Lava Beds National Monument

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

11/21/2025

Lava Beds is officially 100 years old today.

President Calvin Coolidge established Lava Beds National
Monument by presidential proclamation on November 21,
1925 ( Presidential Proclamation 1755, 44 Stat 2591). The
monument was initially managed as part of Modoc National
Forest. The National Park Service assumed responsibility
for its management in 1933.

10/01/2025

During the federal government shutdown, this account will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources. Some services may be limited. For more details, visit: doi.gov/shutdown

Operations in the Absence of Appropriations

09/28/2025

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

Yesterday we commemorated Lava Beds' 100th anniversary and over 750 of you came out to help us celebrate! Thanks to all of you who joined us for making yesterday's event such a success, and to all of our visitors, thanks for making 100 years of Lava Beds National Monument possible.

A special thank you to our maintenance, fire, law enforcement, and natural resources teams, as well as all of our wonderful volunteers for helping put on our centennial celebration, and for your hard work every day keeping Lava Beds awesome.

Here's to the next 100 years! See y'all at the 200th!

09/17/2025

RANGER-LED PROGRAMS SEPTEMBER 19-21

Join our Rangers this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as they share the history of Lava Beds and Tule Lake National Monuments!

🟢Friday September 19th, 5PM @ the Lava Beds Visitor Center - Join Tule Lake NM interns Kylie and Zoe for a presentation of the history of the Tule Lake Segregation Center and the Japanese language!

🟢Saturday, September 20th, 5:30PM @ Mushpot Cave - Ranger Dom presents: A Brief History of the Modoc War, covering the background events which led to the outbreak of war in the Lava Beds, and the lasting effects of the Modoc War of 1872-73. (Mushpot cave is around 55 degrees. You are recommended to bring a warm layer for this program).

🟢Sunday, September 21st, 10AM @ Schonchin Butte trailhead - Hike Schonchin Butte with Ranger Kieran and learn the history of America's first federal conservation work program, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the Corps' contributions to Lava Beds National Monument. (Schonchin Butte is a 0.7mile hike with 500ft elevation gain. Sturdy, closed-toed shoes and a hat are recommended. A water source is REQUIRED to attend the walk).

09/16/2025

Lava Beds and other National Park Service sites are hiring for summer 2026! Here in Lava Beds, we’ll be hiring:

👉Recreation Fee Clerks and Technicians (entrance station positions) - Apply Now at the link below.

🌳Job summary: Collect and account for fees at various locations interacting with visitors and sharing information. Serve as front-line representative to answer questions and offer guidance to visitors.

👉Park Ranger (Interpretation) - Should open 10/27/2025

🌳Job summary: Develop and present interpretive and educational programs for visitors of all ages, managing group sizes that range from small family units to large tour groups with diverse backgrounds and accessibility needs. Programs include guided walks, talks, and interactive presentations focused on the park's natural and cultural resources.

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/845912000

09/13/2025

"Can I pet that dog?"

No.

Occasionally, caves at Lava Beds can sustain year-round pools of water. With no available surface water, these pools are a critical resource for wildlife, like this handsome fella!

After taking a drink of cool, refreshing cave water, this American black bear (Ursus americanus) tried to help us out by realigning our wildlife camera for the resources team. Thanks bud!

Black bears sightings in the Monument are incredibly rare, so don't worry too much about running into Yogi here on your next trip to Valentine.

09/07/2025

“Bat!!” -Laszlo Cravensworth

Led by the Klamath Inventory & Monitoring Network, with additional assistance from the California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, our natural resources team recently participated in a bat capture and tagging project!

Researchers caught several little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) and fitted them with radio tags in an effort to monitor their roosting sites.

The tags will help researchers to locate the bats’ winter roosts, in order to protect them from disturbance, roost abandonment, and White-Nose Syndrome.

Attached with skin-safe surgical glue, the tags will fall off after a month or so, leaving the bats no worse for wear, save for a story about the time a giant gave them a haircut.

Photos: NPS/Kieran Hester