Lava Beds National Monument

Home
United States
Tulelake, CA
Lava Beds National Monument

The Lava Beds was formed by volcanic outflows from the Medicine Lake Volcano. In actual mass, this volcano is larger than Mt. Shasta.
(232)

Lava Beds National Monument is a place where you can smell the sage and juniper, listen to birds, and hike miles of lava flows or developed trails. Volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created an incredibly rugged landscape punctuated by cinder cones, lava flows, spatter cones, lava tube caves and pit craters. Explore caves created by the sudden cooling of lava flows or visi

t the site of the only Indian war in California at the historic Captain Jack’s Stronghold. The Stronghold, a natural lava fortress, is where a small band of 53 warriors and their families led by Captain Jack held off a force 20 times its size for five months. Just south of the Lava Beds is Medicine Lake ’s volcano, one of the largest shield volcanoes in the world. Millions of eruptions over half a million years were gentle rather than explosive, covering more than 750 square miles of landscape with lava. A visit to Glass Mountain in Modoc National Forest offers fields of obsidian shining in the sun like black diamonds. At the crest of the mountain, Medicine Lake is a great place for camping, swimming and fishing. To learn more about Lava Beds please visit our website: www.nps.gov/labe

07/31/2026

Due to extreme fire danger and ongoing dry, hot conditions, all areas of Lava Beds National Monument are now under enhanced fire restrictions.

What is Prohibited:
• All campfires and open flames are prohibited throughout the monument, including in Indian Well Campground.
• Devices that burn wood, charcoal, pellets, or biomass are not allowed.

What is Allowed:
• Gas or pressurized stoves (propane, butane, white gas, or similar) are permitted.
• These devices must have an integrated shut‑off valve that allows the flame to be extinguished immediately.

Restrictions are effective immediately and will remain in place until conditions improve.
For updates, please check our website at www.nps.gov/labe or contact park staff.

07/22/2026

Schonchin Butte Road and Trail are closed to all traffic:

Over the winter the fire lookout on Schonchin Butte suffered some severe wind damage. While our maintenance is working to repair the building and installing new windows, the Schonchin Butte Road and Trail are closed to all traffic, including foot traffic, whenever the gate is closed. At this time, we do not know how long the repairs will take, but we post an update once the work is done.

07/06/2026

Beat the heat and stay safe this summer with these helpful tips!

☀️Plan for hikes to be harder than you expect. While many park trails are less than a mile long, they are across rugged lava rock, have almost no shade and are at over 4,000 ft in elevation.
💧Stay hydrated and drink water regularly, not just when you feel thirsty. You can re-fill water bottles at the visitor center and campground.
⛱️Bring a hat or umbrella and sunscreen, there is little to no shade on all trails at Lava Beds.
🐍Watch your step. Rattlesnakes love to lay out on the warm lava rocks throughout the park. If you hear a rattle, STOP, determine where the snake is and slowly move away from it. Don’t put your hands or feet anywhere you cannot see them, like in a bush where a snake might be hiding.
🫠Take breaks in shade when you can and watch for early signs of heat illness like dizziness, headache, or nausea.
🧥No matter how hot it is above ground, it is always around 50 degrees below ground, so don’t forget a light jacket, flashlight and head protection.

07/01/2026

Here are this weekend's Ranger Guided Programs.

06/23/2026

Have you heard the Buzzz.... Pollinator Week is here!!! Check out special ranger programs and kids' crafts for the week.

06/14/2026

Pollinator Week is coming to Lava Beds National Monument!

Join us June 22–28 for pollinator-themed fun, including:

Kids’ crafts daily from 12:00–2:00 PM
Ranger displays and discussions throughout the week
Special nighttime pollinator programs on June 25 & 27

Come discover the amazing bees, butterflies, moths, bats, and other pollinators that keep our ecosystems thriving!

Full program details will be posted closer to the event.

06/04/2026

Ranger guided programs are back at Lava Beds! Here are this weekend's programs.

12/26/2025

Due to a winter storm bring 6-8 inches of snow last night the visitor center will not open till 10:30 am today, December 26th.

If you are planning on visiting today or over the weekend please use caution on park roads. With wind snow drifts are growing to over 1 foot deep. The south routes out of the park are not plowed and are becoming impassable. We’ve already had 2 vehicles get stuck this morning between the park and Tionesta.

12/19/2025

The Lava Beds visitor center will be open from 9 AM - 1 PM on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and will be closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. While you're still welcome to come and explore the Lava Beds, there are some things you should know before visiting:

1: Our standard entry fee is $25/vehicle. If you do not have an "America the Beautiful" interagency pass, please pay at the self-pay kiosk outside the visitor center. Entry fees are valid for one week, so keep your receipt!

2: White-nose syndrome has not made it to Lava Beds. Please help us keep it that way! Make sure you don't bring anything into the caves you have previously taken into another cave, mine, or tunnel, and screen yourself for white-nose syndrome at the kiosk outside the visitor center.

3: Check local weather forecasts! The weather at Lava Beds can change quickly, so check before your trip! Temperatures vary throughout the day and from above- to below-ground. Temperatures inside the caves may be as high as 55°F (13°C) and as low as 32°F (0°C). Dress in layers, be prepared to shed them and put them back on as needed.

4: Food and gas are unavailable within the Monument. The nearest services are located in the nearby towns of Tulelake, CA and Merrill, OR.

5: Finally, have fun, be safe, and please - don't pet the wildlife.

Visit https://www.nps.gov/labe/planyourvisit/index.htm for more trip-planning information.

11/25/2025

The visitor center will be closed on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

If you visit Lava Bed when the visitor center is closed, please self-screen for white-nose syndrome using the information posted outside the visitor center. If you don't have an annual or lifetime pass you can pay your entrance fee at self-pay station outside the visitor center.

For additional park information please visit www.nps.gov/labe

Address

1 Indian Well Hqts.
Tulelake, CA
96134

Telephone

+15306678113

Website

http://www.nps.gov/labe

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lava Beds National Monument posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Lava Beds National Monument:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Tulelake?