Big Ice Cave Picnic Area and Interpretive Site

Facility · Montana ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Custer National Forest (NF) · Open Access

7,626 ft
Elevation

Located about 50 miles south of Red Lodge and Billings, MT, in the Pryor Mountains, this remote interpretive site has a short walk (0.2 miles) down a steep path to a wooden platform. You can view the always present ice floor in the first room of the cave.

 

  • Interested on how the cave was formed and why there is ice? Click here.

The Big Ice Cave Picnic Ground has 5 picnic sites for day-use only.

  • For a detailed road map, which shows recreation sites and campgrounds, please see our Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM and legend).

Getting there

45.16184, -108.40162 · 45°9'42.6"N 108°24'5.8"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F————————————
Low °F————————————
Precip in0.60.61.11.72.92.11.10.91.31.80.90.6

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 19.9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Common questions about Big Ice Cave Picnic Area and Interpretive Site

Can you reserve a site at Big Ice Cave Picnic Area and Interpretive Site?
No. Big Ice Cave Picnic Area and Interpretive Site is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Big Ice Cave Picnic Area and Interpretive Site

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.