Hiking Project Logo

Lava Beds National Monument

Zoom in to see details
Map Key

Overview

Lava Beds National Monument is a land of disorder. For over 400 millennia, volcanic activity has formed this landscape, creating a land with a rough and irregular surface. Not only is the land marked by the varied volcanic features, this scarred earth is dotted with Native American rock art sites, multiple campgrounds, historic battlefields, and stunning high desert wilderness. Explore the lava tube caves and tour the historical sites of the Modoc War sites to experience the rich history and geography that the park has to offer.

To learn more about Lava Beds National Monument, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

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.

Visiting Tips

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.

Camping & Lodging

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.

Food & Drink

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.

Outfitters, Tours, & Shuttles

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.

Other Activities

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.

Maps & Guidebooks

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

Gems in Lava Beds National Monument - 1

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Gems

gem Favorite Fleener Chimney. Good thing they have a guardrail...

Fleener Chimneys

(1) Tulelake, CA

Recommended Routes in Lava Beds National Monument - 2

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

Favorite Hiking Down Schonchin Butte.
Easy/Intermediate

Schonchin Butte Trail

1.5 mi 2.4 km 460' Up 140.12 m Up 457' Down 139.38 m Down

Tulelake, CA
Favorite The beautiful Northern California landscape.
Easy/Intermediate

Captain Jacks Stronghold

1.3 mi 2.1 km 104' Up 31.8 m Up 107' Down 32.54 m Down

Tulelake, CA

Lava Beds National Monument Hiking

  • 37 Miles 60 Kilometers of Trail
  • 2 Recommended Routes
  • 1 Gem Gems
  • 31 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 13 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 0 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Share what you know about this area!

Weather Averages


High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w/
 
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Trails in Lava Beds National Monument - 42

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Trails

0.9 mi 1.5 km #1Symbol Bridge Trail
Easy
Tulelake, CA
Easy
Tulelake, CA
0.7 mi 1.1 km #2Missing Link Trail
Easy/Intermediate
Tulelake, CA
Easy/Intermediate
Tulelake, CA
1.2 mi 1.9 km #3Bunchgrass Trail
Easy/Intermediate
Tulelake, CA
Easy/Intermediate
Tulelake, CA
0.5 mi 0.7 km #4Heppe Cave Trail
Easy
Tulelake, CA
Easy
Tulelake, CA
0.1 mi 0.1 km #5Mammoth Crater Trail
Easy
Tulelake, CA
Easy
Tulelake, CA
2.1 mi 3.3 km #6Big Nasty Trail
Easy/Intermediate
Tulelake, CA
Easy/Intermediate
Tulelake, CA
0.2 mi 0.3 km #7Hidden Valley Trail
Easy
Tulelake, CA
Easy
Tulelake, CA
0.2 mi 0.3 km #8Boulevard and Balcony Caves Trail
Easy
Tulelake, CA
Easy
Tulelake, CA
10.0 mi 16.0 km #9Lyons Trail
Easy/Intermediate
Tulelake, CA
Easy/Intermediate
Tulelake, CA
0.1 mi 0.2 km #10Hospital Rock Trail
Easy
Tulelake, CA
Easy
Tulelake, CA

Photos of Lava Beds National Monument - 42

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Photos

The beautiful Northern California landscape.
Feb 2, 2016 near Tulelake, CA
Eagle Nest Butte and Mount Dome from the trail
May 5, 2018 near Tulelake, CA
Cinder Butte from the trail
May 5, 2018 near Tulelake, CA
Through another grove of Ponderosa pines
May 5, 2018 near Tulelake, CA
Approaching the rim of Mammoth Crater
May 5, 2018 near Tulelake, CA
The Big Nasty Trail on the edge of Mammoth Crater
May 5, 2018 near Tulelake, CA
Sochonchin Butte to the south
Feb 6, 2022 near Tulelake, CA
Getting closer to Hardin Butte.
Feb 6, 2022 near Tulelake, CA