Floor’s Lava! - Lava Beds National Monument

Lava Beds wasn’t even on our radar until it suddenly became the best cave experience of our entire trip. No timed tickets. No extra payments. No “sorry, this tour is full.” Just the seven of us, complementary flashlights, and miles of pitch-black lava tubes waiting to be explored.

We thought it had to be too good to be true—but it wasn’t.

Lava Beds National Monument, tucked away in California’s far northeast corner, preserves just 10% of what was once the largest volcanic eruption in the entire Cascade Range. Just ten percent. And that tiny slice is still enough to feel like you’ve stepped into the molten heart of the earth.

Unlike other famous caves—like the slow-dripping, drip-by-drip formations of Carlsbad Caverns—these lava tubes hardened in a hurry. When the magma erupted, the outer shell cooled first while the molten center drained out, leaving behind vast hollow tunnels. Some hardened in days, others in hours—or even minutes. That urgency left the caves with a wild, raw feeling like they are still in motion.

We started with the basic lit cave—a gentle 500-foot introduction with railings here and there to keep your footing. But mostly it was the kids wandering down a gently sloping lava-crafted tunnel, heads tilted back to admire the frozen drips of igneous rock overhead.

Then we leveled up: Sentinel Cave. A full 3,000 feet of pure, flashlight-only darkness. One-way in, one-way out. The descent was gradual but constant, like slowly swimming down an ancient river now frozen in stone.

And the best part? High-powered flashlights are provided. Really good ones. The kind kids use to ‘accidentally’ blind their siblings, needing constant reminders from their parents on where to direct them.

Everyone got their own beam of light—even James.  There were a few trips and screams, mostly fighting over who to be next in the single file line through the cave. But every step reminded us of the sheer scale and power of volcanoes. No guides.  Just a self-guided adventure through the underworld.

We emerged blinking into the sunlight, five kids with flashlight triumph, a few scrapes, and a whole new respect for the power and movement of molten rock.