• Schonchin Butte

    Lava Beds

    National Monument California

Operating Hours & Seasons

Visitor Center Displays

Lava Beds National Monument is always open to visitors.

Lava Beds' caves, trails, camping, and attractions are open year-round. Cave Loop Drive is closed to vehicles after dark, but you may still enter on foot or bicycle. Occasionally in winter, snow can temporarily close park roads until they are plowed.

Most years, the Visitor Center is open every day except December 25th.

Hours are as follows:

  • Summer: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    (the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day)
  • Fall, Winter, Spring: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (with occasional short closures at mid-day)

Did You Know?

Obsidian

The youngest lava flow associated with the Medicine Lake Shield Volcano, at about 890 years old, is Glass Mountain, a pure obsidian flow located just south of the monument.