Interesting family run natural tourist attraction. Admission was $12. A short flat trail leads to the ice cave where you climb down some wooden stairs to get close to the ice. The ice is a little green... another longer trail takes you about half way up the Bandera Volcano to a nice overlook of the crater. I think the family has a lot of history here, and there is a small room in the trading post showing of some of their finds. Would be great if more of this history was worked into the self guided tour.

This was an excellent stop on our travels through New Mexico. The views from the top of the bandera volcano are beautiful, especially at sun set. And the ice cave is a wonder to experience! It is not a cave you can explore, but the uniqueness is worth the stop. Also the staff and owners are extremely nice and accommodating!

A long, self-guided, enjoyable walk up the volcano with amazing sights along the way.The walk to the ice cave stairs was short and easy. The decent was on stairs to the cold mouth of the cave.A pamphlet obtained at sign in gave historical, natural and geological explanations at numbered locations all along the way. Be sure to bring your camera. Also provided are picnic benches.

This is only 30 or so miles from Grants, NM, well worth the short, easy drive. The is a volcano you hike up to, nice wide road. Then the ice caves are really cool. I mean really cool, it stays a constant 32 degrees, all year long. Felt good after taking a hike to the volcano. Just a short hike to the caves, and lots of stairs down to the caves themselves. They also have a store/ gift shop. Good place to stop and get a ice cream cone. The owners are really nice there. They also have cabins you can rent. They are clean, rustic, and a super great price! A little jewel in the beautiful State of New Mexico!

What a unique and beautiful place! The place belongs to a family who I believe bought this trading post from long time ago and turned it into a tourist attraction but also to preserve the natural beauty of this place! It costs $10 to get in but I promise it is worth it! Who could say they’ve stared right into volcano? Or the fact that it can be scorching outside and just a few hundred yards you can step into an ice cave and cool off? Do not pass up this place!

A trip down memory lane. I was 10 or 11 my first time, around 29 when I took my daughter there while on our way to the Grand Canyon, and today at 65 it was still as quietly inspirational as the first two visits. It is still a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the world. No frills, just nature and that is a very good thing.

Real easy and quick to get to. Great spot to have your own picnic right there by the saloon/ dance-hall. Cooler than the surrounding region, and very informative. It just doesnt seem possible that 20ft of ice can be there in a 31 degree cave, year after year! Bandera volcano is amazing to look at, almost as big as the meteor crater. Take the lower trail through the lava flow to the ice cave. Its longer, but out nails down how the lava flowed once the side blew out.

Very pretty! Took us about an hour and a half to check it all out. The hike isnt difficult, I took my 7 year old and she did just fine. The ice cave portion of it is to the side of the volcano and only takes 5 minutes to walk down and see. We had a lot of fun. I would recommend going.

We rented a cabin here and it was so darling. Had the bare necessities and was perfect for a night on our road trip...and reasonably priced! We also got some firewood and had a nice time under the stars (yay for no light pollution!). The Volcano and ice caves were really neat to see and very unique! David showed us around and was very pleasant. Thanks!

I had an overnight stay at the Ice Caves and Bandera Volcano through Harvest Host. This was a nice stay. Hiked to the edge of the volcano and then down to the ice cave which felt great because of its cold temperatures, never above 31°. Very interesting and well worth the stop. Expect to paid $12 per person with discounts for children.

Very Unique New Mexican Tourist attraction! The Ice Cave is impressive and a good place to cool off during the summer. The hike to the cave is very short and easy. The caldera hike is a bit longer, but nothing crazy. Enjoyed our time and experience.

Awesome place! So much history and the land is absolutely beautiful. Take the time to make this drive and enjoy the scenery. The ice cave is especially nice for a nice cool break after the hike up the volcano path in the warmer months.

Very cool place nice and quiet. Would have never imagined this being here. UPDATE: went back stayed a few days in the cutest little cabin. The night sky is to die for! Its so serene and dark and beautiful! The family and friends that work there are so nice and kind. Glad i went back to stay for a few overnights. It was a great experience! Thank you so much.

