From the Archives: Paradise Ice Caves
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Paradise Ice Caves in 1920s. (Photo courtesy Washington State Digital Archives)
For decades until their disappearance in the early 1990s, the Paradise Ice Caves were perhaps the most popular attraction for visitors to Mount Rainier National Park. The view inside the caves was amazing, as the icy walls and ceiling had a bluish glow to them. A cool breeze often blew through the ice caves, as if you needed reminding that you were on the highest mountain in the Northwest. The ice caves were a system of interconnected glacier caves within the Paradise Glacier on Rainier's south side. In the late 1970s, they were the longest mapped system of glacier caves in the world. But by the early 1990s, they had disappeared due to the glacier’s steady retreat. While the ice caves are no more, the State Digital Archives has this photo of the caves during their frozen glory days. The photo, taken on Oct. 13, 1923, shows someone exploring one of the caves. Note the Paradise River running in the center. The photo is found in the General Subjects Photograph Collection, 1845-2005.(html)
Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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