This trip was definitely worth it, we stopped to check the ice caves out on a trip to here and the Shoshone Falls. Don't let the outside fool you - it's a small few shacks with a large dinosaur out front, but once you get in it's a grand cave. There isn't as much ice as the people we came with remembered years and years ago, the latest snowfalls melting down into the caves dissipated it, but there are some sizeable ice formations in the front and back of the cave. Our guide (Garrett/Gareth) gave a fantastic tour, he is a local to the area and a new tour guide there. If he is available for your tour, know there will be some great humor and fun had by all. I would definitely recommend the Shoshone Ice Caves to anyone passing through, there have been visitors from many places according to their map (China, Kenya, Japan, England, Australia, and all over the US!) If that doesn't tell you something about how cool this place is, I don't know what will! read more

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Friendly workers, interesting story telling on the guided tours, very pretty jewelry and souvenirs. The caves were a perfect cold to the hot heat of the day. read more

A great way to kill a couple of hours. The staff were kind and the guide was great. She answered all questions and went at a great pace.

Perhaps a one time type of experience but a unique environment infused with interesting lore. Both locals and travelers alike should experience! read more

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Fun and simple tour of the caves. Guide was fun and knowledgeable about the history of the caves

Stopped here for a tour on a Saturday afternoon. Tours leave every half hour and are limited to twenty five people. I have visited many caves but this was the first ice cave, much cooler than what I expected at about twenty eight degrees. The tour guide walked us from the gift shop through some lava flows to an entrance to the cave, scenery was spectacular along the way. The guide was very young and although maybe not as professional as a National Park Ranger made the tour a lot of fun with her off the cuff explanations of what we we seeing. I would recommend this if you are in the area. The tour took about forty minutes. There was a small museum adjacent to the gift shop which added to the understanding of the area. read more

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Wonderful experience! Very knowledgeable and professional guide. The history of the ice cave and the surrounding area is very interesting. The owner is super friendly and welcoming. Bring a jacket, the cave is cold! We highly suggest stopping in! read more

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We had the best tour of the ice caves the other day with our guide who was the ripe old age of 14! He was fantastic! He told us it was only his third week doing the tours but you woulda thought he'd been doing it for YEARS! The ice caves are freakin awesome and the customer service is top notch! Wear a big jacket and bring hand warmers though, because it gets COLD down there! read more

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The neon green dinosaur with a cave man holding on for dear life greeting visitors driving to the Shoshone Ice Cave may provide clues that the cave is more chintz than historical tour. This isn't the ice age version of the caves of the Southwest that feature rock formations that look like icicles. While there are ice formations just inside the entrance that's the most ice you'll see. You have to take the guide's word for it that the several inches of water on the cave floor cover another layer of ice. The cave is a lava tube. Openings in the tube allow air to circulate and cool water that enters through fissures in the rock. It remains cool inside and visitors should probably bring a light jacket. Kids love the cave and I have fond memories of visiting this cave as a child. As an adult, it was interesting but not a great attraction. read more

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Abby gave a great tour. And warned us of lose steps and so forth. Only thing I could recommend is warning to elderly people that there is nothing to hold on in certain spots. So if your not to steady with your legs you may want to reconsider going o. It. Loved it and Abby was so informative. read more

The ice cave was the craziest place in the middle of the lava fields. We came with a large group and we all enjoyed it. The owner was super friendly and our guide was great. Would definitely recommend this stop!! read more

Shohone Ice Caves - Headed down into the cave - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Shoshone, Idaho

What a fun, educational, and easy day trip. I've driven past the Shoshone Ice Caves for years and finally stopped in. The tour is about 45 minutes and I was surprised to find myself wearing a jacket in the middle of summer, standing over 17-20 feet of ice in a lava tube. The history of the geology, discovery, and reconstruction of the caves is really interesting. Make sure to save time to visit the little museum and gift shop. read more

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We enjoyed our tour of the ice caves, it told a story of both history and the need to have individuals who care enough to preserve it. The young tour guide did a great job. Our kids enjoyed it as well...going in the Spring would be more ideal. read more

