Tabernacle Hill Lava Tubes

Warren Pettey

This place is otherworldly and fantastic. The lava tubes and Tabernacle Hill and the whole area are amazing. This is a great place to visit if you want to feel like you're either on another planet or walking through a National Geographic special on "sleeping" volcanoes. For Minivan families with younger kiddos: I was in an SUV, as I'd heard the roads were impassible in a low clearance vehicle. I guess it depends on how comfortable you are driving off-road in your minivan (we rockhound a lot, and we're fine with gravel roads), but if I'd had my minivan I would have been completely comfortable on that dry, gravel road. It appears someone has done a lot of work on the drive there. But if a storm had rolled through, it would have been entirely different, and probably a lot more tricky. (The drive around the crater is entirely different. I wouldn't even have considered driving my minivan along that road.) Your experience and vehicle clearance may vary from mine. There is a unisex pit toilet at the start of the drive from the main road, maybe 5 min from the lava tubes parking area. There is no water source at the lava tubes, or at the pit toilet. We visited in late July, and it was very hot on the surface and maybe 10-20 degrees cooler in the tubes, depending on where we were. Were we to do it again, we'd try for a cooler part of the year. We were grateful to have flashlights, leather gloves, hats, snacks, and lots of water. (And watch your head!) We didn't have young kids with us, but we saw other families who did. I would have been fine with my 9yo with me, but I'd have kept him close by. He'd have needed help climbing down to the tubes. (No path or ladder. It's scrambling down black/brown/red lava rocks ranging in size from a car to a baseball. The rocks are hot in the summer, and they're typical lava rock abrasive/rough. Give yourself time, as there are lots of ankle breaker rocks.) Access to the tubes is easy from the parking area, but not far from the main access there are "windows" or holes that drop ~25ft into the tubes. It can be hard to see these from far away (I didn't notice and were marked from above). I would keep a hold on my younger kiddos, and definitely wouldn't wander the area at night. If you have time, the actual tabernacle hill and surrounding area are amazing. For those who are prepared, it's an incredible place to visit. There are lots of lava tubes pictures online, but not many showing the drive, so that's what I've attached.

Michael Romrell

Lots to explore. Fun for all ages. Great for dirt bikes and BBQs.

Taya Tobler

We loved exploiting and hiking through the lava tubes! Make sure to wear pants and good shoes (our shoes got a bit chewed up on the pokey rock). There are a few tunnels to explore! Bring a flashlight :)

C. Kaal Glazier

Awesome klondike camp. Clear skies for star gazing, coyotes were calling on both sides of the camp around midnight, and cool caves nearby. Also some light geothermal steam in the morning which had caused condensation crystals on the porous lava rocks. The only thing that could have been better is if we had brought our sleds for the little hill out there.