My kids keep telling everyone they hiked in a volcano…and no one believes them, but it’s absolutely true! Bandera Volcano and Ice Caves in Grants, New Mexico is a must-see destination. Located near Route-66 and the Continental Divide Trail, it is a fantastic natural attraction.

Neon yellow water and ice are on the bottom of a cave. There are icicles hanging from the back wall of the cave. — Bandera Ice Cave

Grants, New Mexico

An Interstate symbol, large enough to drive through, with Grants painted on the top and dessert designs painted on it as well.

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Grants, New Mexico is a stop on the infamous Route 66. My family bravely adventured the entire Route during the heat of July. Along the way, we made many side trips and one of the highlights was Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave!

Where to stay in Grants, New Mexico

Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave

Where:

Located at 12000 Ice Caves Rd. Grants, NM 87020, the landmark is not quickly accessible from the main roads. If you are coming west from Route 66, use the following directions:

Follow Route-66 west through Grants.
Turn left on NM-122 E/53 W
Continue on 53 West for about 25 miles
Continue on Ice Caves Road
Turn left onto Bandera Road

As with many Route-66 landmarks, this is basically in the middle of nowhere. Be sure you have plenty of gas in the car and written directions to and from the location in case you don’t receive cell service. We drove the entire route in a minivan and were able to handle the roads without issue.

Hours/Admission/Facilities at Bandera Volcano

Hours of Operation

Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave is open March 1-November 1 from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM daily.

Admission

Walk up admission is available in the gift shop. Prices as of publishing are as follows:

Ages 6 and under: Free
Ages 6-12: $7.00
Ages 13+: $14.00

Facilities Available at Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave

Camping

The website states that no reservations are required, but I think I would still call ahead to confirm that locations are available. They offer the following options for overnight stays:

Cabins- No plumbing $70/night
RV Parking-No hook-up $20/night
Tent sites-$15/night

Gift Shop

There is a small gift shop on site. This is where you buy your admission to the grounds. They also offer snacks for purchase. Within the gift shop is a small display with artifacts and historical information.

Gem Stone Mining

You can also purchase a gem stone mining experience. Prices are online and choices include gem stones, arrowheads and fossils. (Looking for more places to mine? Check out Big Thunder Gold Mine in Keystone, South Dakota!)

Restrooms

Outdoor restrooms are available near the gift shop. They are rustic and I don’t believe they had sinks. Bring the sanitizer!

What is the Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave Experience?

Three people hike along a dirt path. A mountain that looks like it is covered in dirt is in the distance. Tree dot the area.

Bandera Volcano

After purchasing admission, you are free to begin the self-guided hike to the volcano and/or down to the ice cave. We began our hike up to the volcano first. It is a 1/2 mile trail to the site where the 14,000 foot wide volcano erupted 10,000 years ago.

Along the way you will hike over the dried molten lava flow and see lava rocks as well as twisted and weathered trees,

A tree stands with its roots exposed as the ground erodes around it.

While the hike isn’t too difficult, it is uphill. There are frequent benches for breaks, but no water or restroom facilities. Be sure to bring a backpack with water, first-aid kit and other day hike essentials.

Read what we pack in our hiking bags in this blog post

Once you reach the top, you will see the volcano. As I mentioned, it erupted 10,00 years ago. Since it was a cinder cone volcano, it is unlikely to ever erupt again (thank you Google!).

The cinder cone of Bandera Volcano is a depression in the mountain, all covered in dirt. There are a few trees dotting the area. — Bandera Volcano-800 feet deep and 14,000 feet wide

Bandera Ice Cave

After viewing the volcano, you will come back down the mountain. This is about the point we got caught in a thunderstorm in the middle of the desert. There is nowhere to seek shelter and no one came to get us, so take note of the forecast before you begin to hike!

Following the trail down amongst more gnarled and twisty trees, you are basically doubling back to the beginning of the trail to get to the ice cave.

From the gift shop it is 1/4 mile to reach the stairs to the ice cave. There are 70 steps to get down to the cave. Luckily, it also offers a bit of coverage, so we were able to get out of the rain a bit!

At the bottom of the stairs is a viewing platform to see the cave.

Neon yellow ice sits on the bottom of a cave — Bandera Ice Cave

Why is there an ice cave in the middle of the desert?

The ice cave was formed when Bandera Volcano erupted. The molten lava flooded down the mountain and formed a lava tube. When the lava tube collapsed, it formed the cave. The cave stays at 31 degrees Fahrenheit year round and the ice is 20 feet thick.

You will not be venturing past the viewing platform of the cave, as such you should plan your outerwear based on the day’s temperature in the area, not the 31 degree temps of the cave.

Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave Information for Kids

As I mentioned, we traveled to this destination with the kiddos during our Route 66 adventure. Since we were visiting so many new places, I put together an activity book to help them have more knowledge of what they were experiencing. Here are the few pages I put together for Bandera Volcano.

Volcano Hiking in Grants, New Mexico

Grants, New Mexico