We were driving through Twin Falls to get to Idaho Falls (yes, we're the fall guys) when my wife started seeing sign boards to ice caves and obviously I have no other choice then to detour. However, that turned out to be brilliant- this is something worthwhile seeing. Imagine walking into a cave with ice block all below you, naturally made by winds reducing the temperature in the cave enough to cool down moisture and turn it into ice. Pretty neat. There's a small entrance payment and you will be guided through. Bring a jacket. They take credit cards. There's a small museum nearby with some nice articles. One interesting piece on how Olympian skaters trained on these same ice blocks- imagine that. read more

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Pretty amazing!! Came out to visit my sister and she took me to this spot pretty interesting, this is a must if you're ever in Idaho. Our tour guide was such a sweet heart gave alot of interesting info.. thank you for this awesome tour. read more

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BEWARE!! What a disappointment. We thought people in Idaho were kind. NOPE! While inside taking the tour someone who works/lives at the facility siphoned diesel out of our truck. Over glorified tourist trap now cost us $75 :( not happy. read more

This place reminded me of driving trips with my Dad in the Midwest...it's the sort of interstate attraction from the 1950s that evokes feeling of nostalgia even in those of us born much later than that. Sure it's a bit kitschy with the dinosaurs out front but there is some interesting history about the discovery of the space and how human meddling briefly made these the "not ice caves". The science is also quite remarkable, apparently it stays between 25-35 degrees fahrenheit year-round, even when it gets to the 90s or even 100s in the Summer and sub-zero in the winter. We were fortunate to arrive at 9:30 on Labor Day and were the first and only people on the tour. This gave us lots of attention from the guide who was informative and pleasant. This is sort of a remote destination so it may not be easy to get here early but I would highly recommend it, later tours apparently get up to 25 people and I think the experience of the caves would be diminished by too many people. There are some steep and uneven steps and it gets cold down there; wear good shoes and dress in layers. Be sure you are in reasonably good shape for taking rough stairs! read more

Shohone Ice Caves - Where else can you see this? - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Shoshone, Idaho

$10 guided tour. Guide was friendly and informative. They have lights in the cave and it's definitely worth the admission. The museum is teeny and the store is a little dusty, but happy we went read more

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My husband and I live in Hailey. I'm also a native to Pocatello Idaho and I was so surprised that I hadn't stopped here or really heard of friends visiting! It was such a treat to experience and I would absolutely recommend it as a stop or a destination to anyone! Cheers! read more

Sooooo this attraction is basically a cave with an ice puddle. Ice does not hang from the walls or ceiling. It's a bit underwhelming. We drove 2 hrs and it was not worth it. Go to the Shoshone Falls instead! read more

Shohone Ice Caves - Shoshone Ice Cave - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Shoshone, Idaho

Kinda cool, literally and figuratively, but not worth the price of admission. They have some awkward statues out front and a one-room "museum" that had a DVD playing of the cave and some "artifacts" found nearby, but that's it. The tour was not worth the price though. The scenery was nice and the cave itself was neat to be in and look at but the guide wasn't great and the tour was pretty short (about a half hour). read more

Very cool place. Experience of a lifetime. Don't miss out on spending some quality family time here. New owners. Young couple trying to keep history alive. Take the tour and spend some money on souvenirs to help them out. And no, this is not a paid endorsement. Just a family man that visits about once every few years wanting it to be around for generations. read more

It's inexpensive, mildly educational (at least our guide, Sean, did a good job of explaining lava tubes and the last 50 years of history), and a slice of Americana. We were on our way from Sun Valley to Seattle, and this stop was on the way. I don't regret the time or money ($26 for two adults and two kids), but I wouldn't tell anyone to go out of their way to get there. The 45 minute tour is about half outside, so on summer days you may bake in the sun before going into the cold of the caves. Also, you will need to wait in the "gift" shop for up to 30 minutes for the next tour, but at least it provides shade while selling ridiculously overpriced cheap trinkets and cold drinks. I wouldn't bring anyone younger than 4 inside, except in a carrier. The handrails are only up at adult height, so wiggly preschoolers and toddlers would present a challenge, and babes in arms may prevent you from holding the railing on the steep-ish stairs. read more

