Lava Beds National Monument in Klamath Falls

I underestimated the amount of time I would want to spend here. I definitely want to come back to explore more of the caves and trails. I could have easily spent two full days. We explored some of the shorter, easier caves on this trip. Having been to many of the cave parks that require a tour guide, it was refreshing to be able to explore the caves on our own. There are a wide variety of options from short, easy and lighted to long and challenging, and everything in between.

Do not pass this up. I never seen anything like it. Its literally like steping back a million years ago. Tons of caves with multiple difficulty levels. Go and be a cave deller.

The lava beds were pretty much the same as everywhere. Its beautiful, the petroglyphs were probably the most interesting. We didnt find huge caves, would like to have gone on a cave tour.

We did it as a day trip from Redding. It was a long day but totally worth it. Great for kids. The park service is renovating some areas - the park is clean and well maintained . Bravo NPS !

Absolutely fantastic experience! Informative, great learning opportunity for kiddos and adults alike, interesting history of the natives!

What an awesome place to visit! So many caves. So glad we took the time to come. Great example of prehistoric volcanic activity. Take the time to come.

An amazing adventure exploring caves, definitely look over the NPS website and prepare well for your visit especially if youre squeezing through tight spaces in moderate to advanced caves. We wore hiking boots, long pants, long shirts, helmets, headlamps, and brought extra flashlights and this preparation definitely prevented injuries (Especially the helmets!). Just wished I had remembered to bring gloves since the surface of the walls, floors, and ceilings can be sharp.

This is such a cool and fun place !! You would never know there are so many caves. Bring really sturdy shoes for inside the caves. Bring heavy duty flashlights. They let you use theirs until about 4 pm but not always the most powerful lights. If you want to buy them there they are pretty expensive $40.

Very surprised how good the place, was a spur of the moment to take detour to the monument, so glad we did. Tons of caves to explore and interesting history of the native tribes. Very informative ranger station, caves start at very easy with lighting and go on up in difficulty. Visitor center does offer flash lights, water station and hard hats. Worth a visit.

So cool! Its best to bring your own flashlight, (1 per personas the ones they let you borrow at the visitor center are a bit unreliable. The printout guide they give you is well worth looking at since each cave varies widely in terms of difficulty.

A fun experience for the family.Lots of closed caves but plenty to explore still.Wish we had more time to play here.Boys earned jr ranger badges.Nice visitors center just wish there was more of a sticker collection available.Clean bathrooms.Water available to fill your bottles.We went through the sentinel cave upper entrance to lower than back up again.Wearing shorts it feels so nice when you get to the lower section.Don’t forget flashlights and comfy shoes.

For the mildly athletic folks (like me), it is necessary to wear helmets and GOOD hiking shoes (sharp volcanic rocks!). It is more necessary to wear good and strong headlamps so your hands are free to balance yourself and to hold on to railings and others. My night vision was not good and it was a bit challenging with a 3-star headlamp. Cheap coke from the vending machine by the restroom near the visitor center ($1.10). Nice picnic tables by the visitor center as well but be aware that there is NO FOOD available to buy at the park (not even nuts or the usual nutritional bars!).We spent about 3 hours visiting 4 caves and were exhausted, probably due to the heatwave (100 Fand the high elevation (4000+?though we didnt do much besides crawling up and down and in and out of the car, shuffling among different caves. The cool air was very welcoming (I was still sweating in a tank topexcept in the Skull Cave with the ancient ice sheet at the bottom (had to put on a windbreaker brieflybut the caving was soon over since it was a short path.It was a bit hard to arrange a trip since there was no services nearby. We stayed in Klamath Falls, OR, and hit Crater Lake, Lava Beds, and Tule Lake. We enjoyed the remoteness of the park and saw a lot of eagles. Worth the effort.

A super fun national monument! The Ranger at the visitor center was more than welcoming and helped us choose a couple hikes/caves based on our time available. He even lent us a couple flashlights for our journey.The caves are (obviouslysuper dark so be sure to bring/get a flashlight/headlamp and wear good shoes, it was be very uneven, wet, and rocky.

This place is in Northern Ca. It is amazing. I highly recommend it. I visited with my family on our vacation. We stayed at our time share Worldmark Running Y resort condo in Klamath Falls, Oregon. It takes about 1 hr to get to Lava Beds. We did all of the least challenging Lava Caves = they were all amazing. Be sure to stop at the visitor center first to get the permit. They have information about the caves and map for you. You can check out flashlights if you do not have flash lights or headlamps but need to return them before they close at 4:30pm. We had our own LED flash lights so we did not need to check out. Be sure to use the restroom before starting the Lava caves.

This place was so cool! We didnt get to go in the caves because we got there too late, but it was gorgeous, there is a lovely, easy hiking path and well definitely be back!

One of THE best national parks! This place is a gem in the NPS system. There are a large number of lava tube caves to explore, many of them well developed for fun adventures. Dont forget your flashlight and helmet.

What a fantastic place! I visited with my family and we were all engulfed in the adventure of the caves and the landscape. We love coming here all the time and have been helped by the staff tremendously. We enjoy the visitors center and its little exhibition very much. This is a place for friends and and family as much as outdoor enthusiasts alike!

We visited in a spur of three moment, so were only able to spend a few hours here. It was well worth driving out of the way to see. You get to freely explore the caves, which are just amazing. I highly recommend it.

Very cool lave caves. Had a great day there.

nice caves, it has a lot of them but some are difficult. need to pay 25$ per car

Go to the visitor center and speak to the rangers first. They will give you plenty of information and wont steer you wrong. Flashlight is available to borrow at the visitor center. America the beautiful pass accepted. I recommend helmet, any kind, a bike helmet works just as well. They have helmets available for sale in the visitor center. Wasnt prepared to do the strenuous ones, didnt have gloves or knee pads. The caves are really dark so bring bright lightning. Your phone flashlight will not be sufficient.

Very educational experience, wonderful landscape, and a great visitors center! There are caves for all levels including an introductory cave that was exactly our speed. The visitor center staff were top notch helpful. We are excited to return for more caving!

Absolutely loved our trip out there! 100% talk to the park rangers! They are super knowledgeable and have some fun stories! Be sure to bring gloves , a hard hat and flashlights for the caves!

Lots of fun but dont forget your flashlight. ☺️ There are caves for everyone to explore. Very sad about the forest fire. Cant wait to come back and see how much it has grown.

Stunning example of the power of geology. This was one of the most memorable places I have been. There were a mix of caves for all ability levels. My partner and I spent 3 hours exploring the Catacombs, which was the most challenging. I would recommend helmet, knee/elbow pads, strong light, and download a PDF cave map from nps.gov if you are planning on exploring beyond the first third of the cave. There are other caves that dont require much besides a helmet and light to navigate that were equally as interesting. It was surprisingly hands off. You get a cave pass from the visitors center and then you explore independently. Park was not crowded when I went during the week in June. Practically had the place to ourselves

One of the most memorable places to go. The only drawback is getting there, although it is probably better that the caves are in a fairly remote area. Only the dedicated traveler will get to appreciate the wonder of this unique landscape.

Way off the beaten track fascinating place to explore the geology of the Cascades. Rangers at visitor center (you must stop there 1st to get a permit to enter the cavesare very friendly & helpful. Also learn the sad history of the Modoc people.

Lots of things to explore above ground and below. Several of the caves can be explored without crawling or needing kneepads and gloves.The park helpfully rates the caves similar to ski slopes - green circle, blue square, and black diamond. Mushpot near the Visitor Center is a good introduction. Its paved and lighted, but you should still bring your own lights for best viewing.Smallish campground is a bargain - $10 per night. $5 with a Senior pass or equivalent. First come first serve. We had no problem finding a site at the end of April.

It was a great place to explore..if you going late in the evening get your own light.. they stop giving light hour before 5.. there are lot of caves to caves to explore… easily you could spend a day there. Pack your lunch and spend the day it will be worth… the landscape was beautiful too.. if you are in that area stop by the nearby National wildlife refuges.. you could see birds, coyotes and deers..

Has to be one of my favorite parks in the US. The fact you can go caving by yourself is great. You just need to check in at the visitor center and get the voucher to hang in the car window. You will need a good torch and a backup and a backup backup. The lava tubes are great to explore, but are very dark and you need good shoes. We did a lot of them, but Blue Grotto and Skull Cave were my favorites, though Valentine cave was also good.This is a great day out playing in the dark. Its also worth doing Schonchin Butte Lookout as the views are fantastic. You need to look at the pictures carefully to get an idea of the scale of these caves.

This place is very much in the middle of a lot of open countryside. A very nice visitor centre provides information about the area and here you can book your drive to discover the caves with different level of experience and expertise required. But even if you dont want to go underground, the area is just beautiful. Follow our adventures @SLYSTRX

It’s a wonderland with all of the interesting caves and landscapes. First of all, pack the flashlights or headlights, you may need them if you want to explore some more caves. If not, doesn’t matter, only go to mushpot cave, which has the light. Secondly, the drive I recommend to take California 161 from US-97, you can see lower Klamath lake wild animal refuge area. It’s beautiful. And the drive is very far and don’t drive too crazily fast, take time to see the views. The Lava Bed monument has incredibly nice staff there. Super friendly and gives you the right information.

This is a must see! The visitors center is your first starting point, as you must get permitted to enter the caves for the protection of bats. There are beautiful hikes, and amazing caves to explore on your own. I went in November and the weather was perfect to hike and explore. Be prepared to explore the caves and read information about the park on the national parks page. They do sell some gear I the center if need be.

Natural caves are amazing natural wonders to behold. Be adventurous and go see and support this national monument but be prepared with headlamps, warm clothing and knee pads (if youre going to do more challenging caves).

Definitely recommend! Came down from Sacramento California, Love nature, and even though it was closedown because of the fires🥺 COVID, Just to see the surrounding was beautiful, hopefully it get open again soon and we are able to come again🙏🏼

What an incredible place to happen upon! Kind of in the middle of nowhere, but so worth the drive! We only explored 4 of the 800 caves. You would need to spend weeks there to see it all. Lots of history and not too many people!

This is a fantastic place to visit, and well worth a detour. Make sure to check in at the Visitor Center first to get a pass (they need to check if you e visited other caves to keep from contaminating them). We visited on a weekday in July and the park was super quiet. There’s a loop of caves you can drive that starts by the visitor center. Be aware that they close any cave when bats are present, so ask the rangers what’s open. I’d recommend also visiting some of the caves off the main loop, like Skull and Valentines caves. There was nobody in them at all when we were there. Bring flashlights, and a helmet is a good idea for those caves with lower ceilings. Finally, a big call out to how helpful the rangers were!

What an awesome place to explore!!! Like no other place I have been. No crowds. Campground is nice and only $10 a nighr

One of the least visited but most engaging national parks in my opinion. If youre a spellunker, or just love wide open spaces, this is your jam.

Lava beds is such a fun and amazing place with quite a history. Last wild fire devastated the area. Been going here for years, always warned about rattle snakes, saw our first one this time. Make sure you wear a helmet in the caves, knee pads and gloves are also a good idea if you are doing ANY crawling or scootching

The lava beds are amazing ! Love the history of the amazing native Americans ! The lava tubes are fun to explore. Mushpot is a great starter cave, with lit walk way, and interpretive signs throughout. Ice caves is also a good one for beginners. Especially on hot days !! Just love exploring the caves!

Not a planned visit. We were on our way to Lassen.Saw the sign, checked driving time, went for it. Zero regrets.Spelunkers paradise, very cool for kids. Lots of caves, all different difficulties, only one is lit up.Headlamps recommended, light jacket or windbreaker its suggested as it gets a bit chilly inside the caves the further you go.Beautiful vistas, a photographers dreamscape. Do visit if not short on time, even if for a quick pit stop.

This is one of the coolest arks I’ve ever visited, and o had no idea, I just thought it sounded cool when I looked around the map. It’s a set of probably 10-20 lava tube caves scatted over a 15-minute drive with two main areas and a few caves scattered elsewhere. You have to check in at the visitor center before caving to get a free permit and clean your shoes and gear if you’ve been in other caves to avoid getting the bats sick. They also give you a nice pamphlet with a map of the sites and descriptions of the attractions. That guide and the rangers tell you which caves and walks are closed due in some way to last year’s fires—either damage from last year or hazard for the future, I couldn’t tell. I’d say two thirds of stuff is open, and it’s plenty for at least a day or two. I was able to get though most of the caves, many of them in one end and put the other, without any specialized gear. A helmet might be smart to avoid knocking your noggin. A headlamp is definitely nice, but I guess a handheld flashlight would do. I had to get down under three get or so at times, but I never had to get down and slide or crawl. Even over a holiday weekend the monument wasn’t too crowded at all. A national parks pass covers this monument, too.

Caves are very easy to get to with parking feet away from most entrances. The fire in 2020 has left the forest scarred but the green is returning. I had a ton of fun here and will be coming back again when Im in better shape.

Wow, this place is so awesome! From above ground, it doesn’t look like much, but there are some really cool trails and the caves are phenomenal. Some caves were closed for bats and I was sad that Caption Jack’s Stronghold was closed, but there is plenty to do.

This place is one of the most spectacular places I have visited!! There is so much to see and do. Driving through the nature reserve and the Lava beds is so amazing! Even though you would think its all just rolling flats or even hills that look the same, it proves to actually be quite the opposite. There is so much to look at and appreciate and I could feel the richness and vigor from the history and age. Exploring the caves is very easy as far as the trek itself, be careful for bats if thats not your thing 😆. Some of the caves do require a paid permit, all of the info for that is online or at the visitors center.

I came for the stars and stayed for the caves. Having been here 2x before, long before the recent devastating Caldwell fire. It was eerie seeing what was burned and what was saved. Im happy the campgrounds and restrooms werent destroyed. My cave journey was pleasant. I had purchased gloves in the visitors center because my wrist guards were too bulky. Equipped with new Keen hiking boots a bike helmet knee pads and a reflective vest with my backpack containing maps and water and first aid plus extra lights, I ventured alone into most of the caves available. I skipped catacombs because its too much alone I feel. As a young woman I took these precautions as well as updating friends and family along the way. I even left a note on my dash with specifics about when I entered a Specific cave and my plans to follow. The deer were annoying at night. The rangers and visitors center staff were friendly. The restrooms well maintained. I wish they had showers. The spigot were super good, almost too much water because the pressure was strong. Hope you enjoy! Wear long sleeves and long pants as its chilly down there in the caves and the rocks unforgiving.

One of the coolest national monument, where you get to see the aftermath of a volcano that erupted thousands of years ago. There are many lava tubes that have collapsed at many areas opening up as caves. The caves are accessible to public. You will be surprised at the enormity of the caves and the lava tubes.There are many trails, you need a day or two to completely explore the monument. Read through the site and carry a torch if u wish to go deeper in to the caves.

This place is amazing!! More on that later. But the first set of pictures shows the true intelligence of the government sometimes when it comes to... conservation? You will notice the first picture clearly says do not pick up any wood whether its dead or not because it makes homes for small animals. That is true, but it also makes great kindling for forest fires? Which actually destroy completely the habitat of the little furry animals. Which was exactly what they were trying not to do, right? Anyway enough about that. The park is amazing theyve got caves to go down in no matter what your degree of ability is!! Theyve got a lot of nice sleep concrete Pavs placed all through the park. And the scenes coming out the north entrance the scenic views are unbelievable. And then when you realize youre in the middle of California and the lava is stacked up way higher then youve probably ever seen, it feels a little otherworldly?

We live in Klamath Falls and always enjoy a drive through the Lava beds. Early morning or early evening times are my favorite. Better chance at spotting wildlife. The caves are amazing!