Ice Cave
3.5
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
35 within 3 miles
Attractions
15 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
81 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
30
Average
20
Poor
7
Terrible
4
packhawk
Minnesota67 contributions
Stopped in Decorah on a road trip and happened to spot "Ice Cave Road." We were curious and then spotted the signs for the cave. I had never heard of it, but very glad we stopped. We came in from the east, but be sure first to go a little further west to read the info sign about the cave. Having read that second caused us to want to then go back to the cave again to see the ice. It really is like a meat cooler inside and there was actually ice inside, even in June. It was unlike any other cave I had been in. Most caves are blocked off or require a tour guide. This one lets you just enter at your own risk. Thus the trash left be some inconsiderate folks, don't blame the cave for that. Be sure to bring a flashlight and have a day exploring. You can't go in too far, but there is just something cool about being able to explore a cave on your own. This little stop turned out to be the highlight of my whole trip, just because it was such an unexpected surprise.
Written June 8, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SAMICAT
US89 contributions
Mar 2012
We hesitated going to the ice cave based on negative remarks from a couple of people's reviews and opinions. As we were in town for TRI STATE HONORS BAND, we decided to go explore. We visited the little waterfall in the park,which was a quick walk up a stairway, then headed up the road a little ways to the ICE CAVE. It was very small, but it was the perfect place for our 10 year old boy to explore for about 20 minutes or so. You can still go into the cave about 120 feet, but bring a flashlight if you want to see the inside of it. We were fascinated at what the inside of the bluff looked like, and enjoyed differentiating between the types of rock we found there, since our son studied area rock last year. For us, it was a fun , quick exploration adventure. We enjoyed it, even though it is very small and very quick to take a look at :)
Written March 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Britnick154648
kalamazoo2 contributions
The Ice cave in Decorah is small but really nice i collected some rocks in the front and inside the cave they are still cold I wonder why? well anyways my grandma and grandpa used to live right next to the airport on a dirt road and we would all go the and to some waterfall that is really neat, there isn't much to do at the cave because its so small but you can walk in and its really chilly and the walls are so cold but you cant go in that far maybe a few steps because the openings are really tiny. i couldn't fit though and i was really small.... but if you need to ask any questions send me an E-mail @ iowabritnick@yahoo.com yes that's right i got my email from the first time i visited my grandparents.
Written November 16, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan P
Park Ridge, IL232 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
First of all, the price is right--it's free. If you don't go on a weekend, you are likely to be the only ones there. The parking is right there on the road, and there is a picnic table tucked into the bluff right by the parking. Near the picnic table is a bulletin board explaining the science and discovery of the cave. When I have gone, the picnic table has always been available. By the time you get to the top of the stone steps, you will feel a blast of arctic air, which is pretty cool--no pun intended. 15 years ago or so, this was an amazing attraction. You could hike on in and crawl on in pretty far. Since then, there has been a cave in, so the distance you can go is limited. In June this year, on a high 80 degree day, though, there was still ice on the walls. You can hike up and around the ice cave. It is a small attraction, but it is free and you can certainly fit it in with a visit to Dunning's Spring or Palisades Park. Less than 5 minutes from town.
Written July 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Denvergal1234
Denver, CO819 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
This is a fun place to bring first time Decorah visitors, especially on a hot day! It's just a few (ok, maybe 20) steps up, but as you walk towards it, you feel the cool air. 5 feet is there is water dripping and 5-10 more after that, there is ice. I recommend you bring a flashlight though. We always forget and pictures to not turn out well either.
Written July 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dennis k
Waterloo, IA136 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
While this cave is small it is not as small as some other reviewers have said. First you do walk about 15 feet before you come to a cleft in the rocks. Then you slide through the opening ( I weigh 220 and fit without a problem ) and walk back another 50 feet or so. From there you can see into a few small "rooms" All in all a fun diversion while in Decorah. The cave isn't easy to find on Ice Cave Road. Look for a white board that tells about the cave and a picnic table is also nearby.
I would not drive a long distance if this cave is your primary destination but if you are visiting the wonderful town of Decorah do stop here. I raised my review to 4 stars for the following reasons. Parking is very close, the walk up the steps and then to the cave is only about 60 feet. The best part it is free. So bring a good flashlight or two and experience the cave.
While here definitely stop at nearby Dunning Springs ( a really cool place also ) and then find Phelps Park with their overlooks and rock paths and bridges.
