Ice Cave & Bandera Volcano

Spent the night at the Ice caves and Bandera Volcano with my wife. We did the hike up the Volcano and then down to the ice cave which cooled us off after the hike. They charge $12 per person with a discount for children.  It was a very peaceful night. Cell service with Verizon was ok outside but poor inside trailer.  There was no charge for this stay through our Harvest Host membership.  I would definitely stay again.

Amazed by the coldness of the caves 

A fun little campground with space to park an RV or rent a cabin. There are no hookups but you’re in a remote part of New Mexico under pines with a Giant night sky above. Plus you’ve got easy access to two fun little explorations... a 1.5 miles hike to the rim of the Bandera volcano and a 1/4 mile hike to the ice cave. It’s a family run business and they have a nice little gift shop and market with a few supplies. Once the park closes for the night, you have the hikes to yourself to take in sunset with lava rock surrounding. It’s a really beautiful area with a lovely family running the business. They charge $20/night for trailer parking but I’m not sure the price of the cabins. They’re also right by Malpais and El Morro national Monuments. Highly recommend for an overnight along your journey through New Mexico!

Beautiful, cheap and quiet boondocking

We are boondocking at the Ice Caves and Bandera Volcano near Grant's NM. This location is open to Harvest Host members for a free over night stay. You can hike to the open face of the Volcano and then down to the amazing cold of the Ice caves. Entrance is about $12 each. Cell service is good through Verizon. 

Amazing how cold it stays down in the caves

**General:** There are several options here: RV and tent camping, and cabins. As members of Harvest Host, we were able to stay here for free with the expectation that we would patronize the business. 

  

**Site Quality:** The tent section is behind the cabins, but RVs park in the gravel parking lot with no clearly defined spaces. The section at the top of the fence away from the trading post appeared to be level but otherwise, the lot is sloped. We opted to park closer to the trading post in our campervan, which was also closer to the pit toilet. 

  

**Bathhouse:** During the high season, there is a bathhouse and shower, but it was not open when we were there, but the pit toilet was very clean. When the trading post is open (9-5, later in the summer), there are restrooms inside. 

  

**Activities:** There is a trail to the ice cave (short but there are stairs) and a loop trail leading to the volcano (about 1.5 miles but wear sturdy shoes and you should be in reasonable shape). It was recommended that we do this hike in a counterclockwise direction and this was good advice. The fee is $12 for both and there are markers with an interpretive pamphlet explaining the history and geology of the area. There is a trading post with souvenirs and a small kitchen area where you can purchase some food and beverages. 

  

We were the only campers there on a VERY cold late March night so I imagine it would be very different during warmer months. We only heard an occasional car but otherwise, it was very quiet, and the night sky was beautiful. This is a family-run business, and everyone was very welcoming.