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    Subway Cave & Lava Tubes

    4.4 (36 reviews)

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    Albert L.

    FREE. The perfect midway stop between Shasta or McArthur Burney Falls State Park. Perfect way to cool down. I recommend closed toed shoes because the ground isn't even down there. There's a water fountain, so you can fill up your jugs here.

    The floor's surface is uneven and sharp
    Monica S.

    If you're visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park or McArthur Burney Falls State Park, plan on visiting the free and quick Subway Cave. While the trail inside the tube is only 1/3 mile, I highly recommend a head lamp or flashlight per person AND good shoes. With the floor having VERY sharp rocks, wearing flip flops or open toed footwear is inadvisable. Admittedly, the instructions for the trail inside the cave is somewhat confusing and I initially took the wrong fork which lead to a dead end. With a good head lamp, it was easy to find my way back to the fork and take the path that lead to the end of the tunnel. Personally, I think it's easier to go back through the tunnel to get to the parking lot rather than taking the outside path which can be miserable on a hot day. There are clean vault toilets available near the parking lot.

    Bathroom facility right off the parking lot
    Tracy L.

    What an interesting stop - our first adventure in lava tubes. There are bathroom facilities, and the parking lot had plenty of spaces on a Friday afternoon in June. It's a short walk from the parking lot to the stairs that take you down to the caves. The floor is uneven so wear shoes. It is also dark inside, so bright headlamps or flashlights. The tube itself does have a subway feel and has a few small spots to explore. It has some water slowly dripping and forming small stalactites so aim your lights up. The cave was smaller/shorter than we expected, but still fun and interesting.

    Ben H.

    BRING: Good flashlight/headlamp, good shoes (or boots with ankle support), and a jacket. Super awesome experience to walk through these caves made from such an amazing phenomenon. Only 1/3 mile to the end so it's a peace of cake. It's a cave so it's super dark of course which makes it a little bit more cool and spooky. The ground is extremely uneven and those natural lava features are excellent ankle breakers lol so watch your step. The cave is also pretty cold too which can be a nice break from the sun. Definitely must see if you're nearby

    Vincent P.

    This place is worth a visit if you're in the area and can be a place to cool down for a bit during the hot summer. It's a nice little adventure exploring the cave from one side to the other. Make sure to bring a flashlight or you'll have to use your phone light because it is very dark once you're inside the cave. Also recommended to bring a jacket too, it gets pretty cold inside.

    Ryan G.

    Well worth the stop if you're in the area! It's such a unique experience that you can't get almost anywhere else. Two things I would suggest if you haven't read this already - 1. A good flashlight is a must. If you try to use your phone, you won't be able to see anything. 2. If you run cold, bring a sweater. It's much colder in there than you'd expect. You can get away without a sweater on a summer day though. It was refreshing in there haha. Lastly - it's not as scary as you'd expect and you're through the tunnel in 10-15 mins. Super quick and easy.

    Alex L.

    The Subway Caves are an incredible natural wonder in the area of Lassen and Burney Falls. They may not draw the crowds or interest of either of those larger, more well known attractions, but as a natural wonder they are just as amazing. We were spending time in the area visiting the falls and camping and stopped in here as part of a last minute day trip. We really had no idea what to expect. Tiny caves you need to spelunk through? A massive cavern. All we did know was these babies were created by lava, as is almost all the natural wonders of the area. The Subway Cavern itself is about a quarter mile long, narrow in parts and vast in others, with little side caves to explore. There's a stairwell on one end for easy up and down access, but the real treat is walking the long path to the other end and starting from there. Pro tip: We didn't realize it was so dark we needed flashlights. Thankfully, our camp was close by and we ran back to get some. It's not super dark, and if you come on a busier day there are plenty of other visitors with lights to help guide you. Either way, you'll want to get some visuals of this awesome natural spectacle!

    Subway Cave placard.
    Jennifer H.

    Follow the road signs to get to the Subway Cave (just North of Old Station, CA). There's only one road, so there's no missing it. I visited the Subway Cave by chance as I was driving up from Lassen Volcanic National Park to Burney Falls State Park. The parking lot is shaded and large enough to fit perhaps 30 cars or so. There were plenty of spaces available when I visited around 3pm on a Sunday. There's a short 5 minute walk to get to the mouth of the Subway Cave Lava Tubes. From there, you descend some stairs to get to the cave's entrance. Depending on how much you explore, it takes as little as 15 minutes to walk through the cave itself. Be careful to look both up and down -- the floor is wavy and uneven from the previous lava flow and the ceiling gets low in some sections of the cave. Bring a flashlight or a headlamp! I only had my cellphone's flashlight on hand and was barely able to see beyond a few steps ahead. If you're not careful, it can be easy to fall or bump your head :( Once you've finished touring the interior of the lava tubes, there's a short looped trail you can take to get back to the parking lot. It should take about 10-15 minutes, depending on how fast you walk. Overall, a nice site to checkout if you're in the area! :)

    Jenn N.

