What is Duck Creek Ice Cave?
Duck Creek Ice Cave is a textbook cold trap: a sinkhole on the Markagunt Plateau whose entrance sits higher than the chamber below it, so dense winter air sinks in, settles, and never really circulates back out.
Caves
Duck Creek Ice Cave
A classic cold-trap ice cave with one chamber that holds ice into summer
At a glance
- Elevation
- 8,820 ft · Ice cave
- Drive time
- ~15 min from the inn
- Difficulty
- Easy: a short walk from the pullout, then a careful climb down into the chamber over loose and often icy rock
- Parking
- Small pullout at the signed site. Heading east on Highway 14, turn at the Duck Creek Visitor Center, drive past it, and follow the signs to the Ice Cave.
- Pets
- Dogs are welcome on a leash at the surface, and that is where they should stay. The climb down into the chamber is slick and awkward with a dog in hand.
Duck Creek Ice Cave is a textbook cold trap: a sinkhole on the Markagunt Plateau whose entrance sits higher than the chamber below it, so dense winter air sinks in, settles, and never really circulates back out. Snow falling straight through the opening is the cave's water supply. The Utah Geological Survey places it at 8,820 feet in Kane County and is refreshingly honest about it — the cave is small, always cool, and does not quite meet the strict definition of an ice cave, because it often melts out in late summer. The Forest Service describes a single chamber with icicles and calls it a good place to climb into and chill out. Both descriptions are true depending on when you show up: arrive in June and you may find ice underfoot, arrive in late August and you may find a cold, empty room.
The drive from the inn
Forest roads are where people get lost on the way to a cave, so every turn below is a numbered pin on the map. Tap a line to see what that stretch of road is like.
Highway 14 west 1.8 miles to the Duck Creek Visitor Center, turn south, then about 1.5 miles of graded forest road, FR-059 and then the FR-867 spur, to a pullout at the end. Three and a half miles total.
- Paved
- Graded dirt
- Rough dirt
Duck Creek Village Inn
Head west on Highway 14 for 1.8 miles. Most people arriving from Cedar City reach this turn before the village.
Duck Creek Visitor Center
Turn south at the visitor center sign. Worth stopping, because the rangers know whether the ice is still in there.
Ice Cave Road (FR-059)
Bear left onto the signed forest road. Graded dirt, fine for a normal car when dry.
Right onto FR-867
A short spur that dead-ends at the cave. If the road keeps going, you are on the wrong one.
Duck Creek Ice Cave
Pullout at the end of the road, 8,820 ft. A hundred yards of walking, then a steep climb down into the chamber.
Coordinates37.50662, -112.71112Elevation8,820 ft
Highlights
- A cold trap: the entrance sits above a descending chamber, so cold winter air settles in and stays
- Snow dropping straight through the opening is the only water the cave gets
- 8,820 feet elevation, in Kane County on the Markagunt Plateau
- One chamber, so this is a short stop of minutes, not hours
- Ice is seasonal: best in early summer, often melted out by the end of summer
- Signed from the Duck Creek Visitor Center, just minutes from the village
Tips
Go early in the season if the ice is the reason you are going — by the end of summer the cave often melts out and you are visiting a cold hole in the ground instead. The climb down is short but the footing is poor, so take it one person at a time and keep a hand free. Bring a light even though the chamber is small, and leave the ice alone so the next family gets to see it too. It pairs easily with Cascade Falls or any other stop along Highway 14.
When to go
Early summer is the sweet spot: the winter ice is still in place and the road is clear. By late August the ice has usually gone, though the chamber stays cold. Snow shuts the access road in winter, so plan on late spring through fall.
| Cave | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duck Creek Ice CaveNo closure order here; the limit is the road. Go in June if the ice is the reason you are going; by late August the chamber is often cold and empty. | January: Depends | February: Depends | March: Depends | April: Depends | May: Open | June: Best | July: Best | August: Open | September: Open | October: Open | November: Depends | December: Depends |
- Best
- Open
- Depends
- Closed
What to bring
- A headlamp rather than a phone, so both hands stay free on the climb down
- Shoes with real tread; the rock at the bottom is often glazed with ice
- A warm layer even in July, because cold air pools in the chamber and stays there
- Patience for the descent, and a spare hand for anyone shorter than you
Stay planning
Once this stop is on your list, use Plan Your Days for itinerary ideas or compare our rooms and cabins to match the style of trip you want.
May 2026
Why trust this guide
Cave access, forest roads, and shoulder-season weather can change faster than people expect around Duck Creek. We use guest trip-planning experience here, but always recommend checking the official sources below before you commit to the drive.
Questions: Duck Creek Ice Cave
Cave basics, driving distance, and what to know before you go.
How far is Duck Creek Ice Cave from Duck Creek Village Inn?
Duck Creek Ice Cave is about ~15 min from Duck Creek Village Inn in the current cave guide.
What should I know before visiting Duck Creek Ice Cave?
The seasonal closure that shuts Mammoth Cave and Bower Cave from October 1 through April 30 does not cover the Ice Cave, but snow can close the access road. Check conditions with the Duck Creek Visitor Center before a shoulder-season drive.
Go up one level
Start from the cave hub if you want the broader set of lava tubes and cave stops before picking one route.
Related stops
Sideways links to other caves and nearby stops that match this kind of adventure.
Next steps
These next-step guides help you connect a cave stop to a bigger Duck Creek or park day.
Choose your stay
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Stay Here, Explore Duck Creek Ice Cave Tomorrow
Book your room or cabin at Duck Creek Village Inn - ~15 min from Duck Creek Ice Cave.