Kings Bowl

Hikes: D.
Total Distance, D: 5 miles.
Difficulty: Levels I, II+.
Season: March 15-October 15
USGS Map: Pillar Butte.
BLM 100K Map: Lake Walcott, *Pocatello.
Dirt Road Miles: 6 gravel, 7 fair dirt.
PLSS Location: Section 32, T5S R28E.

Introduction: Crystal Ice Cave is a unique marvel. The cave is totally different from other Idaho lava caves (with or without ice). First, it was developed in a very tasteful manner which emphasized its natural character. Second, this ice cave is not a lava tube, but rather a deep crack in the ground. The crack was formed by an especially violent eruption at an opening in the Great Rift, which ended with lava withdrawing deep into the crack.
  The ice crystals are created because cold air is forced deep into the Rift. This effect is stronger in summer than in winter, when more uniform temperatures between crack and surface allow more mixing.
  Since the publication of the book, Crystal Ice Cave has been closed. The facility doesn't meet anyone's safety standards (with a steep, icy floor), and apparently the wiring has deteriorated. So, the cave has sat with a welded-shut door for over a decade. What a shame that no one at BLM has the imagination or inspiration to take steps to re-open the site.
  This is still a terrific surface hiking area. There are great hikes to the west and south of the cave, and good hiking to the north. And, the road is still in good shape.

The Hike: There are really four hikes: north to Creons Cave, west to the squeeze-up area, south to South Grotto, and a loop that takes in all of these. Let's do the loop.
  Start by looking into Kings Bowl, the larger lava vent right on the Great Rift. From there, take the paved path that curves to the right and leads to the cave entrance. From the entrance, you can leap across the Rift and explore the squeeze-ups immediately to the west, or you can do the north half of the loop.
  To go north, follow the east side of the Rift. As he hiked north, the author was surprised to encounter a very feisty rattlesnake. Soon he left the lava and sagebrush environment and crossed a road to enter the Creons Cave area (W4). A remarkable hornito is here, along with some very fragile hiking in the vent area. The author, who is supposed to be good at things like this, didn't see the cave entrance.
  Now cross the crack and head south along its west side. Pillar Butte is your constant companion on the southern horizon. You soon see levees to the right, where a lava lake repeatedly overflowed confining ramparts.
  You then come to the area due west of the trailhead, which would be a smooth lake surface except for two features. First are mushroom-shaped lavas which were apparently forced up through cracks in the lake's crust. In contrast to such elegant Hawaiian names for lava features as "pahoehoe" and "kipuka", American geologists call these "squeeze ups". Second are the numerous bombs blasted out of Kings Bowl onto the lava lake. These get larger as you get closer to the vent.
  From here, continue south towards South Grotto. The Rift becomes parallel, discontinuous cracks. In the center of Section 32, note how the map shows a non-lava area to the east of the Rift. This area has fertile soils, yet is surrounded by crack to the west and lava to the east. Its vegetation has an unusually good, ungrazed look.
  South Grotto (W5) is a spatter cone that offers shade on a sunny day. It's a nice place to poke around. The deepest descent into the Rift some 800 feet was made here. (Please don't try any descent unless you have suitable equipment and techniques).
  Cross the Rift and return to the trailhead on the east (right) side. Watch for several perched lava lakes on the east side (somewhere near W6). From there, aim for your car.

Access: Drive to the intersection of North Pleasant Valley Road and ID-39 (W1). This is 5 1/4 miles north of American Falls Dam, and 7 miles south of Desert Road on the south edge of Aberdeen. Turn west on North Pleasant Valley Road, and follow it 11 miles. Turn right on Winters Road (W2), and drive north for 3 3/4 miles to Ice Cave Road (W3). Turn left.
  You are now aimed towards the Ice Cave. The good gravel road ends here, and the road to the Ice Cave qualifies as either very good dirt or very bad gravel. After 6 1/2 miles on the Ice Cave Road, bear left (you may see the old sign), and you are soon at the old trailer site. The author has car camped at the Ice Cave.