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Lava Beds National Monument

 

Contact Information:

Lava Beds National Monument
1 Indian Well Headquarters
Tulelake, CA 96134
(530) 667-8100

Additional Information:
Official Park Page

Need a place to stay?
California Lodging

Books:
Frommer's® National Parks of the American West
Fodor's National Parks of the West, 2nd Edition
America's National Parks for Dummies, Second Edition


Lava Beds National MonumentLava Beds National Monument is the site of the largest concentration of lava tube caves in the United States. The monument lies on the northeast flank of the Medicine Lake shield volcano, the largest volcano (total area covered) in the Cascade Range.

The region in and around the monument is unique because it lies on the junction of the Sierra-Klamath, Cascade, and Great Basin physiographic provinces. In addition, the monument is geologically outstanding because of its great variety of “textbook” volcanic formations; i.e., lava tube caves, fumaroles, cinder cones, spatter cones, maar volcanoes, and lava flows.  Some of the major Lava Flows within Lava Beds National Monument include: Callahan Flow, Schonchin Flow, Mammoth Crater Flow, Modoc Crater Flow, and Devils Homestead Flow.

Visitors can tour both the geologic and historic wonders of this unusual landscape.

Fees:
Seven Day Entrance Fee: $10.00 per vehicle
Motorcycle, Bicycle or Walk-in: $5.00
Campsite Fee: $10.00
Group Campsite: $3.00 per person, up to $60.00

Getting There:
From the I-5 corridor, take U.S. 97 north at Weed to California Hwy. 161. Travel east on CA 161 to Hill Road, turning south, or right, following monument signs. Travel south on Hill Road to the north entrance of the monument.

From the Klamath Falls area, take Oregon Hwy 39 south approximately 20 miles until it enters the town of Merrill, OR. Approximately one (1) mile south of Merrill, turn right (south) on Malone road. Travel south on Malone road approximately 2 miles until you reach Stateline Road 161. Turn left (east) and then take the immediate right at West Side Grocery onto Hill Road. Travel south on Hill Road 10 miles until you enter Lava Beds National Monument. You will pass the visitor center for Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge on your way to the monument.

For those traveling east on California Hwy 299 from the Redding or Lassen National Volcanic Park areas, travel north at Bieber on Hackamore / Lookout Road to California Hwy 139. Travel north on CA 139 until meeting directional signs that will direct you to the monument.