Lava Beds National Monument - California

Address:1 Indian Well Headquarters
Tulelake, California
Tel: (530) 667-8104

From the lavacicles in Mushpot Cave to the cinder cones of Hippo Butte, you're in for a wild ride at Lava Beds. The park is famous for having the largest concentration of lava tube caves in the U.S. and an impressive variety of volcanic formations such as cinder cones, spatter cones, fumaroles, and many others. Captain Jack's Stronghold, named for a Modoc Indian chief, is a very peaceful, unique trail capturing the spirits of the Modoc people who lived within the park until their destruction. In the cliff at Petroglyph Point, amazing ancient rock art survives to this day alongside nesting birds. There are several caves to explore in the park including Skull Cave, Heppe Ice Cave, and Valentine Cave, each with unique features. Most of the caves have easy to moderate trails, making them suitable for almost all visitors. Other activities include hiking and wildlife viewing along the rugged terrain.

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 created an incredibly rugged landscape punctuated by cinder cones, lava flows, spatter cones, lava tube caves and pit craters. These lava tube caves, of which there are more than 500 in the Monument, are a favorite underground destination for visitors to explore.