Big Four Ice Caves facts for kids
Big Four Mountain is a tall mountain in the Cascade Range in Washington. It is located about 21 miles (34 km) east of Granite Falls. The mountain is about 6,180 feet (1,884 meters) high.
At the bottom of its very steep north side, huge piles of rock and ice form. These piles come from avalanches and stay there all year. This is because the mountain keeps the area in constant shade. The ice here is special because it forms the lowest-elevation glacier in the lower 49 states! During the summer, melting snow creates streams that flow under these ice piles. This carves out amazing caves within the ice.
Big Four Ice Caves Trail
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The Big Four Ice Caves Trail is a very popular hiking path. It is part of the National Recreation Trail network. This trail is found in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. More than 50,000 people visit it every year.
On busy days, hundreds of hikers come to the trail. The parking areas often get completely full. Sometimes, people even have to park along the nearby Mountain Loop Road.
Safety at the Ice Caves
In November 2006, a big storm caused flooding. It destroyed a main footbridge that led to the Big Four Ice Caves. It cost about $425,000 to fix the bridge. The repairs were finished in June 2009.
Even though the trail is open, the ice caves themselves are often closed. This is because parts of the caves can collapse or slide. Sadly, these dangers have caused accidents. Four hikers have died in incidents in 1998, 2010, and 2015. Because of these serious risks, visitors are always told to stay out of the ice caves. It is very important to follow all safety warnings.
