Ice Caves LbNA #48369 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 21, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Pagosa Springs |
| County: | Archuleta |
| State: | Colorado |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | ThomasTreasrTrackrs  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Co-Vicars |
| Last found: | Aug 15, 2012 |
| Status: | FFFFFm |
| Last edited: | Jun 21, 2009 |
Hiking Distance: 3/4 mile one way
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate for family w/small kids. Accessible May-November depending on snowfall.
About the Ice Caves: The Ice Caves are really giant cracks in the ground that accumulate snow and ice in them over the winter. The snow and ice slowly melt over the summer, but they are always nice and cool down inside them.
Attractions: While you’re in the area, you can check out the picnic area near the bridge across from the trailhead. You can also plan an extended hike along the Piedra River Trail down in the canyon along the river. For more spectacular views, you can also continue on the ice caves trail for a short distance past the ice caves to the top of the ridge.
Finding the letterbox: Start your adventure on Hwy 160 in Pagosa Springs. Then turn north on Piedra Road (CR 600). Follow Piedra Rd for about 16 miles till you get to the bridge that crosses the Piedra River. A few hundred yards past the bridge there is a parking lot on the left for the Piedra River Trailhead #596. Park here and get ready for the hike.
Start out on the Piedra River trail heading southeast. After about 250 ft, the trail splits. Take the path to the right heading uphill, compass heading 220.
Now is a good time to enjoy the views across the Piedra River valley to Pagosa Peak and Toner Mountain. Soon you’ll head into the forest staying on the trail.
You’ll see the first “ice cave” right on the trail about a ¾ of a mile from the trailhead. It’s a big hole in the ground with a tree stump sticking out.
20 yards past the first one is another crack on the right side of the trail. You can quickly hop down into this one if you’d like. This formation continues under the trail and opens up into a big crevasse on the left side of the trail, compass heading 200.
Follow this big ice cave for about 50 yards until you can find the spot where you can easily climb down into this formation. From the entry point, turn left and follow this narrow fissure (compass heading 140) for about 25 yards to where a large tree has fallen down across the fissure.
The letterbox is located underneath the large fallen tree on the downhill side.
Warning: use caution around the ice caves. If you fall into a big hole, it will hurt and medical treatment is far away.
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate for family w/small kids. Accessible May-November depending on snowfall.
About the Ice Caves: The Ice Caves are really giant cracks in the ground that accumulate snow and ice in them over the winter. The snow and ice slowly melt over the summer, but they are always nice and cool down inside them.
Attractions: While you’re in the area, you can check out the picnic area near the bridge across from the trailhead. You can also plan an extended hike along the Piedra River Trail down in the canyon along the river. For more spectacular views, you can also continue on the ice caves trail for a short distance past the ice caves to the top of the ridge.
Finding the letterbox: Start your adventure on Hwy 160 in Pagosa Springs. Then turn north on Piedra Road (CR 600). Follow Piedra Rd for about 16 miles till you get to the bridge that crosses the Piedra River. A few hundred yards past the bridge there is a parking lot on the left for the Piedra River Trailhead #596. Park here and get ready for the hike.
Start out on the Piedra River trail heading southeast. After about 250 ft, the trail splits. Take the path to the right heading uphill, compass heading 220.
Now is a good time to enjoy the views across the Piedra River valley to Pagosa Peak and Toner Mountain. Soon you’ll head into the forest staying on the trail.
You’ll see the first “ice cave” right on the trail about a ¾ of a mile from the trailhead. It’s a big hole in the ground with a tree stump sticking out.
20 yards past the first one is another crack on the right side of the trail. You can quickly hop down into this one if you’d like. This formation continues under the trail and opens up into a big crevasse on the left side of the trail, compass heading 200.
Follow this big ice cave for about 50 yards until you can find the spot where you can easily climb down into this formation. From the entry point, turn left and follow this narrow fissure (compass heading 140) for about 25 yards to where a large tree has fallen down across the fissure.
The letterbox is located underneath the large fallen tree on the downhill side.
Warning: use caution around the ice caves. If you fall into a big hole, it will hurt and medical treatment is far away.