Lava River Cave

Lava River Cave is a 1588-meter tunnel running through volcanic rock that is open to visitors as a show cave. The passages change in height and width, and mineral deposits line the walls, shimmering in flashlight beams.

The tunnel formed around 80,000 years ago when molten rock from Newberry Volcano flowed beneath the surface and hardened. The outer layer cooled and formed a solid roof, while the inner lava kept moving and left a hollow passage.

The cave lies within the Deschutes National Forest and serves as a learning site about Oregon volcanism. Rangers offer programs that show visitors how lava tubes form and what they reveal about Earth history.

The temperature inside stays around 4 degrees Celsius year-round, so warm clothing is necessary. Visitors must bring their own flashlights, as the interior is completely dark with no installed lighting.

The walls show flow lines and lavacicles that formed when the surface of moving lava remelted during the eruption. These structures reveal the direction and speed at which material once moved through the tunnel.

Location: Deschutes County

Elevation above the sea: 1,372 m

Length: 1,588 m

Website: https://fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=38396

GPS coordinates: 43.89540,-121.36892

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30