Laws & Policies

Protecting America's Treasures

While visiting the White House, would you take a piece of silverware home for a keepsake? How about tearing off a piece of the Declaration of Independence? Or spray painting your name on the Statue of Liberty?

Similar actions sometimes take place in our national parks. Picking wildflowers, taking home stones or arrowheads as keepsakes, and defacing canyon walls with graffiti are all actions that degrade the parks for other visitors. In addition, it’s against the law.

When you visit any of the sites run by the National Park Service, you are viewing America’s treasures. These parks were created because they have special meaning to all Americans. The laws that created these special places for us to own and enjoy also mandate they be protected for the enjoyment of future generations of Americans as well.

Visiting any of our national parks is similar to visiting museums or art galleries. You certainly wouldn’t think of taking an artifact or painting home from such places. Removing anything from our national parks means that other visitors will not be able to enjoy it. If each of the 275 million visitors took away a flower or a stone or anything from the parks they visit, they would leave behind empty landscapes that nobody would enjoy.

Help protect America’s national park sites by leaving everything in its place and not defacing the natural resources. Other park visitors and future generations of Americans will thank you.

 

Law Enforcement - Division of Visitor and Resource Protection

Lava Beds National Monument is an area of concurrent federal jurisdiction. Law enforcement functions within the park are shared with the state of California but are primarily carried out by commissioned park rangers within the Division of Visitor Resource and Protection who are duly appointed federal law enforcement officers. Their duties include law enforcement, emergency medical services, search and rescue and wildland firefighting, as well as visitor safety, assistance, and information. If you are unclear on any regulatory information, please review the information and links below. You may also contact the visitor center at 530-667-8113 to ask a law enforcement ranger on duty if you have any additional questions.

Please help us protect the park and provide enjoyment for all visitors by abiding by all of Lava Bed’s rules and regulations.

Interested in becoming a Law Enforcement Ranger? The National Park Service is looking for its next generation of law enforcement rangers, talented men and women who have a passion for protecting our nation's most important resources and the people who visit them. There are many different paths to employment. Learn how you can start a meaningful career as an NPS law enforcement ranger.

 

Laws and Regulations

To ensure the safety of visitors, employees and park resources, Lava Beds National Monument has enacted laws that come from the U.S. Department of the Interior 36 Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR) and from the Superintendent's Compendium. Other federal laws that are enforced by commissioned park rangers are those within Title 16 of the United States Code (USC) that apply to the National Park System and other federal lands, federal criminal laws within Title 18 USC, and various federal drug laws within Title 21 USC. Along with the federal laws, regulations, and policies listed, commissioned park rangers also have the authority to enforce applicable California state criminal statutes and the California state vehicle code. Law Enforcement Rangers can also enforce federal and state law on adjacent federal lands near the monument.

 

Some Common Park Rules & Regulations of Lava Beds National Monument

*This is not an inclusive list. Please see 36 CFR and the Superintendent’s Compendium for all park regulations.

• An Entrance Pass is required to enter the monument, even if traveling through to other adjacent federal lands. If the Entrance Station or Visitor Center are closed, please proceed to the Self Pay Station by the Visitor Center Parking Lot to pay fee.
• A cave permit is required prior to entering any cave.
• Obey all park and cave closures that are posted.
• The taking and breaking of rock and cave formations is prohibited. Do not mark or deface cave walls.
• Pets, food, alcohol, fires, fireworks, or other sources of flame in caves are prohibited.
• Smoking is prohibited in all caves (including e-cigarettes, vapes).
• All visitors must contain and carryout all human body waste from Monument caves.
• Pets are required to be on leash within the park at all times.
• Pets are prohibited on all monument trails, in non-developed and wilderness areas, caves, and in government buildings.
• If you see something strange going on in the park, please call the visitor center at 530-667-8113. If an emergency call 911.

 

Firearms In National Parks

As of February 22, 2010, a new federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws, to legally possess loaded firearms in Lava Beds National Monument. This includes those persons residing in the State of California that possess a valid State of California conceal-carry weapons permit (also known as a CCW permit). These permits are typically issued by the county sheriff of the county where the state resident resides.

