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Lava Beds National Monument
Cyril Fluck/Flickr

Lava Beds National Monument

Lava Beds National Monument
Descend into eerie and historic lava tube caves

A surreal landscape sculpted by molten earth, Lava Beds National Monument contains volcanic tablelands punctuated by cinder cones, pit craters, and spatter cones, plus more than 700 caves. These strange features were formed when the outer edges of flowing lava began to cool, forming tubes. When molten lava stopped flowing, hardened tubes were left behind.

Though the scene can seem barren and desolate, look closer. The scrabbly earth and dark rocks of the rugged lava flows are dotted with sagebrush, mountain mahogany, and Western junipers, creating habitat for mule deer, pronghorn antelope, rabbits, and bird species, including bald eagles. Bring binoculars and see what you can spy, especially early mornings and evenings.

You’ll also want to bring a good headlamp or flashlight—and a jacket—for exploring the lava tubes. In summer, this part of California can get pretty toasty, with daytime temperatures of 100°F/37°C or more. But inside the lava tubes, it’s remarkably cool; you may even find year-round ice.

You can explore the tubes on your own (no spelunking experience is needed, and kids flip out at the thrill of entering these mysterious formations). And although you won’t cover much ground, the trek can be a workout as you duck, twist, and even crawl through natural tight squeezes. It’s easy to see how these caves were used as hideouts during the Modoc War in 1872-73, the only fight against Native Americans in California, in which Native Americans fought U.S. Army troops in defence of their homelands.

Some two dozen tubes are open for exploring along Cave Loop Road, near the visitor centre. Most of the park’s caves are rated for difficulty, and first-time explorers should start with the Hopkins Chocolate Cave (1,405 feet/428 meters) or Blue Grotto Cave (1,541 feet/469 meters). For the ultimate challenge, consider entering the remarkable Catacombs Cave, one of the park’s longest and most complex, with a total length of 6,903 feet/2,104 meters.

 

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Kodiak Greenwood

Northern California

Discover Shasta Cascade

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12
March
Average (°C)
Mar - May
26°
High
6°
Low
June - Aug
36°
High
16°
Low
Sept - Nov
32°
High
5°
Low
Mar - May
26°
High
6°
Low

California’s north-east corner is an outdoor-lover’s paradise, with safe-to-explore volcanoes, hushed forests and trout-filled rivers. This is the place for blue-ribbon fishing, houseboats anchored in cool lakes, countless campgrounds and inviting trails for hiking and mountain biking.

"When I first caught sight of it I was weary and 50 miles away and afoot. Yet all my blood turned to wine, and I have not been weary since.”  --Author John Muir, upon seeing Mount Shasta in 1874

All this, plus friendly towns like Chico and Chester and inviting rural farms in fertile lands near the Upper Sacramento River. Redding, the region’s largest city, makes a good base, with riverfront trails, Turtle Bay Exploration Park and elegant Sundial Bridge, designed by Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava.

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Sam Valtenbergs/Getty Images

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