Provo, UT

Minnetonka Cave is in very southern Idaho, about half an hour from Bear Lake, which puts it at just a little over three hours from Provo (and still less than a gas tank away). We went there on our trip to Bear Lake, and in fact we ended up spending an entire day on it. It doesn’t usually take up that much time (the tour itself is only and hour and a half), but we hit a few bumps in our plan that I will tell you about so you don’t make the same mistake.
We got to the cave at around 12 and found out that the next tour wasn’t until 2:30. If you’re going to go, try calling ahead to see when the next tour is and how many tickets they have left; if it’s not for a while, you could send someone up there to get tickets and come back. (Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for ages 6-15, and $2.50 for seniors—kids under 6 are free but still need a ticket). The plan I would recommend, though, is just going to the cave and being prepared to wait for a while. Bring something to eat; pack sandwiches, pick up some food on the way up, or just bring some snacks (but make sure you’ve got plenty). Bring some games to play; the waiting can actually be really fun if you’re prepared.Technorati Profile

Your tour guide takes your tickets just outside the ticket office, and then you walk through the mountains on a very short walk to get to the cave itself. The cave itself is very cold—40 degrees during the day—so make sure you bring a jacket. Wear socks and shoes, too; I did it in flip flops and was fine, but my toes were pretty darn cold and there were quite a few slippery parts where shoes would’ve been nice. The cave is difficult to do with babies, but it can be done, and it will be much easier if you have one of those carriers that strap over your shoulders. Obviously there are no bathrooms inside the cave, so go before. You’re not allowed to take water bottles inside the caves, but it’s so chilly that you don’t feel like you need it. Be warned that there are lots of stairs inside, some of which are pretty steep. This would probably be a little too difficult for anyone who struggles with stairs, especially because most of the stairs are carved out of rock and are therefore very uneven. Be careful not to drop anything, too, because it’s hard to see in there and you might not even notice until you’ve left.

Last but not least, make sure you watch your head—Mike’s uncle Dave hit his head pretty hard at one point and got some good cuts from it. This is really only an issue if you’re taller than six feet, but it can’t hurt everyone to be extra careful.

Getting there is really simple: When you’re leaving Bear Lake, head north on Highway 89. This takes you into Idaho within a few minutes; you’ll see the sign when you cross the border. Turn left at 200 N, which is also Deer Creek Dr/St Charles Creek Rd, and follow this road until you get to the cave (about 7 miles into the mountains).