A selection of glacier cave photographs from several glaciers including Castner, Canwell, Black Rapids, Root, Muldrow, and Augustana. Photographing these so-called "ice caves" is physically demanding, technically challenging, and sometimes dangerous. Some of the caves I've explored extended for thousands of feet into total darkness. The resulting images are often quite surreal, though I never have enough time to explore all the angles in these ephemeral natural wonders. For tips on photographing ice caves, see my blog post How To Photograph An Ice Cave. If you're interested in seeing an ice cave, see here for tour information.

Black Rapids Glacier Tunnel

A very long tunnel beneath the blue ice of Black Rapids Glacier.

Muldrow Glacier Sunset Cave

The setting sun shines into an ice cave on Muldrow Glacier in Denali National Park.

Glowing Canwell Cave

Hidden in the middle of Canwell Glacier, this was one of the best glowing ice caves I’ve seen until it melted away in 2022.

Ice Cave Reflection

Light from a headlamp reflects on the floor of a cavernous Augustana Glacier cave.

Fire & Ice

Utilizing a torch to light the darker interior of a glowing ice cave at Castner Glacier.

Castner Glacier Ice Cave Entrance

Snowshoe tracks lead inside an untouched ice cave on Castner Glacier.

Beneath Canwell Glacier

Deep inside Canwell Glacier.

Canwell Cave Exploring

Exploring a deep, multi-chambered ice cave at Canwell Glacier in the Alaska Range.

Sunshine Ice Cave

Late afternoon sunshine illuminates an ice cave beneath Root Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Black Rapids Tunnel Silhouette

Standing in a long tunnel carved into the ice of Black Rapids Glacier by a meltwater stream.

Ice Portrait

Fairbanks adventurer Grant Wilson poses in front of glowing ice on Canwell Glacier.

Cave Cracks

Typical crack pattern seen in the walls of a cave in winter. (Canwell Glacier)

Into the Darkness

Hikers explore the dark interior of a cave on Castner Glacier.

glacier caves