News Release

325.5 million visits to national parks in 2023, 136,164 visits at Lava Beds National Monument

Date: February 23, 2024
Contact: Chris Mengel, [phone]

Tulelake, CA - Today, the National Park Service announced that 400 national parks reported a total of 325.5 million visits in 2023, an increase of 13 million or 4% over 2022.  

At Lava Beds National Monument, visitation numbers for 2023 was 136,164, an increase of 5,195 from 2022. In 2020 and 2021, the monument was affected by wildfires and lingering smoke. In 2022 and 2023, that was not an issue, making it a pleasant experience in visiting the park. In 2022 and 2023 was also the 150th remembrance of the Modoc War. The park and its partners hosted several special programs that increased visibility and visitation to the park. “The park’s visitation has recovered from the challenges of the pandemic,” said Superintendent Chris Mengel. “Visitors want to be outside and explore the many units of the National Park System. We are glad to host them here at Lava Beds.” 

Since 2020, the park has also seen a shift in camping patterns. We have many more campers in May and June than in previous years. In addition, we had 6,181 visitors camping in 2020, an increase of 1,773 campers. The campground is open year-round and is first come, first serve.

Visitation figures and trends guide how the National Park Service manages parks to ensure the best experience possible for park visitors. The Visitation Statistics Dashboard provides recreational visit statistics for every park in the US for 2023 and also for previous years, dating back to 1979 for some parks. There are 429 parks in the National Park System, and 400 parks counted visitors in 2023. For the first time, there are now parks reporting their visitation numbers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four US territories. Five national parks began reporting in 2023, and this is the first year a park from Delaware is included.

Lava Beds National Monument, established in 1925, is a land of turmoil, both geologic and historic. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. Lava tube caves, Native American sites, historic battlefields and a high desert wilderness experience await you!

For more information about visiting Lava Beds National Monument, call 530-667-8113, emaile-mail us, or go to www.nps.gov/labe. Like us on Facebook!