Big Skylight Cave, Four Windows Cave, Giant Ice Cave in El Malpais National Monument, NM

Hike Big Skylight Cave, Four Windows Cave, Giant Ice Cave El Malpais National Monument, NM

Class 2 2.5 miles Minimal gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Apr 29, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Big Skylight Cave, Four Windows Cave, Giant Ice Cave GPX Track

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This route may have access issues.

Permit required to enter the caves. Go to the El Malpais Visitor Center in Grants to get a free permit.

A fun little area of El Malpais known as the Big Tubes Area has access to three fun caves and a couple other features. Get a permit to enter the caves. From the parking area, cairns mark the route easily to Big Skylight Cave, where you can also find a natural bridge amde of volcanic rock. From here, I went to the Giant Ice Cave (no ice this time of year, and it was also a pretty small cave, so that's misleading), and then to Four Windows Cave. With a headlamp, it's easy to see the entirety of these caves in only a few minutes each. From Four Windows Cave, I checked out Caterpillar Collapse and then also part of the Seven Bridges feauture.

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Starting along the cairned Big Tubes Area trail.
Starting along the cairned Big Tubes Area trail.
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Image 2 from gallery
A sign marking the direction of the different caves and features.
A sign marking the direction of the different caves and features.
Natural lava bridge on the right. Big Skylight Cave is behind me.
Natural lava bridge on the right. Big Skylight Cave is behind me.
Entrance to Big Skylight Cave.
Entrance to Big Skylight Cave.
Big Skylight Cave
Big Skylight Cave
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Image 8 from gallery
Big Skylight Cave's skylight. There is some pretty moss below it with a sign reading not to step on it.
Big Skylight Cave's skylight. There is some pretty moss below it with a sign reading not to step on it.
Entering Big Skylight Cave.
Entering Big Skylight Cave.
Looking back toward the skylight before entering Big Skylight Cave.
Looking back toward the skylight before entering Big Skylight Cave.
Above looking down into the skylight of Big Skylight Cave.
Above looking down into the skylight of Big Skylight Cave.
Walking along the Natural Bridge.
Walking along the Natural Bridge.
Giant Ice Cave.
Giant Ice Cave.
At the back of Giant Ice Cave.
At the back of Giant Ice Cave.
Ceiling of Giant Ice Cave.
Ceiling of Giant Ice Cave.
Entrance to Four Windows Cave.
Entrance to Four Windows Cave.
Four Windows Cave was my favorite.
Four Windows Cave was my favorite.
Mosses within Four Windows Cave.
Mosses within Four Windows Cave.
Entering Four Windows Cave, looking back toward the entrance.
Entering Four Windows Cave, looking back toward the entrance.
Some long-exposure shots of Four Windows Cave.
Some long-exposure shots of Four Windows Cave.
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Image 24 from gallery
Heading toward Caterpillar Collapse.
Heading toward Caterpillar Collapse.
Caterpillar Collapse.
Caterpillar Collapse.
Entering the rocky ground of Seven Bridges.
Entering the rocky ground of Seven Bridges.
Under the first bridge looking toward the second bridge.
Under the first bridge looking toward the second bridge.
The gap between the first two bridges.
The gap between the first two bridges.
Seven Bridges.
Seven Bridges.
Third bridge is more of a tunnel.
Third bridge is more of a tunnel.
Going under the third bridge.
Going under the third bridge.
There were more bridges, but I got the point and decided to exit the tube and head back.
There were more bridges, but I got the point and decided to exit the tube and head back.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!