Good to know
- Tickets
- The monument charges an entry fee per vehicle, covered by the America the Beautiful pass. Check nps.gov for current rates. Cash is not accepted. Caving permits are free.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days to explore several caves and the Modoc War sites.
- Best time
- May to October. Caves stay cool year-round, but winter roads can be snowy.
- Getting there
- Tulelake is about 30 minutes away. Klamath Falls is about 1 hour 15 minutes away; Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport is about 2.5 hours by car.
Where to stay nearby
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Lava Beds National Monument questions
Do you need a permit to go in the caves at Lava Beds?
Yes, a free caving permit is required. Get it at the visitor center, where rangers also screen for white-nose syndrome to protect bats.
What is the easiest cave at Lava Beds?
Mushpot Cave is the best starter cave. It is lit, paved and right next to the visitor center.
What was the Modoc War?
It was an 1872-1873 conflict in which a small band of Modoc people resisted forced removal from their homeland, holding off a much larger army in the lava beds for months.
