Self Guided Education Programs

Are you coming to Lava Beds with a school group and want to do your own thing? Check out these ideas to have a self guided educational experiance at Lava Beds.

 

Mushpot Cave is fully lit and has interpretive displays highlighting the geology of Lava Beds a perfect spot for a school group.

NPS Photo

Caving

With over 20 developed caves, groups can easily spend days underground exploring this unique environment. Before coming to the park we recommend reviewing the caving page and sharing the Cave Safely & Cave Softly information with your students and chaperones.

The safest way to take a large group caving is to divide into groups of 6-8 students with at least one adult assigned to each group. Groups should be under 30 for most caves, due to smaller spaces and other navigational challenges. Students can walk around the 2-mile loop road from the Visitor Center with each small group exploring a different cave. To find out the level of difficulty for each cave and to see which caves are currently open please visit the caving page.

To expand your caving experience you can request the Geology and/or Cave Life Trunks to be mailed to you in advance. They each have about 2 weeks of lesson plans you can use before coming here. You can also request a ranger guided geology education program, such as Mushpot program or a Valentine Cave tour.

To help with your field trip experience, Lava Beds has flashlights and bump hats, and binoculars to loan out to your class for free! It is encouraged that students bring their own lights and helmets if possible, and that classes state what they need to the education coordinator before arriving.

While each lava tube cave is unique, they all share some common attributes. The floors of lava tube caves are uneven and rocky. Sturdy shoes (tennis shoes or hiking boots) are suitable for exploring these caves; sandals are not. Temperatures inside the caves range from 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit; long pants and a light jacket are recommended.

Once you arrive at the park, your group will need to come to the visitor center to be screened for white-nose syndrome prior to entering any caves in the park.

Recommended Least Challenging Caves: Mushpot, Valentine, Sentinel (when open, usually mid-April to mid-October), Skull (note: inaccessible to buses)
Recommended Moderate Caves: Golden Dome, Sunshine, Indian Well
Recommended Most Challenging Caves: Hopkins Chocolate, Labyrinth (when open, usually mid-April to mid-October), Hercules Leg and Juniper
Note: Catacombs can be an excellent cave for school groups, but is also the largest and most complex cave by far. Maps are strongly recommended, and any trip leaders should be especially aware of time and group numbers.

 

Big Painted Cave & Symbol Bridge trail is a great trail that highlights both the geology and history of Lava Beds.

NPS/ Ian Kessler

Hiking Trails

With over a dozen hiking trails through Lava Beds, you’re bound to find one that offers an amazing adventure for your students. Tails range from .5 miles to over 8 miles in length, and go through various habitats found within Lava Beds.

For those interested specifically in the Modoc War the following trails tell that story: Gillems Camp, Captain Jacks Stronghold and the Thomas Wright Battlefield Trail.

For those interested in the geology of Lava Beds, Mammoth Crater, Fleener Chimmneys, Black Crater, and Schonchin Butte are great options for learning about the natural processes that formed Lava Beds.

Captain Jack's Stronghold is a highly recommended hike, being one of the most important sites of the Modoc War. The inner loop trail is a 1/2 mile long and passes by a number of significant historic sites. To expand your experience you can request the Cultural Trunk to be mailed to you in advance. It has about 2 weeks of lesson plans you can use before coming here. You can also request a ranger guided Stronghold Tour.

If hiking is a part of your itinerary, students should bring water, a snack, and sturdy close-toed shoes. Sunscreen and a first aid kit should be available. Weather at Lava Beds can be highly variable, and should be checked in the days before your visit. Hats are recommended for warmer days, while jackets are recommended for cooler days. High winds can be common.

Rattlesnakes are a natural part of the Lava Beds landscape, although the chance of seeing one is slim. Please caution your students that rattlesnakes are a possibility during warmer weather. The best way to avoid a snake encounter is to: 1) make sure a teacher or chaperone is always at the front of the line leading the group and 2) never put hands or feet in a place you cannot see. Most rattlesnake bites are the result of inappropriate human behavior (attempting to pick up a rattlesnake, for instance). The Lava Beds NM rattlesnake-human record is, however, quite good, as we have never had a documented rattlesnake bite at the monument.

 

Protecting the Resource

The National Park Service exists to preserve places of unique natural history and important cultural history for all generations. To this end, we ask for your assistance. Please do not break off, collect or take home any lava tube features, rocks, plants or flowers found in the park. If you are planning a picnic lunch at the park, please make sure all garbage is collected and deposited in trashcans. If you and your students remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints, you will have contributed greatly to the preservation of Lava Beds National Monument.