40 Horse Cave
Firth, Idaho
Address: | Wolverine Rd, Firth, ID 83236, USA |
GPS: |
43°16'53.6"N 111°56'54.7"W Maps | Directions |
State: | Idaho |
Trail Length: | 0.18 miles |
Trail Type: | Out & Back |
Hike Difficulty: | Intermediate |
Trails/Routes: | 0.1 mi |
Cave and Hike
The naming of the cave comes from a story of two men who were caught in a bad storm. Upon hiking, these two guys were able to find the cave. One of them commented to the other, "This cave could hold about 40 horses." Another legend tells of a theif that hid 40 horses in the cave to avoid capture. Either way, there's no doubt that 40 horses would fit in the cave.
The hike up to the cave is steep. Elevation gain may only be about 100 feet but even the longest trail is still just under 500 feet (0.1 mile) to the cave. Once you find the trailhead, it's really easy to find. You'll just hike uphill until you come to a large opening in the mountain. The shorter trail has a lot more shale and is a pretty difficult scramble. The longer trail is still steep and difficult but there is much less shale.
Flashlights aren't required, as the cave is only about 50 feet deep. There are a few corners of the cave that are a little more fun to explore with a flashlight.
At the bottom of the trail is a culvert and when the water is higher, it's a fun place to splash around after the hike. You'll see a trail in the willows on the SouthEast side of the road near the culvert. If you follow that trail only about 100 feet of easy hiking, you'll find a smaller cave.
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Firth, Idaho
- Head southwest on US-91 S/
Main St toward W Center St Continue to follow US-91 S(0.4 mi) - Turn left onto N 550 E/
Idaho Rd (1.2 mi) - Turn left onto E 600 N/
Wolverine Rd Continue to follow Wolverine RdDestination will be on the left(13.9 mi)
Take Wolverine Road up into Wolverine Canyon. Once you enter the canyon, it's 2.6 miles to the parking lot. You'll see a road/pullout to the left after 2 miles. When you near the cave, you'll be able to see it up the hill on your left as you go over a culvert where the creek goes under the road. The trailheads are by the culvert and the parking lot is on the left just around the bend.
Shelby
2/1/23 9:09 pmBrenda Denney
4/20/21 1:00 pmendovereric
4/21/21 9:05 amTrails
Distance ?
372 feetElevation Gain ?
-152 feetReal Ascent ?
0 feetReal Descent ?
152 feetAvg Grade (-24°)
-45%Grade (-35° to -6°)
-70% to -10%Distance ?
406 feetElevation Gain ?
-131 feetReal Ascent ?
0 feetReal Descent ?
131 feetAvg Grade (-19°)
-34%Grade (-28° to -7°)
-53% to -12%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
Other Hiking Trails and Caves Nearby
Firth River Bottoms
Firth, Idaho
12.6 miles WWhether you like to ride horses, picnic, camp, fish, learn about the past, or play baseball, this park has something for everyone. The Parks & Recreation Department and the IDaho Education...
Camp, Canoe, Hike 1.0-7.5 miIdaho Falls Greenbelt
Idaho Falls, Idaho
15.6 miles NThe Idaho Falls Greenbelt is one of Idaho Falls charms located in the heart of Idaho Falls, next to the historic Idaho Falls downtown. The paved foot-trail is approximately 6 miles around,...
HikeHell's Half Acre Northbound Rest Stop
Blackfoot, Idaho
16.2 miles WThis is a well maintained rest area with facilities to keep you happy as you travel through Idaho. This rest stop on Interstate 15 about 9 miles north of Blackfoot Idaho has nice picnic tables and...
HikeHell's Half Acre Southbound Rest Stop
Blackfoot, Idaho
16.2 miles WThis is a well maintained rest area with facilities to keep you happy as you travel through Idaho. This rest stop on Interstate 15 about 15 miles South of Idaho Falls has nice picnic tables and...
HikeBlackfoot, ID 83221, United States
Blackfoot, Idaho
20.9 miles WHike and Mountain Bike near Blackfoot, Idaho
Hike, Mountain Bike17 Mile Cave
Idaho Falls, Idaho
27.2 miles NWSeventeen Mile Cave is a lava tube, a cave created by the pocket in which lava used to flow and was left empty when the volcano became inactive. The cave gets its name from its location, just 17...
Cave, Hike 3.8 miStinking Springs
Ririe, Idaho
27.2 miles NEStinking Springs is a great early to late season trail. Being at the edge of the Big Hole range, it gets spring earlier and winter later than other trails in the range. It's closed from December...
