Visit Minnetonka Cave near Bear Lake in Idaho

Caves are an amazing wonder to explore. Whether it’s a small cave you have to crawl through or a big open room that’s pitch black, it’s sure to impress. Minnetonka Cave near Bear Lake in southeastern Idaho is a great adventure for the whole family. In addition to being one of the largest limestone caves in Idaho, it’s a popular spot for people vacationing at Bear Lake. As a result, there are a few things you need to know so you don’t waste time while on vacation.

This year (2021) the cave tours will run from June 4 to Sept. 6.

Here are some tips to help you as you plan to visit Minnetonka Cave.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Masks are required during the entire visit. This not only helps prevent transmission from person to person, but according to the website, it helps prevent spreading it to the bats that call the cave home. Tour groups are also limited to 20 people, and no advanced large-group reservations are allowed.

NOTE: In order to protect the bats in the cave, there are restrictions on clothing and items that have been in other caves. Be sure your clothing and any items have not been in other caves so you can prevent spreading bat diseases into these Idaho caves.

Getting Tickets for a Cave Tour

The biggest challenge to visiting Minnetonka Cave is getting tickets. There are no reservations, so it’s all first come, first served. Last time we were there, we drove up around 11 a.m. to get tour tickets. The soonest we could get our small group on a tour was 1.5 hours later. So we drove back to the cabin in Garden City, made lunch, and ate it on the drive back up to the cave. It was a lot of back and forth, but I guess that’s how they roll.

I’ve heard many people will send a single person up to get tour tickets for later in the day. Then the entire group can head up closer to the tour start time and not have to wait around for hours.

The other caveat… bring cash or check. Historically, those have been the only accepted payment methods. Credit cards were not accepted. However, I read something that for this year (2021) they may be able to accept credit cards. I recommend bringing cash or check, just in case the credit card machine isn’t working, or it isn’t an option.

Driving to Minnetonka Cave

I found it takes longer to get to Minnetonka Cave than expected. Our home base for visiting Bear Lake was a cabin in Garden City. From there, it’s a 45-minute drive to the cave entrance. So 1.5 hours round trip for the person who had to drive up earlier in the day to get tickets. To save time and gas money, you could always arrive at 9:30 and hope to get one of the first tours of the day to minimize wait times. But too many others may have the same great idea.

Highway 89 runs the length of the west side of Bear Lake. Follow the road north past St. Charles in Idaho. Soon after passing North Beach Road on the east (the road that takes you across the north end of the lake and over to the other side), turn left on Minnetonka Cave Road.

It’s a paved road the entire route, so you don’t have to worry about 4WD. The road gets a little windy near the top, but nothing to bad. I just mention that in case your kids are prone to car sickness like mine. There is parking near the top, but if you’re there on an unusually popular day, be mindful of others and don’t park where you’re not allowed to park.

Hang out in the waiting area until they call your tour time. There’s a drinking fountain and some benches. But if you’re going to be there for a while, hopefully you brought something to entertain the kids with.

What to Expect on the Cave Tour

Even in the heat of summer, keep in mind that the caves don’t change temperature much, regardless of the outside weather. The website says the internal temperatures of the cave is 40 degrees, so I would recommend bringing a jacket so you aren’t miserable on the ninety-minute guided tour. You can also bring a flashlight with you, but the cave is lit so you won’t need it. But my kids heard CAVE and wanted a flashlight.

During the tour, you’ll visit nine rooms of the cave. There are hand railings to keep you out of some of the more sensitive areas of the cave in order to protect the stalactites and stalagmites. There are also some staircases you’ll need to be able to climb. This is not something you would be able to do with a stroller, so don’t think you can wheel your younger kids through the cave on the tour.

The cave is large, so you don’t have to worry about climbing or crawling through anything that would make you too claustrophobic.

The tour guide will point out some rock formations and teach you about the geology of the cave. The tour will go quickly, so enjoy it and be sure to take lots of photos. Just be mindful of the flash so you don’t blind others in the cave.

When the tour ends, you’ll end where the tour began.

The Details

Address: 11 miles west of St. Charles, Idaho

Cost: $12 for adults; $9 for children (ages 6-15); Free for children ages 2-5. Children under 2 are not allowed in the cave. A family pass can be purchased for $48, and includes only immediate family members – those living in the same home. $6 for seniors and Access Pass holders.

Hours: Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tours are every 15, 20 or 30 minutes, depending on demand. The last tour starts at 5:30 p.m.

Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ctnf/recarea/?recid=70736

Phone: (435) 491-0618

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