    Unless you are Batman, this is a must stop. I mean, you won't find cutting edge technology and the batmobile here but it lands incredibly high on the cool factor. Cool, as in: Wow, woah, awesome! Also, cool: Bring a jacket. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, it is always chill in the lava tube cave. It can also get a bit muddy, expect to get dripped on a little, so bring sturdy hiking shoes. When you first approach the tunnel, you can opt to go left to the stairway main entrance or go right for a short hike to the stairway of the "exit." I recommend staying to the left on your first visit because it's east to get lost trying to go in the reverse direction. It's a little easier to find your way back to the parking lot afterwards vs. trying to locate the exit of the lava tube from above ground. You will not make it through the entire thing if you don't have a good flashlight. Don't even try to attempt it because the ground has all kinds of stalagmites in some areas and there are turns that lead to dead ends of collapsed tubes. There are sections that are a complete blackout without a light. There are so many little caverns to explore and gorgeous views of the various Lassen peaks from above ground. Did I mention it's free? Don't ruin a great thing. Carry out any and all trash, and do not throw it the Porto potties please, come on.

    the exit of the lava tubes
    Christine L.

    We would have totally missed this place if we hadn't stopped by the visitor center on our way out of Lassen Volcanic National Park! Here's my review in hopes that more people will find it and appreciate its pure awesomeness. The lava tubes were formed by molten lava moving beneath a hardened lava surface after a volcanic eruption. Eventually, the lava flows out and leaves behind a long cave tunnel. The cave is pitch black with lots of uneven flooring (be careful not to trip!), and it's about 1/3 of a mile long. Bring a flashlight! The flash on your phone will work if it's all you have, but it will be much easier to see the ceilings/walls/floors around you with a legitimate flashlight. There are about 4-5 signs throughout the tube (designated with reflective tape) with a simple map and description of where you are. I got goosebumps reading the descriptions... As someone who grew up fascinated by volcanoes and lava, it was unbelievable having the chance to walk along the same path that lava once flowed! Even though there was nothing too fancy to look at inside (I'm not sure what you expect from the hardened inside of a lava tube), the experience was still one of the major highlights of our trip. Note: After we got out of the exit, it was so difficult finding our way back to the parking lot that we almost gave up and went back inside the cave. There is quite a bit of walking (maybe 10 minutes or so) before you get back to the lot, so don't give up too soon like we almost did!

    Cece Y.

    Cool cave that appears just like its namesake. Flashlights are an absolute must-have here. There were lots of tourists, including a kids summer camp here, so it was noisy, but safe. There are 2 BR stalls on par with porta-potties. No t.p. or soap, so hold it or come prepared. $20 entrance fee, but we happened to be here on National Public Parks Day, so it was free.

    Jacob C.

    We stopped at this little gym on our technology free getaway! It's right off the main Highway and very easy to find. Subway caves is a lava tube that was formed during volcanic events thousands of years ago, but today it offers a really cool hiking experience !. The lava on top, cooled and formed a hard top while the lava continued to flow beneath. From the parking lot to the caves is about 1/4 of a mile. Very easy hike! Bring a sweater and a flashlight! Flip flops not recommended! The air temperature drops about 30 degrees once fully inside the caves! The caves are self guided with informational stopping points along the way. You can enter and then exit on the opposite side . At this point you have two options, walk around to starting point via on top or go back through the tunnels and exit the way you came in! We exited out and walked around on top! Excellent views on top and picture taking opportunities surround you! The whole hike took a little less than an hour! We will be back!

    Denisa L.

    You need a really good flash light because it is super dark inside. But very nice and cold

    Cave entrance.

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    1 year ago

    The tunnel lava made looks very impressive! Worth visiting. But bring good flashlights! Phones will not help.

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    You lose reception so easy down here kinda creepy and don't get me started on the gas station. 40 miles of nothingness...

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    Review Highlights - Subway Cave & Lava Tubes

    We would have totally missed this place if we hadn't stopped by the visitor center on our way out of Lassen Volcanic National Park!

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    Subway Cave & Lava Tubes - parks - Updated June 2026

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