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The exploding colors of Big Four Ice Caves

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Washington State abounds with nature in every direction. While places like the expansive Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest keep a quiet existence in the Winter due to abundant snow, the Summer season offers an amazing diversity of colors and textures. Explosive berries and wildflowers framed in by proud fir trees under towering rocky peaks provide a captivating myriad of nature. This scene contrasts with the giant rocks and patches of white snow and ice. Some might say this sounds magical, and it certainly is to me. Amongst the soul-inspiring beauty of this part of the world, the Big Four Ice Caves exist.

Let this photo gallery inspire your own magical experience at Big Four Ice Caves

The Big Four Ice Caves are natural caverns eroded through a large collection of snow and ice that continues to melt away each year. Towering above the ice features, at 6,100 feet, is Big Four Mountain. The prominent feature of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest earned this name when a group of miners noticed a giant four carved into the side of the sharp face.

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Where are the Big Four Ice Caves?

The beauty of this area is that proximity to the Seattle area — only 47 miles and about 90 minutes driving in normal traffic. In fact, I’ve included this trip in my article about the 16 best day trips from Seattle. While Mt. Rainier is a true all-day investment, amongst Summer crowds, the journey through the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest feels more manageable and relaxed. After some zigzagging efforts through suburbia around Everett, Washington, and then passing Granite Falls, Washington, most of the final 26-mile stretch of the drive takes place on the Mountain Loop Highway that closely follows the babbling South Fork of the Stillaguamish River — complete with car-sized granite boulders and crystal clear mountain runoff.

The picnic area and meadow

Big Four Mountain commands this landscape photo with patches of snow amongst fir forests and a mowed meadow in the foreground.
The remains of a historic lodge fireplace is highlighted next to a sign that marks Big Four Mountain. There is a grassy meadow that flows to a fir forest and then the towing mountain that still has patches of snow.
This meadow scene is at the start of the trail that goes to Big Four Ice Caves. The placid water is clear and surrounded by tall green grass and fir trees in the distance. The horizon has several mountains under a blue sky.
A boardwalk made of wood flows straight forward toward Big Four Mountain amongst many varieties of green plants, including a leafy tree overhead.
The Stillaguamish River flows with pristine clear mountain runoff and a patchwork of round rocks. The wilderness in the background has mountains covered in green fir trees.

The forest hike

Matthew Kessi poses for a photo in the middle of a rich green forest on the trail to the Big Four Ice Caves in the Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. He's wearing green shorts and a blue t-shirt and a black cap and there are many varieties of shrubs and trees around him with patches of blue sky peeking from above.
This stunning wilderness scene is viewed on the hiking trail to Big Four Ice Caves. The gravel trail leads to a foot bridge made of wood and Matthew Kessi stands on the bridge for the photo. Around him are fallen trees from former avalanches and the towering mountains beyond the forest.
Alpine fir trees rise up toward the blue sky amongst a forest scene that eventually gives way to the snow-capped mountains.
The hiking trail to Big Four Ice Caves begins to open up to large green shrubs with a few trees in the background under blue sky.
A hiker works through a rock scramble with huge jagged pieces of granite on the valley floor near the snow and ice field and the steep towering mountain.
Big Four Mountain takes a commanding position in this photo of a gravel hiking trail leading toward a field of snow and ice at the base of the granite mountain.

The alpine colors of Summer

Bright red berries form a large bunch hanging to a green bush with sun shining on the leaves.
A yellow alpine flower opens up to the sun amongst other blooms that are still forming. In the background is green foliage of the forest.
An ornate alpine flower with red petals and yellow center clings to a green bush deep within the alpine forest.
A delicate yellow flower with red dots begins to open up while facing downward toward the meadow floor.
An alpine flower at Big Four Ice Caves prepares to flower with tight purple buds atop a leafy green plant. In the background and out of focus is the snow and ice field.
Two dark purple ripe berries cling to a green stalk surrounded by leafs with shadows from the bright sun above.
The orangish yellow of the wild raspberry shines in the sunlight amongst the green leafy foliage of the plants, with shadows cast.

Big Four Ice Caves

Big Four Ice Caves view looking up the mountain with alpine waterfalls flowing down the face of the mountain surrounded by green grass and foliage. Meanwhile the cave at the valley floor is made from snow and ice.
One of the ice caves at Big Four Ice Caves. In this shot a waterfall can be seen deep inside the cave, that appears dark leading out to the beveled roof of ice that shows blueish tints toward the opening of the cave. High above are mountain waterfalls flowing down the face of the sheer cliffs.
Matthew Kessi poses for this selfie in front of one of the caves at Big Four Ice Caves in the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Wilderness Area. He's wearing a black cap and blue t-shirt and smiling toward the camera. The cave formations behind him are made from ice that is white with traces of dust and dirt from the rock below.
A view looking out from one of the caves made from ice and snow at the Big Four Ice Caves. The snow makes a diagonal line toward the rocks at the valley floor while fir trees pop up in the forest in the distance. The hills farther away roll with a rocky peak popping up in the background.
A close up of the ice forming the ceiling of the cave at Big Four Ice Caves. The lines of the ceiling are made by faint dust and pine needles as the sun shines high above in the blue sky.

Interactive Map — day trips from Seattle

Filed Under: Cascade Mountains, Destinations, Mountains, Pacific Northwest, Photo Gallery, Washington State

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