Bloomington Lake/Paris Ice Caves

[Rot Box]

My family and I decided to go to Bloomington Lake on Friday. The lake itself was crowded, but still a ton of fun! We took the long way around to get there because I knew the Dodge would not make it up the switchbacks, but we came down them on the short ride home. The water was cold, but it felt really good with all the heat we've had lately. From the lake we headed North to the Paris Ice Caves and cooled off again On the trail we took to the ice caves there is a section called "Cowboys Nighmare" and my wife really hated it... It wasn't too bad That part dropped us out in Paris Flats. Its a huge medow in Paris Valley.

 

[Rot Box]

There is another cavern inside of the obvious one that most people don't know about. It is completely dark aside from two rays of light one from the entrance and one from a small opening that leads to the top. Since I was young there has always been ice in here even in the heat of summer.

The route home is a strait shot to Lewiston, but it is very narrow and steep in one section. The view is of Preston Idaho, and the pic of the truck is halfway down the switch backs. Almost every time I drive down it an ATV'er will ask me if I'm lost because there is no way a truck will fit down this trail (even thought it is legal and the forest service trucks use it often). I always tell them its not too bad as long as I don't have to pass anyone! Anyway my arm is still sore from my wife squeezing it again the trail is not too bad at all if you know what your doing.

Hope you enjoy the pics.

 

[Brian P]

Nice!
I like the Paris Ice cave, Paris ID. is a sort of home coming

 

[Spork]

Cool pics. I haven't been to Bloomington for years. Man I miss that place. :greg:

 

[rollover]

Great pictures. I've been to both Bloomington Lake and Paris Ice cave many times.

Walking up to the Ice Cave you can feel the thermal temp changes as you enter the entrance.

 

[crawldaddy]

what! No rope swing pictures? We were up there Monday and had the lake all to ourselves. This is one of the more enjoyable outings that Ive had in a while. Next time I need to take my fishing pole, the fish were jumping everywhere.

 

[Paul R]

Very cool! I need to get up there!

 

[allterrain]

This looks great. PM directions? I have family in Richmond and get up there now and then.

 

[Rot Box]

For all those interested how would you all feel about getting together and taking a trip there around September? I think it would be a riot to head up Providence then over to Franklin Basin, up Hull Valley then on to the route I took...

what! No rope swing pictures?

It was way too crowded to even get over there I've thought about it many times, but I think I'm too big of a whimp to try the swing

This looks great. PM directions? I have family in Richmond and get up there now and then.

Cool. I actually grew up in Richmond I probably know your family :greg:

I'll see what I can do for a map. I found the trail on Maps.Google but I'm still trying to figure out how to post it here... You basically start in Cub River/Mapleton ID. and make your way up the canyon at the fork head towards the scout camp and Mink Creek then up to Paris.

 

[Mope]

It's a fun ride, I was just up there yesterday. I grew up in Preston. I'd for sure like to join the fun in September.

 

[Grim]

nice ! bloomington is awesome

 

[championapbt]

So exactly where is bloomington and paris ice caves?

 

[Snuggles84041]

i would like to know where this place is as well, looks great.

 

[Mope]

They are in the mountains between Preston, and Bear Lake. The easy way up is the bear lake side, where the harder way up is from the preston side.

 

[Spork]

So exactly where is bloomington and paris ice caves?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...174,-111.574445&spn=0.01128,0.019526&t=h&z=16

Bloomington is north of Bear lake. (see map) This time of year you're best bet getting there is by snowmobile...

 

[Snuggles84041]

Are the Paris Ice Caves right near there? How do i get to the caves from the lake? Thank you for your help, I live in Layton and dont really know where to go to get out and have jeep around.

 

[Mope]

If you follow paris canyon road up from bear lake side you can get to it. It's a real easy going road. A bit more to it coming up from preston side. The only way to get there right now it snow mobile like was mentioned above.

 

[N-Smooth]

from the bear lake side how rough is the road aka would you drive it in a car? going to bear lake today after work and would like to check out the lake

thanks

p.s. is there a hike to the lake from the end of the road?

 

[Thardy]

Yes you can get there in a car and yes there is a little hike

 

[N-Smooth]

yeah, i already went up there in my car on saturday. that is a cool little lake! when we got there at around 10 there was only a small scout troop and no one had even done the rope swing yet so we busted it out. for over an hour no one else showed up but around noon it started to get really crowded. i must've done the swing 25-30 times