Bend, Oregon: Lava River Cave: Lava Tube

Timed entry is now required. Make reservations online at recreation.gov

We are from Colorado and used to cold temperatures, but bringing a sweatshirt helped, and gloves are a plus. The metal railings are cold in the cave and your fingers get really cold.

On a trip through Oregon during the summer of '98 we visited the "Lava Tube" somewhere near Bend (I think). For a small admission fee you receive a gas lantern and are directed to the opening of the Tube. It was formed by a passing lava flow that cooled on the sides causing this tube-like cave. Nobody knows how far it really goes, but you can walk until you can't stand upright and continue on your knees. Why? I am not sure, as it is scary in there!

It is always a cool temperature and was originally used by the guy who discovered it to store meats 'n such way back when. We were the last to arrive and the woman who manned the cash register said that she was going home and said for us to leave the lanterns at the gate when we came back. We were also told that we could bring a shovel and dig some more at the end if we were inclined to see what was further in the tube.

We went pretty far in, then thought, " we are all alone in the lava tube, in the dark, are we mad?" Then we proceeded out of the tube as fast as we could, responsibly returned the lanterns and left with the warm fuzzy that comes from visiting a roadside attraction that is really good!