Very cool place to go and make sure you bring your hiking boots because there a lot of walking. I really like it.

It is unusual place with exciting phenomena - ice in the desert heat that is thousands of years old. The small shop has nice and affordable souvenirs. The owners are nice and pleasant people to meet. On the way to the main road it is possible you can see some animals too. God Bless you John !!

We stopped on our way to TN, it was nice to see. The ice level has dwindled a bit, better see it before its gone. The gift shop was well stocked and organized

We stayed at a cabin, very crude but such a wonderful place. Peaceful & beautiful

Great fun and beautiful scenery. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

We loved it. It was beautiful. My kids loved it.

We found this privately owned Ice Cave and volcano site after we passed El Malpais National Monument Visitors Center and saw it was closed (whether permanent or temporary, we werent sure). What a treasure we found instead!The staff is very friendly and helpful. The museum space is extensive and informative with the familys knowledge of the history of the site, which is refreshingly different from being in a national park, for example.Lovely trail to the ice cave itself and the volcano. We thoroughly enjoyed!

As this place is some 25 miles SW of Grants, you really have to make an effort to get here. However, it is both an educational and meditative experience. Once you check in, you can walk the trail to the volcano cone (about a mile round trip) and the ice cave (about a kilometer round trip). Trail is fairly easy--walkable with sneakers. There are some steps to get down to the ice cave. A pamphlet at check-in will tell you all you need to know. Its very peaceful here and well worth a visit.

Called today 12/4, was informed they are closed for the winter and will reopen March 1st 2021

This was a lot of fun for my family and me. Good hike. “Mining” for gemstones was a great time. The walking stick came in clutch. See you again soon!

Elevation affects hiking. Trails are measured each way so double it. Very steep steps. Cool shots though!

This was a tourist spot, but we enjoyed the two hikes. They gave us a brochure with interesting facts about the area that really enhanced our experience. The dynamic between fire and ice can truly be seen here! The little museum was interesting too. It was maybe a little bit pricey but it is privately run so it felt like we were at least supporting a small business.

Very nice place for a day hike, dog friendly, and the ice cave is extremely nice after going to volcano ridge. The people were very pleasant and the trail was very easy and scenic. If you want a place to go for a short beautiful hike, I would recommend.

The volcano and its history are very interesting. But the ice cave was simply fascinating! It is hard to capture in a photo, just something you have to experience. Very clean and relatively undisturbed view of natural phenomenon. Nice gift shop and the hosts were very nice and informative.

A unique place to visit that is not too far of a drive from Albuquerque. The couple that owns the land is super friendly and helpful. The area is available to self tour once you get tickets, but they also offer jeeps tours (this was especially helpful since we had some elders in our group). The benefit of the Jeep tour is also getting the first hand information and history of the area from the owner. Very glad we stopped here.

Absolutely a beautiful area! Please be aware the elevation is near 8000 ft. Those that come from a low elevation area, you will lose your breath easily like I have.

What a beautiful part of New Mexico. Situated right on the continental divide and over 7000 ft in elevation among lots of ponderosa pines. We spent a night in our RV and enjoyed it thoroughly. Both the ice cave and the cinder cone are worth seeing. We plan to visit again!

Nice hike. Beautiful scenery. Friendly employees

Place was AWESOME! Not only the hike and view of the volcano and then the cool off session in the beautiful ice cave, but also the amount of information and history to the place makes it a must stop and see. Not to mention they offer cabins to rent at great prices for another great experience!

We saw the signs and decide to drive by and go for a walk. It was nice however, I had my expectations higher then I should of.

To see the strength of Mother Nature is absolutely amazing. To Learn the history is even more so. This place is spectacular in its own right. A must see if in the area.

A great spot to explore the lava tubes! Everyone here was so NICE! Great prices, clean bathrooms, and sanitizer! The little museum was a bonus! Loved it!

