Lava Lands Visitor Center

Lava Lands Visitor Center is the interpretive hub of Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Friendly rangers will help orient you to the Monument using our 3D topographic map. Visit our state of the art interpretive exhibit on area geologic and cultural history, shop in the Discover Your Forest Bookstore, view a variety of films scheduled daily, walk the Trail of Molten Land and the Trail of the Whispering Pines, travel on the fully accessible 5.5 mile Sun-Lava paved path, picnic under the pines, attend a ranger talk, walk to the top of Lava Butte for a spectacular view of Central Oregon. The Lava River Cave, offering self-guided exploration of a mile-long lava tube, is located just down the road from Lava Lands Visitor Center.

Lava Butte Interpretive Site During peak season from June 14 through Labor Day weekend, there is a shuttle that runs approximately every 20 minutes that departs from Lava Lands Visitor Center to access the summit of Lava Butte.

Visitors may access Lava Butte by non-motorized at any time generally from dawn to dusk.
The parking area for the visitor center is open year-round and access is dependent upon snow accumulations during winter months.

Recreation Fee Site: Parking at the Lava Lands Visitor Center requires a $5/vehicle payment or a valid recreation pass. Passes can be purchased from Forest Service offices or local vendors. See "Passes" below for more information.

General Information

2025 Operating Season

May 16 - September 15 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Open 7 days/week
September 16 - September 29 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Open Thursday - Monday
October 3 - October 12 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Open Friday - Sunday
Shuttle | June 14, 2025 - September 2, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | 7 days/week (will be operating Memorial Day Weekend)

Recreation Fee Site: Parking at this site requires a $5 payment or a recreation pass. Recreation passes may be purchased at the Lava Lands Welcome Station. Please check here for more information about recreation passes and locations where they can be purchased. Acceptable passes include:

Northwest Forest Passes (Oregon & Washington)
- Day ePass ($5)
- National Forest Day Pass ($5)
- Annual Pass ($30)
Local Pass
- Digital Recreation Day Pass ($5) (Day Pass for Forest Service fee sites ONLY in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Deschutes National Forest, Mt. Hood National Forest, and Siuslaw National Forest)
Interagency Passes
- 4th Grade Interagency Pass (free for current fourth graders)
- Interagency Annual Pass ($80)
- Interagency Senior Lifetime Pass ($80)
- Interagency Annual Senior Pass ($20)
- Interagency Access Pass (free)
- Interagency Annual Military Pass (free)
- Gold Star Family Voucher (free)

Day Use:
$5 per vehicle per day
$25 per commercial vehicle per day (15 or less passengers),
$50 per commercial vehicle per day (25 passengers),
$100 per commercial vehicle per day (25+ passengers).
$30 per annual

Day Use: $5/vehicle/day or valid recreation pass

Commercial Fee:
- 15 people or less = $25
- 25 people = $50
- 25 people or more = $100

School/Education Groups: Please book your tour in advance with our non-profit partner Discover Your Forest

Deschutes Supervisor's and Bend Fort-Rock Ranger District Office

Address: 63095 Deschutes Market Road Bend, OR 97701
Phone: (541) 383-5300
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 43.90974444

Longitude: -121.3568278

Directions

General Directions to 58201 S. Highway 97, Bend, OR 97707:

From Bend, OR travel south on Highway 97. Visitor Center is approximately 8 miles south of Exit 143 Baker/Knot Rd. Turn right into pocket lane when you see lava and the Lava Lands sign.

From La Pine, OR travel north on Highway 97. Take Exit 151/Cottonwood Rd. Turn right after exiting. Continue on road about 2 miles passing Lava River Cave. Turn right after underpass to Lava Lands Visitor Center Welcome Station. If you miss Exit 151, proceed north to Exit 143 Baker/Knot Rd. and follow southbound directions.