Lava Beds National Monument California

The Lava Beds National Monument is located in the northern portion of California in the Modoc and Siskiyou counties. The Lava Beds are located in a remote area of California, situated away from civilization in a region that is relatively unknown. Archaeologist believe that at one time people actually lived in the area that is today known as Lava Beds National Monument. The Paleolithic people who lived in the Lava Beds for centuries infused the area with cultural and historical importance.

The monument is the site of the largest patch of lava tube caves in the United States. The monument was established in 1925, and attracts over a hundred thousand visitors every year. Although the monument was established in 1925, infrastructure such as roads and buildings that made the area accessible to visitors wasn't constructed until the 1930's. The Civilian Conservation Corps established the centers, trails, and roads that allow tourists to visit the Lava Beds every day. Most visitors are interested in touring one of the twenty-five lava tubes that are open for exploration. Each tube is unique and is composed of thousands of different volcanic formations. Some of the formations include spatter cones, lava flows, cinder cones, and fumaroles. Many of the last deposited lava flows were determined to have flowed as recently as 2,000 years ago.

Lava Beds National Monument occupies more than 46,000 acres of land that is composed of miles of natural beauty as evidenced by the wilderness and caves. One of the most interesting aspects of the area is the Petroglyph Point that contains some of the largest displays of original art work produced by the Native Americans. Some of the artwork in the park is estimated to be about four thousand years old. The Lava Beds have played a prominent role in history including being used by the Modoc Indians that used the lava flows to their advantage during the Modoc War. The Indians gained refuge in one of the natural lava fortresses.

Although geological activity hasn't occurred at the monument since the 1980's, researchers and explorers are still enthralled with the area and study it to understand possible implications that the flows had in the past as well as what the lava beds can tell us about the future. The Lava Beds National Monument continues to be preserved because of the natural, cultural, and geological history embedded in the rocks and craters.

Visitors are charged a $10 entrance fee per vehicle to enter the monument grounds. Frequent visitors can purchase an annual Lava Beds Pass for $20 which allows them access to the site for up to year. A Visitors Center is on the monument grounds for newcomers to the area. The center is open from 8AM - 5PM and until 6PM in the summers. Campgrounds are also located at Lava Beds National Monument. The camp is called Indian Well and is situated on the south side of the park. Indian Well campground can accommodate small to medium sized RVs.