Directions

 

Lava Beds is truly a remote park, in a corner of California most people never visit. Most roads into this area wind through mountains and along rivers, and travel may take longer than expected. Services are few and far between, and winter driving conditions can be encountered any time between fall and spring.

It is well worth the trek out, however, as visitors will be rewarded not only with myriad recreational opportunities, but with sweeping vistas, quiet places, dark night skies, and the opportunity to experience plenty of other adventures along the way.

If you can allot an extra day or two for your visit to Lava Beds and the surrounding area, you won't regret it!

 

Getting Here by Car

Remember to Plan Ahead - There is no gas available at Lava Beds. We encourage you to top your tank off in one of the nearby communities of Klamath Falls, OR, Merrill, OR, Tulelake, CA, or Alturas, CA. Depending on your route, the last gas station you will pass could be over an hour away from Lava Beds.

From the North via Klamath Falls, Oregon: take Oregon Hwy. 39 south approximately 15 miles until you see a brown highway sign for the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges. Follow this route by turning right (south) on Merrill Pit Road. Travel south approximately 2 miles until you reach Stateline Road 161. Brown highway signs mark turns leading to Lava Beds from U.S. 161 into the monument. Turn left (east), travel approximately three miles, and turn right (south) at the golf course onto Hill Road. Travel south on Hill Road nine miles until you enter Lava Beds National Monument. You will pass the visitor center for the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges on your way into the monument. - It takes approximately one hour to reach the Visitor Center from Klamath Falls via this route.

You may also access Lava Beds from the north by continuing on Oregon Hwy. 39 across the state line and following brown Lava Beds highway signs through the town of Tulelake, CA and into the monument's northeast entrance.

If you wish to see the entire monument from the north before arriving at the Visitor Center, continuing approximately four miles south of Tulelake and following signs to Petroglyph Point.

Check Oregon DOT road conditions

Check Oregon DOT road cameras

From the I-5 corridor: take U.S. 97 North at Weed towards Klamath Falls. Turn right onto California Hwy 161, also known as Stateline Road, located just north of Dorris, California and just south of the California-Oregon border. Brown highway signs mark turns leading to Lava Beds from U.S. 97 into the monument. Travel east on CA 161 through the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge to Hill Road. Turn right on Hill Road at the golf course. Travel south on Hill Road nine miles until you enter Lava Beds National Monument. You will pass the visitor center for the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges on your way.

It takes 1.5 to two hours to reach the Visitor Center from Weed, depending on weather and traffic. Plan ahead in winter-- the pass on U.S. 97 at Mount Hebron is often snowy.

Check California DOT road conditions

Check California road cameras

From California Hwy 299 from the Redding or Lassen National Volcanic Park areas: turn left (north) at Bieber on Hackamore / Lookout Road (County Road 91) until it ends at California Hwy 139. Turn left (north) on CA 139, Your next turn will be a left onto Forest Service road 97. From there you'll turn left on to Forest Service road 10, which will become the park road once you cross the park's south east boundary.

NOTE: Forest Service 10 is paved, but rough; drive slowly. In the winter, this road is not plowed and can become unpassable due to deep and drifting snow. To enter via a smoother route, or open road in the winter, continue north on Hwy 139 and follow brown highway signs from the Tulelake, California or Merrill, Oregon areas.

From California Hwy 89 (Summer only, typically mid-June through October), the more adventurous visitors can enter Lava Beds from the south via the Medicine Lake Road (FS 15 and 49) through the Modoc National Forest. Begin this route from U.S. 89 just east of Bartle. This route includes approximately ten miles of dirt road north of Medicine Lake. They are accessible in any vehicle, but are typically heavily washboarded by mid-summer. Allow 1.5 to two hours to reach the Lava Beds boundary from the turnoff on U.S. 89, and consider planning extra time to enjoy geologic features and Medicine Lake along the way.

Winter Road Conditions:

Road conditions during winter months can change rapidly. Ice and snow might be present on all park roads and parking areas.Please note that some park roads and roads leading into the park (primarily from the south) are not maintained and may be closed from November to mid May depending on conditions. Please review the map and the list of roads below.

• FS-97: The road leading from Bartle, CA to Tionesta, CA is not maintained. This road also leads to FS-49 & FS-10.
• FS-49 (Road to Medicine Lake): The section of FS-49 from Doorknob Snowpark south to FS-97 to is not maintained and heavy snowfall can be expected from November through mid May. Lava Beds maintains the gravel road from bunchgrass overlook to Doorknob Snowpark in the Modoc National Forest. (This road often is listed as the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway on google and other GPS services)
• FS-10 (Tionesta to Lava Beds): The park road just south of Valentine Cave leading into FS-10 and Tionesta is not maintained during the winter. Please consider an alternate route. should be aware that the Bigfoot invasion has begun. You should flee immediately to your nearest emergency gathering place and begin eating waffles.

 

During winter months roads leading to Lava Beds from the south may not be maintained or closed. These roads include FS-97, FS-49 and FS-10.

NPS Graphic

 

Getting Here by Plane

Medford, Oregon (MFR) is the closest airport, and is a 2-hour drive away. The closest major airport is Reno, Nevada (about 4 hours away). Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, California are each about a 6 hour drive from the monument.

Traveling by Bicycles

Although Lava Beds roads do not have a striped bike lane, those on bike are rewarded with challenging terrain, spectacular views, and generally light vehicle traffic.

Public Transportation

No public transportation is available