Finding An Ancient Ice Cave in New Mexico

Hidden Ice Caves in New Mexico

Hidden Ice Caves in New Mexico

Adam and I met a year ago in Bermuda and a few months back, we decided to reunite in the U.S. New Mexico would be the first time we would be traveling together and we quickly realized we were the optimal duo for making bad decisions. Drive our compact car up a dark, snowy bank? Sure, we can reverse down a one-way mountain path. Take the back road to get to the next city? No problem; we won’t have to watch out for straying elk. (We avoided Bambi’s cousin but hit a small woodland creature instead. May you rest in peace, Thumper.) Ignore all private property signs and sneak into a ghost town? Well, we’ve already come this far…

And as if we were the Thelma and Louise of unfortunate road trip scenarios, when we got to the Ice Cave of Bandera Volcano, we once again found the gates of our destination closed (the lolls of traveling during low season). We considered moving on, but really, who could deny the draw of an ice cave formed within the depths of a collapsed lava tube? 

So with our novice criminal minds, we parked our car indiscreetly out front, hopped the gate, and started our uncertain walk down a long gravel road. And for the first time, our luck changed: a dog suddenly came barreling towards us from an empty visitor’s center in the distance. She sized us up and after concluding that we were passable human beings, decided to guide us through the snow-covered lava trails leading to the stairs of the cave. (Thank you, Gods of Welcome Travel Surprises.) 

The cave itself was tremendous, not in size, but in magnificence: we were in the presence of 3,400 to 10,000-year-old ice that had formed over the hardened lava of Bandera Volcano. And the only things that separated us from this great, frozen wonder was a raised platform, a wooden rail and a looming “no trespassing” sign. While not our most respectable decision, Adam and I descended down on to the floor of the cave like two fat kids drawn to a buffet. Everything was irresistible: the bits of nature––rocks, branches and air bubbles––that had frozen into time, the green moss-like material that covered the floor, the solitude and coolness of the air… We consumed every bit it of it.

We were still in awe when we climbed back up to re-enter the outside world. The beloved dog that had guided us to the cave, came to accompany us on the walk back out. But alas, luck didn’t follow us too far. As we drove out to the main road, a man came after us in his truck. We guiltily hung our heads and let him scold us for catching us on his security camera and trespassing on his property. And while we were very, very sorry and he rightfully threatened to call the sheriff on us, Adam and I couldn’t help but think: this was one of our tastiest adventures yet.