Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
Though they’re protected inside the park, wolves can be killed when they cross its borders.
Wolves Have a Bad Reputation. One Yellowstone Naturalist Is Trying to Fix It.
The community board at Rex’s Dino Store advertises all kinds of NYC-specific dino services.
We Visited the Dino Bodega in (Jurassic) Park Slope

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States New York State New York City Pine Bush Ellenville Fault Ice Caves

Ellenville Fault Ice Caves

The largest known open fault in the United States is basically a giant natural refrigerator.

Pine Bush, New York

Added By
cl94
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Low shrubs influenced by cave microclimate.   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
Ice at the bottom of a crevice.   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the ice caves.   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
Entering a crevice.   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
Deep crevice entering the caves.   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
Path carved through the thick ice.   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
View at entrance to cave.   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
Alpine plants near the caves.   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Located high on the Shawangunk Ridge, the Ellenville Fault Ice Caves are the region's natural air conditioner. Even in the dog days of summer, the ice caves at Sam's Point are home to a thick layer of ice. 

The ice caves are located within the Ellenville Fault, which is the largest known exposed fault system in the United States. The faults create deep crevices and small caverns, which are sheltered from the sun and outside environment, allowing temperatures to remain near or below freezing much of the year. This allows for ice to remain late in the summer and often until the next winter.

Interestingly, the caves act as a sort of natural refrigeration system for the surrounding area. While the top of the Shawangunk Ridge is only about 2,200 feet above sea level, the microclimate created by the ice caves has allowed plants that normally reside farther north and at much higher elevations to exist nearby. As such, there are large stands of northern and alpine plants such as black spruce and mountain ash.

In 1967, the ice caves were designated a national natural landmark by the National Parks Service, due to their unique geology and importance to the regional ecosystem. In the 1990s, the caves and nearby ridgetop were purchased by a non-profit, eventually becoming part of Minnewaska State Park in 2015. Since the 1990s, the caves have been restored to their natural appearance, with only ladders, railings, and solar-powered lights existing to ensure visitor safety.

Related Tags

Ice Caves Ice Caves Underground Subterranean Sites Subterranean Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

The ice caves are located in the Sam's Point area of Minnewaska State Park, between Ellenville and Newburgh, New York. A four-mile (round-trip) hike over well-maintained trails (mostly paved) is required to access the caves. A $10 per vehicle parking fee is charged. The Ice Caves Trail is closed between late fall and mid-spring, so check the website or call before visiting to confirm the ice caves will be open.

Community Contributors

Added By

cl94

Published

April 5, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam%27s_Point_Preserve#Ellenville_Fault_Ice_Caves
  • https://nystateparks.blog/2018/07/31/the-ellenville-fault-ice-caves-a-national-natural-landmark/
  • https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=ELFA-NY
Ellenville Fault Ice Caves
Verkeerder Falls Trail
Pine Bush, New York, 12566
United States
41.672387, -74.346689
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Nevele Grand

Ellenville, New York

miles away

Gnome Chomsky

Kerhonkson, New York

miles away

Borden Condensery

Walden, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New York State

New York State

United States

Places 807
Stories 45

Nearby Places

Nevele Grand

Ellenville, New York

miles away

Gnome Chomsky

Kerhonkson, New York

miles away

Borden Condensery

Walden, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New York State

New York State

United States

Places 807
Stories 45

Related Places

  • Cricova, Moldova

    Wine Cellars of Cricova

    Seventy-five miles of limestone caves host more than a million bottles of wine beneath a sleepy Moldovan town.

  • Peach Springs, Arizona

    Caverns Grotto

    In a 345-million-year-old cave that's 200 feet underground, dinner awaits.

  • Ice stalagmites.

    Tulelake, California

    Crystal Ice Cave

    Each winter this underground cave forms a dazzling ice palace.

  • Avshalom Cave.

    Israel

    Avshalom Cave

    This amazing ancient cave was kept secret for seven years to protect it from the public.

  • Pertosa Caves.

    Muraglione, Italy

    Pertosa Caves

    Ride a boat through this magnificent underground world, which now doubles as a theater.

  • Cave of Zeus.

    Kuşadası, Turkey

    Cave of Zeus

    This Turkish cave boasts some rather bizarre associations with the King of Mount Olympus.

  • Chamber with Screaming Monster formation in  Sudwala Caves.

    Dollaaskraal, South Africa

    Sudwala Caves

    These otherworldly caverns form Earth's oldest known cave system.

  • Tunnel with steps cut into a cliff face.

    Nottingham, England

    The Caves of Nottingham

    A labyrinthine underworld of tunnels and caverns hides beneath the city.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.