I would not drive a long distance if this cave is your primary destination but if you are visiting the wonderful town of Decorah do stop here. I raised my review to 4 stars for the following reasons. Parking is very close, the walk up the steps and then to the cave is only about 60 feet. The best part it is free. So bring a good flashlight or two and experience the cave.
While here definitely stop at nearby Dunning Springs ( a really cool place also ) and then find Phelps Park with their overlooks and rock paths and bridges.
Written July 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mark248075
Decorah13 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
Most of the natural attractions, like the Ice Caves, Dunning park waterfalls, and trout run waterfall are a bit difficult to get to, but worth it once you are there. There are many more attractions to see. The area is very artistic and as beautiful as many areas of the Black Hills. It is a strongly Norse area and during Nordic Fest, it is not uncommon to see Norwegian royalty here. Art abounds in the area and one can see structures built prior to the Civil War. I have made this area my home, but have been a tourist many times.
Written July 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheCaveMan
Greenbelt, MD1 contribution
This is not a commercial cave, nor is it a beautiful wild cave.
This is a dirty old hole in the ground, and I recommend that people without a scientific interest or a case of heat stroke don't bother visiting it. When I visited, the road was closed from flooding, so I bicycled there from Dunning Spring, a huge cascade nearby (north of Decorah in the park) that is well worth visiting and photographing.
The entrance is well marked and a worn set of stone steps leads up to it. Once inside, it doesn't look like much, even down to the "division", where you can go around a corner and see the gate. This permanent gate is just before where the ice starts, so you can easily walk through 100' of this 150' cave. On a hot day in July I measured the temperature at the gate at 35 degrees Fahrenheit, much colder than the average Iowa cave, which should be 48. I just sat there in the mud for a half hour, because it was soo cooling. There's not much to see here except fossils and dripping water in a cave too cold even for normal cave life or dripstone. As the public works crew said, "We won't tell you that you can or can't go into it".
For caving, there are other, better caves at Maquoketa State Park. And there are many better places to have campfires or leave trash.
This is a dirty old hole in the ground, and I recommend that people without a scientific interest or a case of heat stroke don't bother visiting it. When I visited, the road was closed from flooding, so I bicycled there from Dunning Spring, a huge cascade nearby (north of Decorah in the park) that is well worth visiting and photographing.
The entrance is well marked and a worn set of stone steps leads up to it. Once inside, it doesn't look like much, even down to the "division", where you can go around a corner and see the gate. This permanent gate is just before where the ice starts, so you can easily walk through 100' of this 150' cave. On a hot day in July I measured the temperature at the gate at 35 degrees Fahrenheit, much colder than the average Iowa cave, which should be 48. I just sat there in the mud for a half hour, because it was soo cooling. There's not much to see here except fossils and dripping water in a cave too cold even for normal cave life or dripstone. As the public works crew said, "We won't tell you that you can or can't go into it".
For caving, there are other, better caves at Maquoketa State Park. And there are many better places to have campfires or leave trash.
Written July 21, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda O
Ladora, IA20 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
I came here with my family (husband and two sons). It is right down the road from the Dunning Springs waterfall, so we got to see both in a short amount of time. The cave goes is narrow at first, but opens up into two larger rooms, where ice can be seen. We also climbed up along the cliffs and got to explore a few smaller caves, which was pretty cool. It was definitely worth the stop!
Written August 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert M
Perry, IA358 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
It was a 90+ degree day when we went. Was very cool seeing the cold air coming out as we approached the cave. The cave itself is not big, but it is chilly inside and pretty neat. It is a short walk as the road is closed leading up to it. We walked back to the car to grab some flashlights. Again, it is small but if you are in the area, it is worth checking out.
Written July 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cassie J
Sioux City, IA5 contributions
Are pets allowed? Would love to take my dog through here! She's been to other national parks but wanted to make sure this one allowed pets before taking her with me.
JamaalAllan
Des Moines, IA60 contributions
Yes. It's just a small cave entry off the side of the road.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingIce Cave - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Ice Cave
- Hotels near Ice Cave:
- (0.55 mi) Hotel Winneshiek
- (0.32 mi) Overnight on Center Avenue
- (1.69 mi) Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Decorah, IA
- (0.48 mi) Newly renovated apartment located in the middle of downtown Decorah.
- (0.77 mi) Bed & Breakfast on Broadway
- Restaurants near Ice Cave:
- (0.59 mi) Rubaiyat Restaurant
- (0.54 mi) Mabe's Pizza
- (0.54 mi) Don Jose Family Mexican Restaurant
- (0.60 mi) T-Bock's Sports Bar and Grill
- (0.60 mi) Impact Coffee