Oregon is a true hiker’s paradise. And whether you’re a total novice or a professional, you’ll find plenty of trails to explore. You certainly don’t have to be an expert hiker to enjoy the Hidden Forest and Arnold Ice Cave Trail, a short, easy trek that leads to a fascinating destination.
The Hidden Forest and Arnold Ice Cave Trail is located near Bend.
Roger Miller / alltrails.com The trail is easy to find, easy to navigate, and easy to complete – it’s only about 0.8 miles in length.
Whether you choose to enter the caves or not, the scenery along the way is absolutely gorgeous.
Nathan Rohde / alltrails.com Bend is one of Oregon’s top travel destinations for nature lovers, and it’s easy to see why.
Before you know it, you’ll be at the entrance to Arnold Ice Cave Trail.
Lynn Anderson / alltrails.com Originally known as Crook County Ice Caves, its present name was given by Ronald Greeley during an extensive examination of the lava tubes for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.
Parts of the cave are filled with ice, but you’ll be able to enter comfortably.
Kaitlyn Christina / alltrails.com Just bring warm clothing and don’t go in too far.
While there are two caves you’ll see on this trail, there are 19 caves in the area in total, and they have a fantastic backstory.
Kaitlyn Christina / alltrails.com They were created by a basalt lava flow roughly 80,000 years ago. The lava tubes formed as the top layer of a lava flow was exposed to air. As the lava cooled, it solidified.
As you can imagine, it gets incredibly cold inside the cave, so dress accordingly.
Cassie Mielke / alltrails.com The entrance to the cave can be quite icy. If it’s late in the season, you may want to skip it.
The Hidden Forest and Arnold Ice Cave Trail will make you fall in love with Oregon all over again.
Lynn Anderson / alltrails.com Most of the other caves in the area require a permit to explore, but the Arnold Ice Cave is all yours.
Have you ever been to the Arnold Ice Cave?
Roger Miller / alltrails.com
The trail is easy to find, easy to navigate, and easy to complete – it’s only about 0.8 miles in length.
Nathan Rohde / alltrails.com
Bend is one of Oregon’s top travel destinations for nature lovers, and it’s easy to see why.
Lynn Anderson / alltrails.com
Originally known as Crook County Ice Caves, its present name was given by Ronald Greeley during an extensive examination of the lava tubes for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.
Kaitlyn Christina / alltrails.com
Just bring warm clothing and don’t go in too far.
They were created by a basalt lava flow roughly 80,000 years ago. The lava tubes formed as the top layer of a lava flow was exposed to air. As the lava cooled, it solidified.
Cassie Mielke / alltrails.com
The entrance to the cave can be quite icy. If it’s late in the season, you may want to skip it.
Most of the other caves in the area require a permit to explore, but the Arnold Ice Cave is all yours.
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Address: Arnold Ice Cave, Oregon 97702, USA
