Alerts & Conditions

Alerts

Planning a visit in the near future? This webpage describes what is open and closed in the park right now. After reading this page, feel free to call us at 530-667-8113 if you have any questions. We can be reached by phone 10 am - 4 pm daily, unless the visitor center is closed.

Hours of Operation

The park is open 24 hours a day. You can arrive at any time. No reservations are needed to enter the park.

Entrance Fee

The entrace fee for most vehicles is $25.

Camping

A portion of Lava Beds campground is open year round, and the camping fee is $10 which can be paid at the campground information station. All sites are primitive and sites are first come first serve.

Getting To Us

There are numerous ways to get to Lava Beds, however at certain times of the year some routes are better than others.

During the winter months, Maintenance staff plows the park road from the North-East entrance to Valentine Cave. Side roads are a secondary priority and during large storms could remained unplowed for a day or two after the storm passes.

During the winter, roads that are along the southern boundary of Lava Beds National Monument may be closed or not maintained.

Please see the map below for a better look at winter road closures.

For a better overview of road conditions near Lava Beds, please use the links below.

California Roads –
Caltrans CCTV Maps
Caltrans District 2 Facebook (Most-up-to-date road closures)

Oregon Roads-
Road & Weather Conditions Map | TripCheck - Oregon Traveler Information

 

 

Map showing winter road closures to the south of the park.

NPS

 

Closures

Current Trail Closures-

• Whitney Butte Trail

Current Cave Closures-
Caves may be closed seasonally, or year round, depending on several reasons. Currently the following caves are closed.

• Blue Grotto Cave
• Ovis Cave
• South Labyrinth
• Paradise Alleys
• Thunderbolt Cave (Gated Sections)
• Merrill Cave

For more info on Lava Beds cave closures please visit our caving page.

Current Wildfire Closures-
Due to the effects of the 2021 Antelope Fire a majority of the southwestern part of Lava Beds is closed to the public. However, the Big Nasty Trail and the Heppe Cave Trail are open to the public but those hiking must stay on the marked trails to minimize impact on the burned areas around it.

 

The southwest sections of the park are closed due to unsafe post-wildfire conditions. The park road and most trails are open. Please follow closure signs when in the park.

NPS