Lava River Cave

The fact that the cave was created by lava is the only thing cool about this. There really isn’t much to see once you get inside. Make sure you wear a jacket it is cold inside. Also, I would not recommend wearing flip flops since the floor of the cave is uneven at times. Another tip, rent the $5 flashlight from the rental people or bring your own. Your cell phone flashlight will not cut it. They let you go in the cave on your own and there aren’t any lights down there.

Very inexpensive which is nice. Be aware, there can be delays as they moderate crowds and parking lot access. We waited on the main road 15-30 min before being allowed in (we arrived at 10AM). You do get a safety brief but otherwise, this is self guided. The caves are totally black, cold, damp, slippery, nothing really to see. This is not a cavern with stalagmites/stalactites. There weren't even any bats to see the day we went. Be careful if you are claustrophobic, afraid of the dark, or unsteady on your feet. Biggest thing is I guess you get bragging rights saying you've hiked a mile in an actual cave.

One thing to be clear, this is a lava cave. We had never been in a lava cave before and were expecting it to be like other caves we have been in before. There is nothing wrong with a lava cave, but I want to manage your expectations, it is not lit other than with the lanterns you rent from them, there are no stalagmites or stalag tights, no color. It was a little disappointing for us but I guess we should have asked before we went in. It was pretty cool, but a light jacket did fairly well. Very difficult to photograph if there was something to photograph.

An easy 2 mile walk deep into the earth. Bring a coat and wear sturdy shoes. Highly recommend renting a light or bringing your own large powerful light. It is pitch black in the cave.

I’ll admit I was a little nervous about going that far into a cave, but we loved it. It’s open enough for those who are nervous to feel comfortable, yet does provide some manageable tight spaces to have a little adventure. Highly recommend renting the lights. It’s so dark down there regular flashlights do nothing. Also we only rented one light for the two of us…it was fine, but 2 would have helped us navigate the cave more quickly. Other tips bring a light jacket, book your parking permit ahead of time, bring hand sanitizer if you plan to use the bathroom.

The experience is certainly unique. I recommend a high power, hand held flash lightHead lamps don't give a clear light view. Cold, wear extra. clothing. Footing is challenging, but worth it.

I visited Lava River Cave as part of my trip to Newberry National Volcanic Monument in Bend. Being formed by lava flow, this cave is an unusual attraction compared to other caves & caverns. There is no lighted path inside the river cave, but for the metal stairs in the beginning part of the cave. I rented the $5 flash light at the entrance to the cave. After the safety talk at the entrance, the group is allowed in the cave, it is not a guided visit; each is on their own. And, one can tour the cave at their own pace and go as far deep as one wants till the end which is about one mile into the cave. I was amazed at the humongous size (wide and high) of the cave. The cave floor is not paved; it was sandy/dusty and pretty uneven. So one has to be careful with their steps.

In summary, visiting the lava cave was a novel experience, though there are no formations or colorful lights. It is one of the prime features in Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

Great for our group of 10 with ages ranging from 10 to 60. Dress warmly it is quite chilly, gloves helpful too. Must have good shoes (not flip-flops) and headlamp or flashlight (rent at least one of their high-powered lanterns for $5!). Get your parking permit at Recreation.gov first to secure your time. Park Ranger gives safety talk upon arrival and discussed bats that inhabit the caves. We did not see any bats, fortunately/unfortunately. Not recommended for elderly people or those prone to falls due to metal stairs and uneven ground all over.

About 30 minute wait. We went after lunch around 1250 on a Monday. Very simple, you'll see a line of cars. Just get in the queue. Bring warm clothes. Gets cold fast. Free for military.

Super cool experience. Very doable but lots of stairs, I was able to take my time and it was fine. It is cool 42 degrees inside. I came prepared with jacket and gloves so was comfortable. We had headlamps but rented one as well. So glad we did. The rented lamps are way better and worth it!!!! Without it we would have missed everything. We got there early so line moved quickly. I would also recommend good shoes. It was sandy and could get slippery in spots.