National Park Guide - your guide to national parks in America your guide to national parks in america
« Home Current Parks News Explore the Parks Parks By State

Lava Beds National Monument

»Contact Information
»Getting There
»Weather
»Activities
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. During the Modoc War of 1872-1873, the Modoc Indians used these tortuous lava flows to their advantage. Under the leadership of Captain Jack, the Modocs took refuge in "Captain Jack's Stronghold," a natural lava fortress. From this base a group of 53 fighting men and their families held off US Army forces numbering up to twenty times their strength for five months. Visitors can tour both the geologic and historic wonders of this unusual landscape.


Contact Information

P.O. Box 867
Indian Wells Headquarters
Tulelake, CA 96134
530-667-2282 - Headquarters
530-667-2282 Ex.232 - Visitor Information


Sponsored Links


Getting There

By Plane
Klamath Falls International Airport

By Car
Visitors travelling south on Highway 139 (from Oregon) will see signs four miles south of Tulelake directing them into Lava Beds. Visitors travelling north on Highway 139 (from Alturas) will see signs 27 miles north of Canby directing them into Lava Beds.

By Plane
No Public Transportation is available

Getting Around
Personal Vehicle, bicycle, walking, hiking.

Weather

The weather in northeastern California is particularly unpredictable and visitors should be ready for all conditions throughout the year. Generally, however, summers are sunny and warm while winters are cold with below-freezing nights and occasional snow. Visitors should always have warm clothing, sturdy boots, gloves, and protective headgear available if they plan to visit the lava tube caves. Bumpcaps for caving are sold at the visitor center. Bike helmets also work well.


Activities

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.
thebackpacker.com If you want more information about backpacking and hiking, give thebackpacker.com a try. From backpacking gear reviews, hiking trail reviews and much more, it covers all aspects of wilderness travel.
  • Auto Touring
  • Biking
  • Camping
  • Educational Programs
  • Hiking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Wilderness Area
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Backpacking
  • Stargazing
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Snowshoeing

Recommended Activities
Caving and wildlife viewing, particularly birdwatching in the spring and fall, are the most popular activities at Lava Beds. Walks, evening slide programs, and cave tours are offered daily during the summer. Ranger-guided activities are available by reservation during the rest of the year.


 
The National Park System includes all US States and even extends to some US Territories. To explore the parks, you may either browse the parks by State or by Name.

Choose Park by State:

Choose Park by Name:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M
N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Find Hiking and Biking Trails
If you like to go hiking or biking, then don't forget to get a map and guidebook. Trails.com offers a great service that allows unlimited downloads of trail guides for a small monthly fee. They even have a 14 day free trial. Whether you are looking for day hikes, backpacking trails, mountain bike routes or just short nature stroll, they cover it all. So let Trails.com help plan your next outing.
RV Information
Are you planning on traveling with your RV? If you are, you should check out the Good Sam Club. The Good Sam Club offers discounts on camping, a free magazine subscription and great tips on traveling with your RV. You can also get a free no-obligation RV Insurance quote . Give them a look and enjoy your trip.
Gear Up For Your Trip
Once you have finished deciding where to go, it will be time to gear up. A great place for adventure travel gear is The National Geographic Store. They have all types of maps and guides to help finalize your vacation plans.