Hike, Mountain Bike 0.3-0.6 miCress Creek Nature Trail
Rexburg, Idaho
28.5 miles NEMeandering along the scenic South Fork of the Snake River, the beautiful 1¼ mile Cress Creek Nature Trail will lead you on a journey through sagebrush-grass communities, over juniper covered...
Hike 3.8 miKelly Mountain Trail
Ririe, Idaho
29.9 miles NEKelly Canyon Trail is a moderate, uphill trail that can be used by hikers, mountain bikers, and ATV riders. The trail features views of hills, mountains, trees, wildflowers, and some wildlife. Dogs...
Cross-country Ski, Hike, Mountain Bike, SnowshoePoison Flats
Ririe, Idaho
30.1 miles NEHike near Ririe, Idaho
Hike 1.1 miHidden Vista / Pine Loop
Ririe, Idaho
30.6 miles NECLOSED. This land is owned and managed by the US Forest Service and is not designated for use. As of July 2024, being caught mountain biking on this trail could recieve up to a $5000 fine and a...
Hike, Mountain Bike 1.7 miBuckskin Morgan Ridge
Ririe, Idaho
30.6 miles NECLOSED. This land is owned and managed by the US Forest Service and is not designated for use. As of July 2024, being caught mountain biking on this trail could recieve up to a $5000 fine and a...
Hike, Mountain BikeFall Creek Falls
Swan Valley, Idaho
30.7 miles EFalls Campground is located next to the Snake River near beautiful Swan Valley, only 45 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Mixed growth cottonwood trees provide partial shade, and grassy meadows with...
Camp, Cave, Hike, Kayak, Swim 0.9 miHell's Half Acre Lava Walk
Blackfoot, Idaho
31.1 miles NWThe Lava Trails traverse the desert of the Snake River Plain through contorted landscapes created from multiple lava flows. These Hawaiian-type lava flows are associated with the stretching of the...
Hike 1.0-1.3 miLorenzo Bridge
Rexburg, Idaho
31.5 miles NThis is the old site of the Lorenzo Boat Launch, which has moved to the other side of the river a little further downstream. This spot sees very little traffic. There are beautiful, yet...
Airsoft, Hike, PaintballLorenzo Boat Ramp
Rigby, Idaho
31.6 miles NHike and Kayak near Rigby, Idaho
Hike, Kayak 0.6-2.2 miFish Creek Area
Ririe, Idaho
32.5 miles NECLOSED. This land is owned and managed by the US Forest Service and is not designated for use. As of July 2024, being caught mountain biking on this trail could recieve up to a $5000 fine and a...
Hike, Mountain BikeBurns Canyon
Ririe, Idaho
32.8 miles NEHike and Mountain Bike near Ririe, Idaho
Hike, Mountain BikeHerbert Idaho Ghost Town
Ririe, Idaho
32.8 miles NECLOSED. Private property marked NO TRESPASSING. Herbert is a small ghost town that was operated until the 40s, but with the invention of the automobile, it was much more convenient to live in Rexburg...
Hike 0.5-3.5 miWebster's Dam
Ririe, Idaho
33.6 miles NEAlso known as Manmade Falls or the Woodmansee Dam, Webster Dam is an abandoned dam located deep in Moody Creek canyon, the dam was abandoned when sediment built up behind the dam which then...
Camp, Hike, Mountain BikeNearby Campsites
Blackfoot River Crossing at Trail Creek Road
Firth, Idaho
10.5 miles SIn Soda Springs, ID 34 N for ~11 mi; R (E) on Blackfoot River Rd at mp 69.9; zero odometer; travel 10.4 mi; stay to the L as rd turns to gravel at mi 10.9; mi 13.7 pass Mill Canyon Campground; mi...
CampFirth River Bottoms
Firth, Idaho
12.6 miles WWhether you like to ride horses, picnic, camp, fish, learn about the past, or play baseball, this park has something for everyone. The Parks & Recreation Department and the IDaho Education...
Camp, Canoe, HikeSealander Park
Idaho Falls, Idaho
15.5 miles NWThe story of Sealander park begins with Carl Sealander. Leaving Sweden in 1893 at the age of seventeen, Carl worked in mining communities across Colorado and Utah before meeting his wife, Lizzie...
CampKelly Island Campground
Ririe, Idaho
27.6 miles NEThis is a BLM campground with 14 campsites for RVs or tents and 1 group campsite. Daily Rates $5-20 Showers No Bathrooms Vault...
