LAVA RIVER CAVE underground hike

Lava River Cave, entrance

Location: northwest of Flagstaff
Distance: about 13 miles from Flagstaff
Opening hours: open year-round
Fees: no fees
Direction from Flagstaff: Drive for about 9 miles the US 180 (towards Grand Canyon) to milemarker 230. There turn left (west) onto FR 245 (dirtroad), after 3 miles turn left (south) again onto FR 171 and after another mile again left (east) onto FR 171B to the parking area. From here the short hiking trail heads south to the entrance of the cave.
Note: Access roads might be closed during winter.

Lava River Cave. This cave (also called Government Cave) was discovered by lumbermen about 1915 and is just over 3/4 of a mile long. The temperatures in the cave range from 32° to 40° F (0° to 4.4° C) all year long.
The cave formed about 675.000 years ago when molton lava flowed through this area and created a tube as it hardened.
There are no guided tours.

Lava River Cave

Tipp: Bring a jacket and a good flashlight with extra batteries. It is cool inside the cave and absolutely dark. A second flashlight is strongly recommended - just in case...

The hike. At the entrance you scramble down over small boulders and stone. This is the 'most difficult' part of the exploration but even children can make it down with a little bit help of adults. Stones can be wet and slippery.
As you struggle down you will feel the cold and moist air inside. This is also the coldest point in the cave (the warmest is at the very end). Look for some silver sparkles on the cave walls which are ice (all year round).
Soon you reach the 'bottom' of the entrance and it is easier to walk on the almost leveled cave floor - a lave flow.
After about a third of the hike the cave is over 30 feet (9 m) high and splits. You can go either way - the cave connects after a few minutes again.
The half way point of the hike to the end of the cave is where the ceiling becomes very low and the cave makes a sharp left turn. This is the point were most hikers turn around. I did too.

The hike in this cave is not really spectacular but interesting and gives also families with children an opportunity to explore a cooler 'underworld' during hot summer months.

Nearby hikes:
Please visit the page Hiking in Northern Arizona for other interesting hikes north of Phoenix.

All information: as of fall 2003

Links to websites and information about the Lava River Cave (links open in a new window):
Lava River Cave official website (and map) of the U.S. Forest Service
Lava River Cave private website

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