Oregon · Hiking

Arnold Ice Cave

29.0 mi
round trip
1,951 ft
climb
5,513 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Arnold Ice Cave open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Deschutes National Forest. It doesn't name Arnold Ice Cave, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Deschutes National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Arnold Ice Cave is a hard hike in the Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District of Oregon's Deschutes National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 29 miles, with a total gain and loss of roughly 1,950 feet, and the steepest stretch comes around the 12-mile mark at about 9%. The trail is rated hard. It starts at about 3,989 feet and climbs to around 5,513 feet, with the low point at about 3,929 feet. The route's natural surface carries horses and bikes, so the trip works for riders and pack animals. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Sunriver weather station, about 10 miles away, show July highs near 84°F and lows around 41°F, while winter highs stay in the 37 to 40°F range with lows near 20°F. Arnold Ice Cave Trail Number 63 and Coyote Loop both lie within half a mile, and Swamp Wells Trail Number 61 is about 0.1 mile away. Bessie Butte Trail is about 2.7 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Arnold Ice Cave

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      40° / 20°

    2. Feb

      43° / 21°

    3. Mar

      50° / 24°

    4. Apr

      57° / 25°

    5. May

      65° / 33°

    6. Jun

      72° / 37°

    7. Jul

      84° / 41°

    8. Aug

      83° / 40°

    9. Sep

      76° / 34°

    10. Oct

      62° / 28°

    11. Nov

      46° / 24°

    12. Dec

      37° / 19°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sunriver, OR, 10.6 mi away at 4,180 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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Sun-LavaPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Swamp Wells Trail Number 61

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30.62-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,761 ft elevation gain/loss.

Black Rock #3935Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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BlackrockPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Blackrock

~13 min drive

9.90-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 172 ft gain

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Arnold Ice Cave Trail Number 63

Next door

Point-to-point volcanic ice cave hike through Oregon's lava fields.

Rimrock Rover TrailPhoto: m01229, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rimrock Rover Trail

~12 min drive

1.18-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 228 ft elevation gain and loss.