Stopped here on our way to Flaggstaf from Albuquerque. I thought $12 was a really good deal for both the attractions. I found both the ice cave and volcano crater fascinating, and the facts provided in the brochure we were given added to the experience. There are some great views of the surrounding mountains as well. The shop also had some neat things for sale. I would definitely recommend!

Good place for kids. A great learning experience to see the volcano.

Neat thing to see. Wasnt ad awesome as I had hoped. But it was a nice hike with the family.

Step back in time to a famous roadside attraction off of Route 66. Not much has changed here as geological time almost stands still. The place is past its heyday as there is no longer has pumps or rental cabins. It is worth the stop to enjoy geology and reminisce about what might have been in the days of Route 66, sheep herders or even earlier during tribal days.

Great area. Not often you can go inside the cone of an inactive volcano. The ice cave is very interesting also. The climb to the volcano and the steps to the ice cave are a bit strenuous but worth it.

Fun weekend road trip. 12dlls per person gets you to both natural formations, Bandera volcano and Ice cave. For the volcano its a total of 20min walk, amazing views. The ice cave 10min walk total, as soon as you hit the second set of steps, you feel those 31 degrees. Magical, small yet so much history. Staff was super friendly and well informed.

This is definitely a “Must See” place, it is literally “Super Cool” just amazing how you can be walking in 90 degree weather and go down a few steps into a lava tube and it’s freezing, Y’all gotta see this place! They’ve got a nice picnic area and camping area plus and nice store/mini museum,we really enjoyed our visit

It was a fairly gentle hike, and on the short side, but being able to go from a caldera to an ice cave is very neat and unique. The photos dont fully capture how dramatic the slopes of the caldera are or all the surprising colors in the ice cave. You dont actually get to fully enter the cave - its a protected area - but a series of steps lead you to a platform overlook and you can really feel the temperature drop as you descend. Very novel, I recommend giving it a try!

The two hikes combined are a little over 1 mile (if you take the short cut trail). Some people may need a walking stick (they sell them in the store). We loved the experience, but our favorite part was staying in the cabin! They currently have 2 you can stay in overnight and the prices ($40 or $50) are pretty good! They cabins are around 90 years old, but have electricity put in so you can charge your devices. Our bed was comfortable and the heater in there worked great! We cooked dinner over the camp fire and had coffee in the morning! The family that owns the property is amazing and really friendly and knowledgeable! We enjoyed talking to them!

Its only 80 miles or so from Albuquerque but its such a change. The woman who greeted me was super friendly and helpful. I went on a Tuesday and saw no one while I hiked up the volcano! Its such a beautiful area, Ill be back for sure.

Super interesting, very accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels, affordable, and just overall good. I was so glad they were able to open back up when I was passing through the region. You can spend from 1 to 2 hours here and see it all.

This place is amazing!

Even during the pandemic they welcomed us to go on our self guided hike. It was fascinating and unique. Would recommend for everyone not a difficult hike. Would recommend a jacket in the cave it is cold down there.

Took the grandkids here. Spent several hours and loved it

I dont know how I could rate the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano anything other than 5 stars as its taught me so much throughout my lifetime. Happy my ancestors made this beautiful landscape their home and still enjoy taking the hike and marveling in the ancient ice cave and picturesque lava beds housed below one of the most beautiful volcanos Ive ever set eyes on. I may be biased, but it is a fact that this landscape is full of one of a kind historic and ancient wonders. I always feel at peace here meditating between the ponderosas and lava and that serenity is worth the trip alone.

Absolutely worth the 30 minute drive south of I-40 near Grants, NM. The folks running the gift shop and museum were friendly and knowledgeable about the history and geology of the region. The walking path to to volcan6is a bit steep and the pumice gravel is loose, so wear good shoes. For some, the stairs into the ice cave are uneven and steep. Definately consider purchasing one of the sluice bags for gems and arrowheads.

Absolutely stunning!!! A must see!! And the folks that run it 5 stars also.!!!

Its off the beaten path but still cool to see.

