Dave Webb
August, 2024

The Wind Cave hike is fun, and moderately strenuous, in the magnificent Jedediah Smith Wilderness. The trail penetrates dense forest, follows mountain streams, passes beautiful stands of wildflowers, and skirts impressive waterfalls. It is a great family hike.

The Wind Cave is located on the western slope of the Teton Mountains, in Wyoming, but access is via the Teton Valley in Idaho. It is in Darby Canyon, just SE of Driggs.

The cave itself is fun to explore. The opening is a huge vertical slit in the mountain and is visible from a considerable distance. You climb steep switchbacks along a rocky cascading stream to reach the opening. At its entrance the cave is large. You hike over broken rock to probe into the chasm and soon find you have to climb through a small opening to explore farther. To explore very far you need technical equipment to descend and climb steep rock walls.

The cave is not decorated with stalactites and stalagmites. It is just dark brown/gray rock. In many spots, water flows under the broken rock that forms the cave’s floor. During spring and early summer, when runoff is heavy, water may flow over the cave floor and you may have to wade to proceed into the cave.

The water is very cold.

The cave gets its name because a breeze always blows from its depths. At the cave mouth, and at the narrow choke-point, the wind can be quite strong. The wind is cool during the heat of summer but can be quite cold during spring and early summer. Be prepared for cool temperatures.

Details:

• 6.5 miles round trip (depending on how far you go into the cave).

• 1,800 elevation gain

• Shaded in most areas but some stretches in full sun

• Summer and early fall are the best seasons

• Popular trail but not overcrowded

A second cave – the Ice Cave – connects to Wind Cave and the two can be hiked as a loop. Be aware the loop is technical and dangerous. The Ice Cave is smaller and colder. It has ice year-round. You need technical clothing and climbing gear to make the loop.

We hiked during early August. We carried lunch and water and spent about four hours on the trail.

On the way down we encountered a family that did not have water and a couple of members of the party were in distress. We shared what we had. I’m sure others also shared with them. This is Wyoming, in the forest on a high mountain where temperatures are relatively cool, but you always need to carry water plus some food and emergency supplies.