Lava Beds Caves & Mt. Shasta
Grab a flashlight and explore real lava tube caves on your own. Stop in the mountain town of Mt. Shasta on the way.
6 hrs drive · 3 days · Best for little kids to teens · Apr–Oct
Day 1: Drive to Mt. Shasta
- 8:00 Leave SF on I-5
- 11:30 Lunch break in Redding
- 2:00 Arrive in Mt. Shasta town, walk around and see the mountain views
- 5:00 Overnight in Mt. Shasta or Weed
Day 2: Lava tube caves
- 8:30 Drive to Lava Beds by way of US 97
- 10:00 Visitor Center: get a free cave permit and borrow flashlights
- 10:30 Mushpot Cave (lit, paved path)
- 1:00 Picnic, then Valentine Cave and other easy caves
- 4:30 Back to Mt. Shasta or stay near Tulelake
Day 3: Home
- 9:00 Breakfast and a short walk
- 11:00 Drive south on I-5
- 4:00 Arrive home
From parents who have been
- Everyone has to stop at the visitor center for a cave pass and the bat-safety briefing first, even for easy Mushpot. You may be asked to clean your shoes to protect the bats, and you must return borrowed flashlights. TripAdvisor reviews
- Start small kids in Mushpot. It is the only cave with lights and a paved path, and it sits right by the visitor center. Every other cave needs your own light. Soo's On the Road blog
- Buy bump hats at the visitor center (about $8) or bring bike helmets. Parents report hitting their heads often on low ceilings. Give everyone a headlamp and bring spare batteries for a full day of caving. TripAdvisor reviews
- Valentine Cave has wide passages and little crawling, but its many pillars and side branches can disorient you. One visitor turned back because of it, so keep kids close and decide your turnaround point ahead of time. Soo's On the Road blog
- Skull Cave drops down steep metal stairs to a cold bottom where the handrails are icy, so bring jackets and gloves even in August. Recent reviewers found no ice in Merrill Ice Cave. TripAdvisor reviews
- In Mt. Shasta town, kids can watch the Sacramento River bubble out of the ground at the City Park headwaters. Nearby are the Sisson Meadow boardwalk and the fish hatchery ponds with fish-food dispensers. Active NorCal
Good to know
- Get a free caving permit at the Visitor Center before you enter any cave. It helps stop the spread of white-nose syndrome in bats. The center is open daily 9:30 to 4:30.
- Bring two real lights per person, like a headlamp and a flashlight. Phones don't count. Flashlights can be borrowed, and cheap helmets are sold at the bookstore.
- Start with Mushpot Cave. It's the only one with lights and a paved path. Valentine Cave is a good next step.
- Entrance is $25 per car for 7 days. Some caves are closed (Juniper, Sentinel, Labyrinth and others), so check at the Visitor Center.
Sources: NPS Lava Beds caving · NPS Lava Beds hours · NPS Lava Beds fees