Recreation Facilities
Day Use
Lava River Cave Day Use
Deschutes National Forest - Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District
The scarcity and spaciousness of Central Oregon's Lava Lands create an area
of striking beauty both above and below ground. Large areas are covered by lava
flows. These rivers of rock are basalt, a molten lava that spreads quickly and
sometimes flowed up to seventy miles. Great tunnels wind through many of these
flows and suggest that awesome forces of nature were once at work. These ancient
lava tunnels (called tubes) are one of the area's most interesting secrets.
Lava River Cave is one example of these ancient lava tunnels. The cave is part
of Newberry National Volcanic
Monument, which managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
The cave temperature is a constant 42 degrees, so wear warm clothing. The one
mile cave is one of the longest lava tubes in Oregon.
Spring: May 8 -June 30; Wednesday - Sunday, 9:00 am -5:00 pm
Summer: July 1-September 7; 7 days a week, 9:00 am -5:00 pm
- Visitors or schools enquiring about access to the Cave should contact the Lava Lands Visitor Center at 541-593-2421 for the most current information.
Fall: September 8 - October 15; Wednesday - Sunday, 9:00 am -5:00 pm
Lava River Cave - will open Friday, May 8th. Lava River Cave offers self-guided
exploration of a mile-long lava tube. It takes
approximately 1.5 hours to tour the entire cave.
Lantern rentals are available for $4. There are restrictions on personal lanterns, NO glass globe, white gas, or kerosene lanterns are allowed (our lanterns have special screen mesh globes, so no broken glass). No lantern rentals after 4:00 pm.
Lava River Cave
Trivia
Commonly
Asked Questions about Lava River Cave
Lava River Cave Geologic Site
LOCATION: off Hwy. 97 at Lava River Cave in Newberry
National Volcanic Monument - C
on location map
ACCESS: from Bend, 12.5 miles south on Hwy. 97 (1 mile south
of Lava Lands Visitor Center)
ELEVATION: 4500 feet
FACILITIES: vault toilets
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: lantern rental, Lava
River Cave Trail
OPERATED BY: Forest Service
FEE:
Recreation Pass Site
- Vehicle Permit - $5.00 Day Pass or $30.00 Annual Pass or other valid Recreation
Passes
Lantern Rentals cost $3.00 each.
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