It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with all applicable state, local, and federal firearms laws before entering this park. As a starting point, please visit our state's website. https://oag.ca.gov/firearms

A notable exception to this rule is the carrying of weapons in federal facilities. Federal law prohibits firearms in certain facilities in this park; those places are marked with signs at all public entrances. This prohibition includes those possessing a valid State of California CCW permit. In other words, all persons, regardless of the state permit that has been issued to them, are prohibited from carrying a firearm in federal facilities. In Lava Beds National Monument, this includes all administrative buildings, non-residential buildings, and buildings that serve the public. A partial list of the facilities that serve the public where firearms are prohibited include:

• Lava Beds Visitor Center.

• All restrooms.

• Schonchin Butte Fire Lookout.

• All other park administration buildings where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing official duties.

Please note:

• Target shooting and the discharge of firearms remain prohibited throughout Lava Beds National Monument.

• The transporting of firearms through the park shall follow all federal, state, and local laws.

 

Hunting

Hunting is prohibited within all areas of Lava Beds National Monument.

Lawfully Taken Game Transport

Wildlife that was legally taken outside of the monument in accordance with applicable Federal and California hunting laws and regulations, and properly tagged and identified, may be transported through the monument via the following Transport Corridors and Conditions:

• Forest Service Road 10 (Main Park Road) within the boundary of the monument.
• Forest Service Road 49 (Medicine Lake Road) within the boundary of the monument
• Hill Road within the boundary of the monument.
• Forest Road 46N21 (Golddiggers Pass Road) within the boundary of the monument.
• County Road 126 through the Petroglyph Point section of the monument.
• Hunters are not required to contact the park prior to transporting legally taken game through the monument via the approved Transport Corridors.
• Hunters must present their hunting license, carcass tag, and driver’s license upon request of any law enforcement ranger.
• Hunters must pay all applicable entrance fees.
• Transport of carcasses in vehicles should be done in a manner such that the animals are not readily visible to prevent causing alarm to other visitors.
• All other areas in the monument that are not listed above are closed for the transportation of wildlife. This includes the campground, visitor center, parking areas, other park roads, trails, trailheads, and other park facilities adjacent to or on the allowed Transport Corridors.

Please note:

• The operation and use of UTV’s/ATV’s or any other off highway vehicle is prohibited within Lava Beds National Monument.

 

Marijuana on Federal Lands

Possession or use of marijuana and other controlled substances inside the national parks is prohibited. While California law provides for limited possession and use of marijuana it remains an illegal drug under federal law, which is enforced within the park. The California State law, which allows for limited recreational marijuana use under certain conditions, has no bearing on federal laws which continue to identify marijuana as a Schedule I illegal drug, and prohibits its use. Possession of marijuana or use of any amount of marijuana is still prohibited in Lava Beds National Monument, its facilities, and campgrounds.

 

Permits & Reservations

Some types of activities require Special Use Permits.

 

Social Media Comment Policy

We appreciate your participation on our social media sites. We do not discriminate against any views, but we reserve the right to delete any of the following:

• Off-topic comments
• Violent, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, or racist comments
• Comments that threaten or defame any person or organization
• The violation of the privacy of another individual
• Solicitations, advertisements, or endorsements of any financial, commercial, or non-governmental agency
• Comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity
• Comments promoting or opposing any person who is campaigning for election to a political office or promotion or opposing any ballot proposition
• Comments including phone numbers, e-mail addresses, residential addresses, or similar information
• Multiple, successive off-topic posts by a single user
• Repetitive posts copied and pasted by multiple users
• Communication made through this service‟s e-mail and/or messaging system will in no way constitute a legal or official notice or comment to the U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) or any official or employee of the U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) for any purpose.

References to commercial entities, products, services, or nongovernmental organizations or individuals are provided solely for information. These references are not intended to reflect the opinion of U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau), the United States Government, or its officers or employees concerning the significance, priority, or importance to be given the referenced entity, product, service, or organization. Such references are not an official or personal endorsement of any product, person, or service and may not be quoted or reproduced for the purpose of stating or implying U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) endorsement or approval of any product, person, or service.

Reporters or other media representatives are asked to send questions through their normal channels (the appropriate DOI/bureau office public affairs or communications office) and to refrain from submitting questions here as comments. Reporter questions may be removed.

This Comment Policy is subject to amendment or modification at any time to ensure that its continued use is consistent with its intended purpose as a limited forum.