Plan Your Field Trip

Let Lava Beds become your outdoor classroom as you learn about geology, the Modocs, and the abundant wildlife and other natural and cultural resources found throughout the monument.

Whether you plan to visit alone or would like attend a ranger led education program, we ask you still let us know in advance when you will be visiting and fill out an academic fee waiver.

For more information about the educational opportunities that await your group, email us at [e-mail] or call the visitor center at 530-667-8113.

Important: If your group is planning on caving while at Lava Beds, you will need to first visit the visitor center and receive a short talk and be screened for white-nose syndrome, a disease that is killing bats.

 

 

Safety

Whether exploring Lava Beds above or below ground, there are things to consider to keep you and your students safe. Check out our safety page and current conditions page to plan your trip.

Extend Your Field Trip and Stay the Night

Lava Beds has one campground, Indian Well Campground, located 1/2 mile (0.8 km) from the Visitor Center and cave loop. There are 43 sites available on a first-come, first serve basis. Sites can accommodate tents, pickup campers, small trailers and motor homes up to 30 feet. There is also one Group Site that can be reserved and accommodate 15-40 people. To learn more visit our camping page.

Materials to Loan

To help with your field trip experience, Lava Beds has flashlights, 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.

Buses

Some trail heads and parking areas in the park are not recommended for buses, meaning that buses or travel trailers can not turn around due to lack of space. To help plan your trip here is a list of locations that are bus friendly and those that are not.

Not recommended for Buses:

• Merrill Cave
• Skull Cave
• Symbol Bridge and Big Painted Cave

Bus friendly locations include the following:

• Lava Beds Visitor Center Parking Lot
• Captain Jack's Stronghold
• Gillem's Camp
• Valentine Cave
• Mammoth Crater (gravel road)
• Thomas Wright Battlefield and Black Crater
• Petroglyph Point (gravel road)

For more information on directions on getting to Lava Beds visit our getting to us page.