Horse Lava Tube System, Lava tube network in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States.
The Horse Lava Tube System is a network of lava caves extending north from Newberry Volcano through interconnected underground passages. The network comprises 122 separate caves with varying degrees of accessibility, as portions remain privately owned while others are publicly managed.
Cowboys discovered Horse Cave in the early 1900s while searching for lost cattle, marking the first documented section of the underground network. This accidental finding led to the recognition and exploration of the larger cave system.
Native American peoples found shelter and storage space within these underground chambers long before the system became known to settlers. The caves still bear traces of this ancient use today.
Visitors should prepare for underground conditions including darkness, cool temperatures, and slippery surfaces in the cave passages. It helps to check beforehand which caves are publicly accessible and which sections require permission due to private ownership.
In the 1990s, one of the caves was selected by the Oregon Moonbase project for testing lunar base simulations due to comparable environmental conditions. This unusual chapter in the caves' history demonstrates the scientific value of their distinctive underground structure.
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