Lava River Cave

Category: Tourist attraction in Bend, Oregon

Address: Bend, OR 97707, USA

Phone: +15413835300

Opening hours

Sunday: 9AM–5PM

Monday: 9AM–5PM

Tuesday: 9AM–5PM

Wednesday: 9AM–5PM

Thursday: 9AM–5PM

Friday: 9AM–5PM

Saturday: 9AM–5PM

Reviews

Rae Cota

Aug 20, 2022

Very cool cave! Pretty cold so bring warm clothes. The lanterns they rent are nice and bright and also adjustable which was nice. We paid $20 for 3. Also, I recommend reserving parking online as it gets busy and it's only $2. Unfortunately we didn't see any bats but saw a cool spider.

Christy McCulloch

Aug 17, 2022

Recommend! Make sure you get a pass in advance on recreation.gov for parking. Also, bring your Northwest Forest Pass (they'll sell you a day pass if you don't have one). Don't wear flip-flops -your toes will freeze! The cave is 42 degrees, so felt great on the hot day we went, but you need a sweater. Pretty easy walk, but several (170+) steps to enter/exit the cave. They rent flashlights for $5- worth it!

Ellisia Cone

Aug 13, 2022

It was awesome. You make you're reservation in advance online at the time you want. It's only 2 dollars. And of course you pay the 5 dollar park fee. But its pretty cool. It's definitely cold and dark.

Megan Duncan

Jun 14, 2022

Really cool experience! It is important to note that when the parking lot fills up you have to wait for people to leave before you can go. On Saturday we drove by 2x when the gate was closed and there was a long line of cars waiting to get in. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best time to go if you don't want to wait. I recommend a 1000 lumen flashlight it made our experience 100% better. The flashlights you can rent for $5 do not light up most of the cave. The hike is out and back, took 1.5 hours. You are required to attend an orientation which took 15 minutes. It was also 38 degrees in the cave so bring warm clothes. Really fantastic experience highly recommend!!

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Questions & Answers

Is there a fee?

Crystal Delgado | Aug 26, 2018
Mal | Aug 26, 2018

Yes. If you have a state park or America the Beautiful pass you don't have to pay to park but if you don't it's $5 for the day. It also costs $5 per lantern and 1 lantern per 2 people is recommended. You may bring your own but they have to be high quality. 1,000 Lumens at least.

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Is it safe enough to bring an 8 month old here? And is the cave open in April?

Hope Fiser | Aug 25, 2020
Stephanie Long | Aug 25, 2020

I wouldn't. There are some very rocky points and narrow points and its very dark and slick in other points. And it just gets more dangerous carrying a baby if theres other people trying to navigate the rocky floor at the same time

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What happens if you enter at 3ish and don’t make it back until after 4

Ganeffs | Aug 26, 2019
Brogan Stich | Aug 26, 2019

They have a system to check that everyone who goes in goes out. If you're close to closing they can sometimes turn you away. If you're already in the cave they'll find and either escort you out or ask to hurry back.

Is it stroller friendly? Can we bring 13 months old along with us?

H Sha | Aug 26, 2019
Keith S | Aug 26, 2019

I don't think you could take a stroller in the cave. There is a stair case at the entrance, and the floor in the cave is not always smooth. Our 2 year old walked some of it, and I carried her for some of it. I would probably put a 13 month old in a carrier of some kind. There are some low parts where you have to duck. They aren't long sections, but having a child in a backpack might not work for those sections. I would encourage you to go for it, just know you might end up carrying the child for some portions.

Can you go back out the entrance if you are unable to crawl due to an injury? How long is the low ceiling? Can someone 6'5” make it through?

Josh Overbaugh | Aug 26, 2019
Daniel Bacon | Aug 26, 2019

About 3 quarters of the way before u had to duck down too about 4 ft . I am 6ft 1inch tall .

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Can we see bears anothee animals

Sol Luna | Aug 26, 2019
Francois GREVET | Apr 27, 2022

No chance to see any bears... There are bats in the cave but didn't see any....

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What's the phone number for the Lava River visitor center?

Susan G | Aug 26, 2019
Britt Hanson | Aug 26, 2019

The cave does not have a visitor center at the location

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Is this open 4th if July?

Mekyla Jouni | Aug 26, 2018
Narraciones de un BURRO by Walter Saravia | Aug 26, 2018

Open 365

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Is this place pet friendly

Lyle Clinansmith | Aug 26, 2018
Floating Freelands | Aug 26, 2018

Their website says no pets are allowed in the cave.

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Are the lava caves ooen to the public or not at the moment?

Travis Hayes | Aug 25, 2021
Mary Whitney | Aug 25, 2021

They were open to the public, but they were slow to get into. You lined up on the street and waited til there was a group leaving. At that point the ranger let in some cars, gave a presentation then let you go down. Getting there early is key. Have water and snacks for the wait.

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Is the cave open on Sunday?

Vicki Shandy | Aug 26, 2019
matthew woods | Aug 26, 2019

Yes

How much is it per person to go into the cave?

Elizabeth Hopkins | Aug 26, 2019
Auni Vigil | Aug 26, 2019

If you had a recreational pass it was free to park.

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Is the hike too much for 4 year old?

Mahi Akkina | Aug 26, 2019
Nyree | Aug 26, 2019

The beginning is a rocky and uneven with lots of stairs. My kids had headlamps on, but they rent lights that are much better. You don't have to go all the way to the end, where the ceiling meets the ground. You can turn around whenever you want.

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Is there a tour guide or can you just explore it by yourself at your own pace?

Kim Forshee | Aug 26, 2019
Darnell Sue | Aug 26, 2019

It's self-guided and the cave closes at 4pm.

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Is this a nice area to go splunkin?

Justin Walker | Aug 26, 2019
Kevin Short | Aug 26, 2019

Must haves: two flashlights; a jacket; a way to get there. An explanation for the last point: there is a tiny parking lot, and I had to walk 1 1/2 miles from the much larger lot at the visitor center.

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Is there a costs to self tour the cave?

Zada | Aug 26, 2019
Beka Amblin | Aug 26, 2019

There is a $5 fee to enter the park unless you have a National Park pass. We had our own flashlights and park pass, so for us this was a "free" activity. A phone flashlight wont be enough, better to go with headlamps or real hand-helds. Also, make sure not to wear any shoes that have been in another cave as they are worried about infecting the bats.

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Is the caves open on Labor Day?

Kellie Nelson | Aug 26, 2019
Marc Thayer | Aug 26, 2019

Yes

Are helmets required in the tubes?

A Sewell | Aug 26, 2018
karen grimes | Aug 26, 2018

No they're not. The ceilings are not that low and the walking surface is pretty level. It's about a mile trek to the end of the tube.

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how much does it cost to visit the lava river caves

Jackie Sparkes | Aug 26, 2018
Robert Welch | Aug 26, 2018

Cost $5 to rent light but free to go down

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Can seniors (in good shape) handle this hike? Not too steep or tough?

N. B | Aug 26, 2018
Chris Haindel | Aug 26, 2018

It's two miles round-trip to the end and back. Depends on the senior.. I dont recommend anyone with recent knee or hip replacement, or those who are at risk of falling down regularly

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