Lava River Cave Interpretive Site

Lava River Cave, part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, offers self-guided exploration of a mile-long lava tube. The cave was one of the first lava tubes to be discovered in Oregon and is the longest one in the state. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to tour the entire cave (~2.2 miles roundtrip). Initial access descends 55 stairs to a combination of flat boardwalk, uneven surfaces and stairways. Entrance to Lava River Cave is not permitted outside of the operating season and hours in order to protect critical bat habitat.

• In the interest of preventing the spread of White-nose syndrome to bats that reside in the Cave, we ask that you do not wear or bring into the cave any clothing or gear you have used in any other cave or mine.
• Please wear close-toed shoes and warm clothing. Average temperature in the Cave is 42 degrees Farenheit.
• We strongly encourage visitors to bring or rent two light sources. This is the safest way to experience and enjoy the cave.
• No pets are allowed in Lava River Cave.

Learn about the geology and history of Lava River Cave!

Recreation Fee Site: Parking at this site requires a $5/vehicle payment or a valid recreation pass. Passes are available at this site, but can also be purchased from Forest Service offices or vendors. See "Passes" below for more information.

Timed Reservation Tickets The Lava River Cave Timed Reservation Tickets System is in effect annually from opening in early May to closing on September 15. The 7-day rolling release begins April 26, for visiting on May 3, 2024. April 27, releases reservations for May 4, and so on. Tickets will become available for reservation at 7 a.m. PST each day. 

Lava River Cave consistently receives an average of 70,000 visitors during the operational season. High-volume visitation often far exceeds designed parking capacity. The Lava River Cave Timed Reservation Tickets System will provide visitors with the ability to plan ahead by securing their timeslot for parking at Lava River Cave ahead of arrival.

Timed reservations for Lava River Cave are available on Recreation.gov. Each timeslot allows access to Lava River Cave for two hours when Lava River Cave is open. Beginning April 26, 2024, 50% of tickets will be available on a rolling 7-day booking window. The remaining 50% will be available on a 24-hour booking window. A total of 6 daily entry blocks will be available every hour on the hour starting at 9 a.m. with the last block at 2 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions