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Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geological and historical. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. More than 800 caves, Native American rock art sites, historic battlefields and campsites, and a high desert wilderness experience await you!
RecAreaDirections
Lava Beds is a truly remote park, in a corner of California most people never visit. Most roads into this area wind through mountains, and along rivers, and travel may take longer than expected. Services are few and far between and winter driving conditions can be encountered anytime between fall and spring.
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Permits info
Facilities
Indian Well Campground Campground
List of CampsitesLava Beds has one campground, Indian Well Campground, located 1/2 mile (0.8 km) from the Visitor Center and cave loop. There are 43 sites available on a first-come, first serve basis. Sites can accommodate tents, pickup campers, small trailers and motor homes up to 30 feet. Note: not all sites can accommodate motor homes.
Lava Beds National Monument Tours Ticket Facility
Overview:
Lava Beds National Monument is a place where you can smell the sage and juniper, hear the birds, crawl beneath the surface of the earth, hike through miles of ancient lava flows, and learn about the cultural heritage of the Modocs.Situated on a small 47,000 acre portion of the Medicine Lake shield volcano, Lava Beds National Monument was formed from a series of eruptions over the course of the past 500,000 years. This activity has created an incredibly rugged landscape punctuated by both developed and undeveloped caves, cinder cones such as Schonchin Butte that provide expansive views of the Tule Lake Basin and Modoc National Forest, and jagged lava flows like Devil's Homestead.
Many of the caves and features at Lava Beds National Monument show evidence of the human influence on the landscape. Native American cave paintings, called pictographs or petroglyphs, were created by the Modocs and can be seen at Big Painted Cave and Symbol Bridge, while hundreds of rock carvings can be found at Petroglyph Point.
The geologic and cultural histories collide in a unique way at Captain Jack's Stronghold, a natural lava fortress where Captain Jack and a group of 53 Modoc warriors and their families held out against the United States military for five months during the Modoc War of 1872 to 1873.
Whether looking through exhibits at the visitor center, hiking the trails, or exploring the caves, experience the diverse opportunities at Lava Beds National Monument on your own, or through guided tours.
Summary of Fees
| Tour Name | Ages 12 and up | Reservation Fee (per ticket) | Changes* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Ice Cave | Free | $1.50
(non-refundable) |
$0.00 |
| Fern Cave | Free | $1.50
(non-refundable) |
$0.00 |
Lava Beds Visitor Center Facility
Lava Beds is home to one visitor center located at the south end of the park, near cave loop road. An entrance station is located at the north end of the park, but is only open in the summer. As you drive through the park you can find information kiosks with park maps at Petroglyph Point, and Gillem's Camp.
