Mojave National Preserve · California

Lava Tube Trail

0.1 mi of trail, end to end · about 50 ft of climbing · 3,606 ft–3,653 ft · native surface · trail class Moderately Developed

3,606 ft 3,653 ft · 0.1 mi high 3,653 ft

Visit a Lava Tube the Park Service's write-up

0-30 Minutes · dogs allowed · season The lava tube is accessible all year, though the road can become more difficult after rain.

Start Lava Tube

A beam of light shines into the lava tube

Take an underground adventure into the lava tube! Just a short walk from the road brings you to this natural cave made of lava that cooled thousands of years ago. Enjoy some fascinating geologic formations and the beautiful contrast between light and dark inside. Sometimes during daylight hours you can see a bright sunbeam streaming through the multiple ceiling holes. The lava tube is often enjoyed by photographers, hikers, and adventurers of all ages. Please note that the road approaching it is rough, and a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.

Accessibility The trail from the parking area to the lava tube is approximately 1/4 mile long and moderately difficult, since it progresses uphill and there are many large, loose boulders along the trail. To enter into the lava tube, visitors descend a wide, sturdy ladder with handrails, then progress further into the tube by walking on and between boulders. Visitors must stoop or crawl for a distance of about 6 feet to pass under a low section of the ceiling before entering the main room of the lava tube cave.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 14 trails in Mojave National PreserveFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.