28 – Wilson Butte Cave
Wilson Butte Cave, situated on Idaho’s Snake River Plain near Twin Falls, is a significant archaeological site offering insights into early human habitation in North America. Formed as a lava tube within a volcanic dome, the cave has yielded artifacts dating back approximately 10,000 to 15,000 years, including stone tools and animal remains. These findings suggest it served as a shelter for ancient hunters, providing some of the earliest evidence of human presence on the Snake River Plain.
Visitors to Wilson Butte Cave can explore the natural formation and appreciate its historical significance. The cave’s entrance, framed by basalt boulders, leads into a spacious cavern that once offered refuge to prehistoric inhabitants. While the site is accessible, those planning a visit should be prepared for rough terrain and ensure they have appropriate transportation. Respecting the site’s archaeological importance by leaving artifacts undisturbed helps preserve this window into ancient history for future generations.
More Information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Butte_Cave
https://visitsouthidaho.com/adventure/wilson-butte-cave
Coordinates: 42.786835, -114.220535
Elevation: 4301 ft
Difficulty: 2
What to Expect: No info
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I rode south from Dietrich and nabbed this site on my way to Minidoka. I had so much fun. the road was the perfect tackiness for a spirited pace. South of the butte it got a bit more rutted but still a great time.
This one was really fun out through the desert. Then continued on the rest of the way to Dietrich.
It was quite a long drive on dirt to get to the Cave that I wouldn’t do if it was wet. Plenty of ruts but manageable.
Road in was pretty rutted out, and challenging. I also got to see a bunch of farmland.
Stop #3…..as Chilly said, this is in the middle of nowhere and I wonder how anyone found it the first time, then found it again. The place looks like a giant pizza oven. Nice and cool inside though (watch out for the guard pigeons!). Road was a 2 but rain could make it a 6. Glad I did it when I did.
Access to this was probably the most rutted and washed out road on FW190Pilot’s and my sub-400 mile awesome trek today. It wasn’t terrible but this checkpoint had you feeling like you were out in the middle of nowhere. We entered via the north road (950 S, gravel until you hit the trailhead) and exited to the south towards Minidoka. Cool cave, but would never know it’s there if it weren’t for this being a checkpoint on the map.