Arnold Ice Cave

Arnold Ice Cave is one of a series of lava tubes in the area that only have access to the surface because part of the cave collapsed after the lava stopped flowing.  There was a LOT of lava pumping through this area at one point in the past.

I climbed down into the cave which wasn’t easy since the old wooden stairs have all been destroyed.  If it was actually icy, it would have been impossible to get into the cave without ropes.  Because it was just the start of summer, we didn’t find any ice.

Heading off to the next adventure after the cave.

 

Boyd Cave

We took our truck out to Boyd Cave and went underground for about an hour exploring this lava tube.  The tube goes much farther than we were willing to hike today.  It’s free and not that far outside of Bend.

The entrance is pretty unassuming.  Some cowboy must have been riding along and fallen into it to find this cave.

Looking down the stairs into the cave.

Heather climbing down into the cave

Looking back on the entrance to the cave.  Once you get a little farther back into the cave and around the corner, it becomes pitch black.

From deeper in the cave.  We kept going for about a half hour before we turned around and came back.  This is a really long cave!

Red Cinder Cone Butte

We went up on top of a red cinder cone butte east of Bend for a few views on our way out to some of the lava tube caves.

I think Redmond is off in that direction.

Back behind us is Newberry Crater.