Sometimes the simple pleasures are best. This private location is a relatively short drive from Albuquerque and a great way to spend some time. Great for a family outing, and a nice place for a picnic. All that, and you get to experience the natural wonders of a volcano. Pretty awesome.

I was driving the bypass through the two national parks and came across this on the map. I saw that it was private and wasnt sure if I wanted to stop or not. I drove out the gravel road to the location and it was a very cute little place. Picnic area and shop. Went inside and paid my $12 to see the sights. Walked about a quarter-mile to the ice cave and down the steps. It was quite spectacular. Walk back the other direction and up along path to the volcano. it was on a Saturday afternoon and I didnt run into one other person along the way until I was on my way back. Standing at the top of the volcano and looking in all by yourself is quite breathtaking. They have a little guy that tells you what different things are along the way. Well worth the $12 and the time it took. I would say allow about 2 hours for the hiking and looking around. Extra time if you want to pick neck which I would do. The weather was raining the day I went so I did not. There is a pit toilet outside but they have heated restroomsany great little shopping museum that tells the history of the area.the same family has owned this attraction since the forties and the story is quite nice. I dont usually fall for touristy kind of things but this one was more than worth the time and money. I will definitely go backand I would recommend it to anyone who can make a little detour down there. its not on the beaten path but its not too far off highway 40.

Self guided tour spectacular views of the volcano cinder cone. Nice walk to the ice cave though the lava field. The 1/2 mile walk to almost rim of volcano is graded and well kept cinder road. Their is bench’s along the trail to catch your breath at 8,000 feet. A Sven hundred year tree on trail to ice cave.

The volcano is a nice easy walk with a very nice view and the ice cave offers a very neat contrast to the surrounding areas. Over all a pleasant place to visit and has many nice spots for photography.

A good hiking trail to walk on and scenery is lovely.

Super cool place! Gift shop has some awesome stuff. Amazing views! Very cool rock formations

The information along the trails was incredibly interesting and informative. The hike up the volcano was a pretty easy hike, and included some spectacular views that really help to show the awesome power of a volcano. The climb down into the ice cave was refreshing and a little surreal. We went up to the volcano first, and down to the ice cave to end the hike, and on a hot mid-June day, I wouldnt do it any other way.

Great place. Both hikes are worth the time and effort.

Its okay. Go and have fun.

Amazing place. The walks are not bad even my father the none walker did fine. The views are amazing and the trail is well built.

A great detour. 30 min off interstate, took about an hour to hike both trails.

Very unique and a wonderful addition to our experience in exploring America.

Great staff. See more on YouTube. Search Thin Blue Lane RV Life

Great views make sure to bring plenty of water the volcanos are a bit of a hike so visit it first then make ur way to the ice cave to cool off its great only 1 hr to view both attractions!!!!!

Worth the money, simply beautiful an unexpected nice day trip.

A great little stop, a little off of the highway.Pathways are smooth and have gentle slope for easy walking.The volcanic soil has a mixture of chemicals that the trees leach out, causing interesting coloration and twists to the foliage.

Such a wonderful experience, highly recommended! It’s a nice light hike to the ice cave, little more moderate to get to the volcano but completely do-able if you take your time. Don’t skip looking around the small museum, such interesting history.

They got a great setup with smoothed out paths through the lava to the cave and up the hill. They even have little numbered logs that an accompanying pamphlet explains some other cool little details about the lava, twisted trees, sink holes, a tree that got hit by lightning, etc. Very quick and easy to go to the ice cave and only a little incline walk up to go see the volcano.

Great place, trails relatively are easy hike. This place is about 2 hours from Albuquerque.

Awesome education and fabulous museum on history of it. Clean store with great gifts.

Interesting history! And wonderful views!!

Very seldom do you have the chance to see the inside of a real volcano. Beautiful area with the lava fields. The walk to the viewing area is well taken care of but quite long for anyone with a mobility problem. The ice cave is fascinating but the stairs are a bit steep. Overall well worth the stop.

