Explore the Sandy Glacier Ice Caves

Mount Hood, Oregon

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Details

Distance

8.8 miles

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Brooklynn Lykes

Largest known glacier cave system in lower 48 states, only fully discovered and documented in 2011. Mount Hood's Sandy Glacier is home to the largest and most extensive glacier cave system in the contiguous United States. The caves begin a mile uphill from McNeil Point and consist of three main caves: Snow Dragon, which has recently experienced a collapse, Pure Imagination, and Frozen Minotaur.

Park at the Top Spur Trailhead then follow that trail to the timberline trail and that will lead you to McNeil Point. From McNeil Point, it is a long and exposed off-trail traverse to the cave entrances at roughly 6,500 feet. The spring and summer seasons are when the majority of melting occurs and when the caves pose the greatest danger, as large boulders constantly drop from the ceiling and sheets of ice break away from the entrances. SPRING AND SUMMER TRAVEL IS NOT ADVISED.

Relatively speaking, winter is the safest time to be inside the caves, although falling debris is still common. The off-trail traverse from the McNeil Point Shelter is steep and requires crampons and ice axes at the minimum. Adventurers should give themselves at least 7 hours to reach the caves from the Top Spur Trailhead. NF-1828, which leads to the Top Spur Trailhead, is not maintained during the winter months, however. If you are unable to reach the Top Spur Trailhead due to snowpack, you may have to park 7.8 miles further down the road at at Muddy Fork Road.The glacier itself is mostly covered with rocks, in fact, it's sometimes difficult to figure out where the edge of the glacier actually is.

The park is not maintained or regulated so camp at your own risk.

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