Lava Beds National Monument

Visitor Centers:
The Lava Bed's Visitor Center hours vary by season. Check the park's website for current hours of operation.

Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.Note: Due to its remote location, Lava Beds does not accept debit or credit cards.

Lava Beds National Monument is open daily, year round, except on December 25. Hours of operation vary throughout the year. Check the park's website for current hours of operation.

Cave Loop Drive is closed to vehicles from 5 pm to 8 am, but you may still enter on foot or bicycle. Occasionally in winter, snow can temporarily close park roads until they are plowed.

Lava Beds has one campground, Indian Well Campground, located 1/2 mile from the Visitor Center and Cave Loop. There are 43 sites available on a first come, first served basis. Sites can accommodate tents, pickup campers, small trailers and motor homes up to 30 feet. Not all sites can accommodate motor homes. For more information on camping in the park, click here.

Free backcountry camping is also permitted. Restrictions are in place for camping near developed areas and caves. Fires are prohibited and no surface water is available. No groups of more than 12 individuals are permitted.

To learn about non-camping lodging options, visit the park's website.

Other than the snacks sold at the Visitor Center bookstore, no food is available within the monument. The closest restaurants are in the towns of Tulelake, CA and Merrill, OR, both about 25 miles away. Check out the park's website for more information.

Lava Beds National Monument offers a variety of ranger-led programs and other tours, talks, and hikes. To learn more about these ranger-led programs and to see the current events calendar, click here.

In addition to tours, be sure to check out some of the caving events in the monument. You can find more about caving in the park by clicking here.

Lava Beds is surrounded by thousands of acres of public land and is located near a great variety of other scenic, historic, and recreation destinations! Be sure to check out Modoc National Forest as well as Klamath National Forest.

To download a variety of free brochures to help plan your visit, click here.