherwise, the ice caves never thaw and they are well worth the steep climb down to experience this natural wonder! So worth the time and effort to get there. read more

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano - Map to get to your destination... - Hiking Near Me - Grants, New Mexico

Great day trip from Albuquerque! It's out there (once you get to Grants, you still have about another half hour to go from the highway...just keep going), but it's a fun little adventure. The Valley of Fire and Ice is a really cool experience, especially seeing all the lava rock everywhere, but being able to visit the volcano and ice cave was pretty cool (no pun intended). I'd say it's a moderate(ish) hike up the volcano, due to the elevation, but it's fairly easy otherwise (the trail is well marked and maintained). There are really cool twisted trees along the way, a lot of exposed root systems and other flowers and plants. Once you get to the top, amazing views (we went on a hot and sunny July day, so the sky was nice and clear). The ice cave was totally unexpected - as you go down the stairs, you can feel the temps drop rather quickly (felt amazing after the volcano hike). What was really amazing was as we were starting to walk back up, a hummingbird was flying down around the entrance of the cave and flew within mere feet of my husband and I (just the two of us and this little hummingbird - it was magical). read more

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Fantastic off the grid experience. Friendly service at the gift shop and an easy hike that takes you to the volcano and back through the ice caves. One of the best stops on our tour of the southwest. Easy to get to from grants or Gallup, New Mexico. Easy hike for the family! read more

Since we were staying in Grants, New Mexico for a couple of nights, we looked for something to do. We thought the Ice Cave looked pretty interesting. You pay admission at the store near the parking lot, there are restrooms available and the store has souvenirs. It's a nice wide trail to the Ice Cave and cold in there. Don't bring your jacket, as you just walk up to it and not literally in a cave for a long time. Feels refreshing, like walking into a beer refrigerator at the market. The steps down to the Ice Cave are steep, so if you have a bad knee or hip, it's going to be a challenge- especially going back up. Then there's a trail that goes up to a volcano, with a pamphlet they give you to read about different things you'll see. You can continue on from the ice cave to the volcano (it's a steeper and longer uphill hike) or go back to the store and hike a shortcut trail from there. It was super quiet, nice views and a relaxing adventure. read more

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Awesome experience! Don't miss this! Bring extra water and be prepared to hike/climb stairs.

this was a coolest cave ever been in Just 30 ft above you it was like 90 degrees by the bottom like 32 degrees I can just imagine what people thought of this hundred years ago just wish I could get closer to it but down just damage it I guess it used to be able to my friend grew up in Round Here and they used to go there as kids why doesn't my stop if you're going to New Mexico for coming back read more

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Cool Little Spot, But a bit spendy for the quick stop. This is a neat little area, but $25 for 2 people for a 10 minute stop off seemed a bit high.... You walk 5 minutes down a trail and down some stairs and there is a little idea cave at the base of a volcanic rock field. We didn't have time since they were closing to hike up the volcano so the guy was cool and gave us a rain check.... It is what it is anyway... It's something to see.... read more

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Fire and ice in one day! What a neat experience! It is so interesting walking down to the ice cave and feeling the rush of cold air blowing up on you like air conditioning. I have never seen anything like it. Then you can hike up and see the caldera of the volcano. Bring plenty of water. We weren't prepared but luckily there is a well stocked gift shop with Gatorade and water. They also have lots of reasonably priced rocks and arrowheads. My children enjoyed using the sluice to pan for gemstones. It is off the beaten path but worth a visit if you like a little adventure. read more

I don't know what is not to like about this little locally owned nature attraction!? It's known to the locals as the land of Fire and Ice and it does live up to its name. One side of the park you found a hidden ice cave stuck deep inside a small but deep down cave which protects by the lava rocks themselves and the other you'll have to hike up and see all the volcanoes. It's located about 30 miles from Grant and the owners were very nice and helpful. They only open during the spring through early winter, I'd give them a call before visiting. They accept cash, most credit cards and even have Apple Pay. It was nice to drive away from a busy city and allow yourself to emerge in nature, the sound of the forest and let it reminds you how little you are and how awesome nature really is. Just follow their self guide brochure and not wander off the trail and you should be ok, another awesome thing about this place is, almost no cell phone services which gives you a chance to detach from all the electronic devices distractions. read more

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A good 20+ miles away from I-40 you'll find the Ice Cave and volcano. It is located in an area of majestic beauty and tranquility. The area is kept perfectly clean. We were nicely welcomed before hitting the trails to the volcano and ice cave. This is definitely worth the detour. read more

We decided to head out to Grants on our weekend to see this cool Ice Cave and Volcano that one of our friends at work told us about. The drive is about an hour and a half from Albuquerque and we knew that ahead of time but decided to give it a go anyways. Let's start with the good. The nice, easy trek over to the Ice Caves is accessible by just about anyone and doesn't require to be in good shape or anything. It's also really cool to see all the lava that lines the path with different sink holes and artifact sites during the hike. The steps down to the Ice Cave offer a really cool (literally) experience because the bottom never gets above 31 degrees all year long. It's a neat experience but a little underwhelming. The hike up to the volcano is longer and a little more testing on your physical abilities but the payoff at the top is worth it. It's pretty surreal to think back at what this place used to be 10,000 years ago. We stayed up there and just enjoyed the moment for awhile. The things that brought this trip down were the price ($12/adult) and the underwhelming experience of the ice cave. I thought it would have some areas where you could walk through it instead of just looking at it. Overall this is a cool place to stop if you're on your way through, but I don't know if I would recommend making the trip from Albuquerque to here unless the science of it all really get you going. It was well maintained though and the people who are in charge of it are really nice. read more

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Amazing! The staff is so friendly and helpful. Clean facilities, great trails to the Volcano and Ice Cave. The Ice Cave was my favorite. So unique. They have a little museum of artifacts found on site and a cute little gift shop with handmade Native American items. read more

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Although this attraction is a little out of the way (30 mins from the highway), its super neat. It was a nice place to get out an exercise after being the the car for close to a week. When we visited it was super hot! So it was nice to cool down in the cave. Make sure to bring water and good walking shoes. The hike is not too bad but I wouldn't wear flip flops. read more

I'm not sure if this is the correct site but we went to the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano off of route 53. The hike up to the Volcano was moderate but well maintained.( crushed volcanic rock path) Interesting trees and scenery. The hike to the Ice Cave is much shorter and recommended after the uphill trek to the volcano. The Ice Cave is interesting and something I'm glad I took the time to see. It isn't a must see but for our family it was an easy day trip from ABQ. The gentleman in the gift shop was friendly and full of info. He overcharged us for our 11 year old but she does appear older than her actual age. I believe he would have corrected himself if I had mentioned it to him. I do believe the $11 is a bit steep. Overall we had fun. There are picnic spots so bring some sandwiches and enjoy a day outside. One last thing. No pets. read more

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano - Panoramic of the volcano - Hiking Near Me - Grants, New Mexico

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Beautiful terrain to get to the caves (why I am giving it a 4 star rating). If you are going in the colder months, they are not open. We didn't find that out until we drove there. I was disappointed, but would love to go back. read more

We drove to the Ice Caves from Albuquerque New Mexico and knows about an hour and a half Drive. It was quite an experience to go down to 70 steps and feel the temperature descend over 40 degrees. read more

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Fun experience and run by wonderful people if I'm in the area I will definitely stay in one of those adorable cabins

Kinda interesting. But just kind of. Offbeat local attraction. Monsoon rolled in while we were there. Waited it out in the little souvenir store at entrance of hiking path. Owners real laid back and kind. After rain subsided, we ventured out. Easy trail. Crazy lava rock everywhere because there is also a dormant volcano here you can hike to as well-Bandera Volcano. Ice Cave was in a shallow canyon but those stairs did not play around. I chickened out but husband went all the way down. Said temperature dropped significantly. Ice cave is just that....floor of ice. You can't walk on it, it's just a lookout area. Dark and hard for pictures. You have to pay to enter the park/hiking trails but if you want an odd off route sight, this is a decent one. You can picnic here too. It's a pretty drive through more mountainy terrain. About 30 minutes off main highway. read more

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It was not what expected for the price. Not much to see. The gift shop did have some cool stones. Would not recommend making extra trip here but if passing through stop. read more

We stopped by the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano after seeing a roadside sign. So amazing to see. It was a great place to bring lunch and spend the day there. We met Roy (think that was his name) and he was so welcoming and friendly. We are not hikers but made the short trek up the top of the Volcano and then the few steps into the ice cave w no problems. A must see for sure! read more

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano - Hiking Near Me - Grants, New Mexico

Save your time and money. The concept behind ice caves is interesting, but don't waste $11 per adult to visit this strange complex. The woman working rushed us out, said she had "been waiting on us" so she could leave. They're supposed to be open until 5pm, she rushed us out at 4:20 after we'd spent only 20 minutes walking to the ice cave and back. Not worth it. read more

After staying the night in Grants, NM on our trip back to Las Vegas we noticed signs on I-40 for the Bandera volcano and Ice Cave. My boyfriend is more the cave explorer and hiker so he naturally was drawn to it. Since we were on no time constraint I figured what the heck and we drove the 25 miles off of I-40 to the Ice cave. I'm glad we decided to. You don't need much more than an hour or two to see both the volcano and the Ice Cave. It's $12 per person for adults and $6 for children 12 years and under. Not too bad considering how unique of an experience this is. The hike to the volcano (or rather moderate walk) is scenic and takes you up a gentle incline. The views along the way are pretty amazing as is the giant crater in the earth that was once an active volcano. Total walk to and from the volcano is about a mile and takes roughly 45 minutes. The walk to the Ice Cave is much shorter and there are numbered stops along the trail which tell you a story of how the lava was formed. It's approximately 70 steps down to the Ice Cave and you can immediately feel the temperature difference once down there. The cave stays at 31 degrees all year and the layers of ice date back to 1100 AD. The trading post where you buy your tickets has Indian jewelry and artifacts for sale. The gentleman that was working there suggested a scenic drive the back way instead of the Interstate. Fun afternoon stop to Volcano land! read more

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About 1.5 hours west of Albuquerque we traveled to see the volcano and some ice. Pretty certain I won't do it again, but the time spent with the family hiking up the side of the volcano, seeing the twisted tree trunks, the spatter cone of lava and the volcano basin was nice time spent outdoors and the hike wasn't too strenuous. Back down we went and headed to the Ice Cave. It is a shame it isn't open from October - February because I'm sure there would be larger amounts of precipitation to allow icicles to form because the only frozen water was the bottom of the cavern. Don't get me wrong, that is cool especially when there is algae growing in the ice, but the self-guided hike up the volcano and the stairs down to the ice cave wasn't worth $33 for our family of 3. read more

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano - Ice Cave with algae - Hiking Near Me - Grants, New Mexico

This was a fun side trip off the I40 near Grants, New Mexico. The staff was outstanding and fun. The hike to the rim of the volcano was easy for us seniors, as well as the short hike to the ice cave. We loved the black lava river and the Indian ruins. They have rustic cabins that we did not get to experience because we used our RV as part of the Harvest Host program. We came to the park from the west off I40 and it was a long drive through interesting Zuni land. We left to the east of volcano and it was a much shorter driver for getting back on the I40. read more

Great staff! and very interesting history surrounding the volcano. look for Q who really knows the area. A short walk down some stairs changes the temps from a balmy 80 to below freezing. read more