CampWolf Flats Recreation Area
Ririe, Idaho
27.7 miles NEWolf Flats is a completely free, dispersed, undeveloped camping area with 25 locations to camp. Some areas are large enough to accommodate groups of 50 people.
CampTwin Bridges Park
Rexburg, Idaho
28.5 miles NTwin Bridges is a campground 12 miles South East of Rexburg on S. 600 E. It is maintained by Madison County Parks Department. It is a 27 acre park of pristine land rich with wildlife on the Snake...
Camp, CanoeParamount Wall / Blanche Rock
Ririe, Idaho
28.8 miles NESitting high above the road, the routes at Paramount offer great exposure and relief from the afternoon summer sun. Chuck Oddette, Steve Reiser and Jed Miller established the routes from 1989...
Camp, Horseback, Rock ClimbJefferson County Lake (AKA Rigby Lake)
Rigby, Idaho
29.0 miles NRigby Lake has long been a favorite swimming hole for those in the area. The county has taken it well under its wing and made it a buzzing spot on any warm summer day. Along with the long standing...
Camp, Canoe, Dive, Kayak, Sled, SwimTable Rock Campground
Ririe, Idaho
30.1 miles NETable Rock / Poison Flat Campground is located at the Caribou-Targhee National Forest which occupies over 3 million acres and stretches across southeastern Idaho, from the Montana, Utah, and Wyoming...
CampFall Creek Falls
Swan Valley, Idaho
30.7 miles EFalls Campground is located next to the Snake River near beautiful Swan Valley, only 45 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Mixed growth cottonwood trees provide partial shade, and grassy meadows with...
Camp, Cave, Hike, Kayak, SwimFalls Campground
Victor, Idaho
31.2 miles EFalls Campground is located next to the Snake River near beautiful Swan Valley, only 45 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Mixed growth cottonwood trees provide partial shade, and grassy meadows...
CampBig Hole Dispersed Campsites
Ririe, Idaho
32.0 miles NEA dispersed campsite is simply an unestablished and unmaintained area where people camp. Often, this means that there is a campfire or other basic campsite feature to identify the site and that's...
Camp 0.5-3.5 miWebster's Dam
Ririe, Idaho
33.6 miles NEAlso known as Manmade Falls or the Woodmansee Dam, Webster Dam is an abandoned dam located deep in Moody Creek canyon, the dam was abandoned when sediment built up behind the dam which then...
Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike 0.6-2.0 miNorth Menan Butte ('R' Mountain)
Menan, Idaho
34.9 miles NThe North Menan Butte is more commonly known to the locals and college students as R Mountain. Many kids know it better as Ou'R' Mountain. The butte is a rare and unique geological area and provides...
Camp, Cave, Hike 13.2-13.5 miBear Creek Hot Springs
Irwin, Idaho
36.0 miles EBear Creek Hot Springs is a 15 mile out and back trail with a hot spring at the end. The trail is not well marked and is only recommended for very experienced outdoorsmen and primarily used for...
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Hot Springs, Mountain BikeMoody Meadows
Driggs, Idaho
36.7 miles NEGood place for kids, they can ride bikes in the meadow, play in the stream, and camping is off of the road. Hiking, motorbiking, and horseback riding trails are abundant in the area.
CampBear Creek Campground at Palisades
Irwin, Idaho
37.0 miles EPalisades Reservoir is ideal for water skiing in the summer and features many picnic spots and boat docks. The area forest service hosts nine campgrounds containing 181 family units. Boat launch...
Camp, Hike, Horseback, Mountain BikeCalamity Campground
Irwin, Idaho
37.1 miles ECalamity Campground is located just 55 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. This is the perfect area to access the Palisades Reservoir and enjoy the water activities available there. The water here is...
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, SwimBeaver Dick Park
Rexburg, Idaho
37.6 miles NBeaver Dick is a park 4.5 miles west of Rexburg, Idaho on Hwy 33. It's a 9.5 acre park that passes next to the west bank of the Henry Fork of the Snake River; it's a popular...
Camp, Canoe, Disc Golf, Swim 5.6-8.3 miPalisades Creek Trail / Lakes and Waterfall Canyon
Irwin, Idaho
37.8 miles EPalisades Creek Trail is located about 50 miles southeast of Idaho Falls and about 60 miles west of Jackson Hole WY in Swan Valley Idaho. The four mile hike up to lower Palisades Lake or the 6.2 mile...
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike