Lava Beds National Monument Scenic Drive

Start from the parking lot just past the entrance booth at the Lava Beds National Monument. It is a straight forward hike up to the top of the bluff about .75 miles. Great views of the lava flows and surrounding mountains. It is a great place to view the sunset behind Mt. Shasta from the top.

From the entrance booth of Lava Beds National Monument drive south. There will be a left hand turn labeled Schonchin Butte, take it. Drive down a dirt road about a mile to reach Schonchin Butte trailhead parking. It is less than a mile hike to the fire lookout with elevation gain of 475 feet. The trail is well maintained and has great views of the lava beds at every step. This is a great place ...

Once you reach the Lava Beds National Monument stop by the visitors center to pay your fees, grab a map, and empty your bladder. From there you will drive your car up the road from the visitors center to Skull Cave.The visitors center will give you map and answer any questions you have. From the visitors center you will exit and take slight right turn and then a left at the stop sign. Skull Cav...

This adventure is only accessed through a ranger guided tour by the staff at Lava Beds National Monument.  A reservation is needed, go to recreation.gov to make a reservation space is limited.  You will meet at the visitor center.  The ranger will take you to the cave.  Don't try to find the cave on your own time, it is locked and you can't get in. Once in this unique lava tube cave you will ex...

Once you reach the Lava Beds National Monument stop by the visitors center to pay your fees, grab a map, and empty your bladder. From there you will drive your car to each cave entrance.Golden Dome Cave is the third cave on the cave loop. The entrance is about 25m from where you park. You will enter the cave on a steep ladder. This is one of the moderate level of difficulty caves. In certain ar...

Once you reach the Lava Beds National Monument stop by the visitors center to pay your fees, grab a map, and empty your bladder. From there you will drive your car to each cave entrance.The Catacombs are considered the most difficult and longest cave system at the Monument and is the sixth cave system on the cave loop. The overall length is 2,104m which is over a mile long. If you are planning ...