Except for the commemorative Election 2004 pocketknives on sale in the gift shop and the ICP T-shirt on the tour guide, there is nothing modern about the Shoshone (rhymes with "loan" when pronounced by locals) Ice Caves. No hard scientific exhibits or informative plaques to explain how the Ice Caves got there or why they still exist - but there is a statue of a caveman riding a dinosaur out front! No politically correct attempt at glossing the significance of the caves to indigenous peoples - but there are a few crudely-done "primitive" figures by the cave entrance! No pro-environmental message attached, even though the caves were partially destroyed by un-conscientious locals years ago - nowadays, teenagers get drunk in the caves and leave the door open and the whole place melts! Aside from the removal of several ice-skating elfin figures from the unstable cave ice, the proprietors have left the attraction virtually unchanged since the 1950s. And who would have it any other way? Well, some would. Like a lot of surviving midcentury tourist attractions, the Shoshone Ice Caves are not for those who expect flashiness from their entertainment or who have a low tolerance for physical exertion. There are plenty of rickety steps and platforms to navigate, and the transition from hot Idaho desert to chilly ice cave is somewhat shocking (the management does offer "courtesy coats," but those who accept them are far braver than I). Whether or not the caves themselves, which are interesting but definitely not beautiful, are worth the price of admission depends on your own personal tastes. Moreso than most places like this that I've visited, I can see the Shoshone Ice Caves really pissing off a good portion of the tourists who roll through. Given that this is one of the only places to stop for miles around, however, it probably won't hurt to take a chance on the Ice Caves. At the very least, take a moment to photograph the giant cardboard cutouts and concrete statuary out front. It's free, and there's bathrooms. read more

Was wonderful to be able to go down 90 fee below ground, with the help of my husband since I'm handicap, and the tour guide was very interesting & knowledgeable! read more

What an unexpectedly great place! Well worth the cost of admission. Our tour guide was so informative and extremely patient with my talkative 6 yo and squirrelly 2yo. The ice cave was cold. Bring a jacket. It was very cool to explore. They have a great gift shop with very reasonably priced rocks and fossils- even fossilized dinosaur teeth! And a cute small museum full of interesting things including Dire Wolf Skull and fossilized buffalo teeth. Stop for sure. And the people who work there are tremendously kind. Thank you. read more

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I visited here in the Summer of 1997 with my parents. As non-cavers, this was a great introduction to the darkness of caves (I may still have a little of that fear of the dark from my childhood.) But fear not, novice cavers! You will have a tour guide, a flashlight, and a railing to hold on to. The only time it gets super dark is when the tour guide asks everyone to turn off their flashlights for 10 seconds. It's a nice break from the hot Idaho sun of summer. Its quite sad to hear that the caves were nearly destroyed, but they were saved. Although this may not be the most sophisticated tourist destination, it's plenty cute and kitsch! Please visit and keep this local gem open for future tourists to visit. xoxo read more

I honestly liked it. Love how cold it is in the cave and how well the tour guide guide us through. I think it's a something the family should do. read more

Shohone Ice Caves - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Shoshone, Idaho

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This place is mildly interesting, but I wouldn't recommend going too far out of your way to visit. Pretty spendy for a 45 minute walking tour. The ice cave felt wonderful on the 100 degree day we went, but if it weren't for the reprieve from the heat, I probably would have given 1 or 2 stars. We brought a 18 month old and 3 year old and someone had to carry them pretty much the entire time (doable, but not super fun). The tour guide did a fine job reciting the memorized script. read more

Stopped here a year ago on a road trip, and I still look back on it fondly. It's a fascinating natural wonder enhanced by roadside kitsch. Our tour guide, a local resident, was historically and scientifically knowledgable. And the ice was a welcome respite from the sweltering Idaho heat. The pathway of suspended bridges through the cave is really neat. It's a unique and fun detour that has left me with lasting fond memories. read more

Really cool historical site. The girl that lead our tour was very knowledgeable and friendly. $10 per tour plus tip was a bit steep for what it was. I couldn't afford to bring my family of 5 here for a 45 minute tour of a cave. However, if you can afford it, it's interesting. Temperature changed from 88 to 28 in 10 tiny steps. Fascinating! Cute little gift shop and small museum. read more

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Pretty upset the fact that the website said it was open so I drove an hour off the highway to check it out and I get here to a closed for the season sign. Myself and 2 other cars were in the parking lot thinking the same exact thing. Kinda a joke if you ask me. I don't think we will return on our drive through next time. read more

This is a super fun cave. It's more fun with kids. The tour is short and the guide went to fast.