Worth the drive...trails are well maintained.

Great pace to visit... amazing that there is an ice cave in Mew Mexico and right next to a volcano!!!

I didnt get to see the volcano. The ice cave is great. Be prepared to do stairs. Beautiful scenery. Nice place for a good walk.

Could bee so good but its made for fat lazy people. The cave is nice the walk is good and the view is magnificent but so easy and sort that it hearts.

What a great experience about the history of the lava tunnels.

Very pleasant place, lots of history and the folks were nice!

A great place to visit and see the extreme opposites of nature. This was our second visit.

The ice cave was really cool (pun intended). The volcano was fun to climb and the scenery was beautiful.

An amazing experience, the walk up the volcano trail is spectacular and very relaxing. The visitor centre is basic and all the better for it. Very friendly staff, interesting items to buy at keen prices as well as cold drinks and snacks. The ice cave walk was shorter and easy walk with the reward of a very cold area to appreciate. The map and stop off markers are very informative. An experience not to be missed and as a bonus the wolf sanctuary is only 40 minutes away.

The signs at the road are very misleading. They all say Ice Caves. Plural, meaning more then one. After a long drive, we paid 15.00 to walk down a path to a little cave to see it had a layer of ice at the floor of it. Ahhhhhh, after going to Carlsbad Caverns, we had an expectation of wonder, about what this might be. It was dissapointing to us. If you arent in good physical health, skip this stop. Theres quite a walk and Long uneven stairs to the cave. Theres no wheel chair, or walker access.The trip up to the rim of the crater is even worse. Dont attempt it unless you are in great physical health.The attendant at the store was very truthful about the time to walk to both areas. He was knowledgable, accommodating and honest.We did take time to look around the little gift shop. There is a lot of family history about the owners of the property, and how the ice was used by people in past years, Which is interesting, but nothing that made me say Wow!There were some beautiful uprooted dead tree roots along the path, that stopped me in my tracks. To each thier own. If you are interested in collaped lava tubes, this might be on youre bucket list.

Wonderful attraction made by mother nature itself.

What an Awesome place to adventure off to. Great views of the caldera and lava flows. Be sure to have good walking shoes its a good hike uphill to the caldera, and then down to the ice cave. Which has some steep stairs, but worth it because its cool down there...

Well worth it. Awesome view of the volcano.

Such a fun and worth while side trip as we travel through NM. Its very wet and there was quite a bit of snow on the ground, so come prepared. The hike isnt too bad if youre active. Beautiful scenery.

Very cool spot with great hikes in the area. The ice cave is really cool. Bandera Crater is amazing! The gift shop sells high quality stuff. I bought a silver bracelet 10 years ago and have never taken it off.

Inexpensive and you can tour it at your own pace. Easy to hike and great for kids. The gift shop has a great selection of stuff for all ages.

So nice we visited twice! My husband and I took a cross country trip and stopped for a quick hike and enjoyed it so much that we made a point to take my in laws and our kids the next time we were driving through New Mexico. Such a fun, and neat experience.

Beautiful wonders, a sight to behold.

Privately owned, $12 per person for adults but worth every bitBoth the volcano and ice caves are unique and they have a self guided tour that goes through both

A great hike with tons of history! The rate of $12 per person is a little bit much

A beautiful historic site to see.

What a fun day trip! The hikes arent too strenuous and took about 2 hours but we really took our time. It was fun and unique experience!

Interesting a volcano and ice cave.

Fun place, the ice cave is awesome. The volcano was less spectacular...still worth the trip. Amazing hummingbirds.

For $12, they could provide a better observation platform that provides more immersion while still protecting the ice features. I was expecting to be able to get right down to the level of the ice, but one can only get to about 10 above the ice. A round hand rail on the stairs that one could wrap ones fingers around instead of the 2 x 4-like board that they now have would be nice too. My favorite sensation there was the babbling sound of the sluice plant as we ate our picnic lunch. The compound is delightful, but the main attraction provides could use an upgrade.