Oregon’s best lava tube is already closed for the year, Washington’s shuts October 31, and California’s caves are still open
Lava tubes don’t care if it’s pouring outside, which is exactly why October is the month to go find one. The catch is that the West Coast’s three best keep wildly different calendars, and one of them has already locked its gate for the year.
Oregon’s Lava River Cave near Bend is done for 2026. Washington’s Ape Cave is open through October 31. California’s Lava Beds National Monument keeps its main park road open all year, so that one is still wide open.
Psst — we made you a West Coast Adventure Map. Nearly 1,900 of our favorite spots, already pinned, ready to load into Google Maps in two clicks — grab it here.
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
Washington’s Ape Cave: the one with a deadline
If you only get to one of these this month, make it Ape Cave on Mount St. Helens. It’s the only one of the three that stops accepting visitors in under four weeks.
During the season you need a timed reservation: pick a two-hour window on recreation.gov and pay a $2 admin fee. Day use is $5 per vehicle, or a valid Northwest Forest Pass covers it.
Pick your difficulty at the stairwell. The lower cave is a three-quarter-mile one-way walk that’s easy and family-friendly, while the upper cave runs 1.5 miles and starts with an eight-foot rock wall climb and a boulder scramble.
Finish the upper route and you pop out aboveground, then hike 1.5 miles back through the forest to your car. Bring two light sources per person, because phone lights don’t count, and rentals are available at Ape Headquarters if you forget. Here’s our full Ape Cave guide for the details.
Oregon’s Lava River Cave: pencil in next summer
This is our favorite cave in Oregon, and it’s the one you’ve already missed. The Forest Service lists Lava River Cave as closed for the 2026 season, so the tube south of Bend is off the table until it reopens.
It runs on a summer-only schedule with timed reservations, so treat it as a next-year trip and book early. Everything you need is in our Lava River Cave guide.
California’s Lava Beds: pick your own cave
Lava Beds National Monument is the one you can still go play in. It has 24 caves open for exploring, from beginner to expert, and instead of a timed ticket you just pick up a free caving permit at the visitor center.
We’ve explored several of these ourselves, and the freedom to choose your own level is most of the appeal. Start with Mushpot Cave, which has paved paths and lighting inside, then work up from there.
Helmets are required, and the park wants a headlamp plus a handheld flashlight per person, not your phone. Some caves close temporarily or seasonally to protect wildlife, so ask at the visitor center which ones are open the day you go. Our Lava Beds guide covers the best picks.
Entry is $25 per vehicle and good for seven days, or free with an America the Beautiful Pass. The main park road stays open all year, though some roads outside the park don’t in winter and early spring, so check conditions before you drive out.
So which tube are you going underground in before winter shuts the doors?
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.
