land of fire & ice (bandera volcano & ice cave)

Great place. Wonderful adventure for all ages. People that rated this low need more education. The beauty of this area is excellent and I am very glad we made the trip.

The well maintained property and friendly staff made for a nice visit. The Ice Cave was interesting and neat to see. The hike up to the volcano was easy but the view was a bit underwhelming but we still enjoyed it.

We visited late winter and I think it was a big mistake. I can imagine in summer a frozen body of water in a cave would be unusual but in winter ... It was just a cave that had some water in the bottom that had frozen. Pretty disappointed, we didn't bother looking at the crater.

We were told of this attraction three years ago and finally made the trip. We were not disappointed. The hike to the volcano and ice cave were delightful with well kept trails and signage. This attraction is well worth the trip south of I-40 with excellent signs to the site.

Yes,it's pricey. Touristy. But, if you have never seen this scenery, it's worth it. We're from Florida. The time spent here with 2 kids running around and enjoying things they never experienced was ell worth it. Be a tourist, take this and realize it's not the money, it's the time well spent with family and nature. Money can't buy this. The shop is for your memories when you get back. Spend the money. The staff were nice and they gave us any and all info re: questions and such.

Cool place to visit! Lots of walking if you want to stretch your legs-uphill (40 min) to see the remains of the volcano, downhill (10 min) to the Ice Cave-and back. Not particularly wheelchair friendly at this rustic location. There's also a fascinating family-owned Trading Post displaying ancient pottery (among other items, including historic family photos) found at the entrance to the Ice Cave years ago. The scenery is quite striking here. You can use an informative trail guide to identify numbered spots along the volcano trail pointing out areas of interest. The volcano is now collapsed, but lava tubes can still be seen. Actually there's lots of lava in this area. While the downhill trail to the Ice Cave isn't all that steep, there is a steep wooden staircase leading to a landing in front of the Ice Cave. Unless you go during cold weather, you won't need additional clothing as you can't go inside the cave, only view the ice floor and cave ceiling.

Great place to see. Standing on the edge of a volcano. WOW. and then, in the middle of this lave field, in the desert, is an ICE CAVE. It is cold in there.Good place to cool off. Have to see to believe!!

I read about this attraction while researching things to do on I40! We stopped and really enjoyed our time there..My husband was a little hesitant when he realized we had quite a hike to go view the volcano, but it really was not that bad. Once you reach the top it is a fantastic view. We also enjoyed the view of the ice cave. Very interesting. We basically had the place to ourselves! Definitely worth the stop !

The remains of a volcano crater, as well as a walk through an area of lava flow, coupled with a 'real' ice-cave was a great way to spend an afternoon in hot, sunny New Mexico. Added to the experience was the chance to see so many hummingbirds! (Look out for the feeders next to the cafe/office/restrooms)

While driving on I-40 near Grants, our kids saw the signs for the Ice Cave. We were intrigued and decided to take a detour from our scheduled vacation route. The drive on Hwy 53 was interesting with evidence of volcanic activity so many years ago. Follow the signs and you'll find yourself at the trading post visitor center. The people are friendly and informative. This is where you get your self-guided tour maps. There are also restroom facilities and a picnic area. Water and snacks can be purchased.The hike is fairly easy and starts at the trading post, then goes around the volcano to the ice cave. In some areas, the sides of the trail are steep. The wind blew my son's hat off and it was too dangerous to go off the trail to get it.Our family enjoys outdoor activities, exploring geography and geology of different places and observing nature and wildlife. This volcano and ice cave are very different than anything we've seen before. It was worth the trip for us.Open daily from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The fee is $12 for adults and $6 for young children. Closed during winter and inclement weather.Bring water, hiking shoes and cameras. If you plan to picnic, then bring your own food.No wheelchair access.

If you are in the Grants area, be sure to stop by and see this natural wonder in the land of Fire and Ice. This is the ice part. Volcanoes everywhere in the area testify to the fire. Those volcanoes also created this ice cave that remains frozen year round. It's on private property and the owners are kind enough to open it up to tourists and provide information and guidance. There's a nice gift shop at the entrance, and then a short hike in the desert to the entrance to the cave. It's a steep stairway down to the cave, a frozen green mass that stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding desert/volcanic landscape. It's a steep climb back up too—be aware of that for anyone with physical issues with the climb.Definitely worth seeing!

Like the reviewer before me this was an average experience. We hiked up to the volcano which was a nice uphill walk over tinder path....the Ice Cave was really fascinating, a lot of steps to get down to it and amazing how the temperature drops. But the entrance price was a bit steep for what you get

I enjoy seeing volcanoes and caves so I added this place to my things to visit while in New Mexico. I wasn't overly impressed. It was ok, but I guess I was just expecting more. Hiked about a half mile to the erupted volcano. Had to hike back down the trail and then take another path to the Ice Cave which was probably about 2 tenths of a mile to get to. There were several steps you had to walk down to to the cave and some not so sturdy, but they did have some guys there working on some of the steps. The Ice Cave gives off a bluish green color from the sun's ray which I thought was pretty neat. I personally enjoyed the cave over the volcano.

We stopped at this place several years ago, but our son was young then and did not remember it well, so we stopped for another visit. The walk up to the volcano is about half a mile, much of it up a slight uphill grade, but it is not bad. The main thing to watch are the small volcanic rocks that line the path up; it is easier to walk on the dirt. Th evolcano is mostly dirt now, but the way it blasted out can still be seen. It is a shorter path to the ice cave and mostly level; there is quite a flight of stairs down to the cave, but there are landings with seats, and the stairs are very sturdy. As you are descending the steps, you can feel it getting colder and colder--it is very interesting. This place is privately owned, and it has been kept very nicely; however, there are only picnic tables; no place to buy a meal. We would highly recommend this place.

While driving around New Mexico, my wife and I decided this would be a good place to stretch our legs and see something interesting. The ice cave, apparently a collapsed lava tube, was easily accessed down a wooden stairway. The ice there really was bluish green, supposedly from reflected sunlight. The hike to the crater was on a trail through a lava field. Lots of conifer trees. The volcano is 800 feet deep and formed 10,000 years ago. It was an enjoyable and edifying experience, and good exercise.