Super cool place. The parking lot is big enough. People don't stay too long so it was easy to nab a spot. Phone lights aren't bright enough. Bring a flashlight. We had so much fun exploring. The end of the trail is in the sun so maybe bring a hat, sunnies, and wear sunscreen. read more

Very fun lava tube (cave) Short hike. Easy parking. Bathroom at parking area. You will definitely need a flashlight and close-toed shoes. It is not dangerous, but it is very dark and the ground is bumpy and uneven. read more

Subway Cave & Lava Tubes - Parks Near Me - Hat Creek, California

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Wonderful pit stop to cool down in the extreme heat! Limited parking Picnic area Non flushable toilets read more

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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. read more

Subway Cave & Lava Tubes - Parks Near Me - Hat Creek, California

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. read more

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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. read more

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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 read more

Subway Cave & Lava Tubes - Parks Near Me - Hat Creek, California

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

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

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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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! :) read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Subway Cave & Lava Tubes - the exit of the lava tubes - Parks Near Me - Hat Creek, California

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. read more

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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! read more

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

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Super neat!! I'm a bit of a volcanic rock nerd but I still think I'm impartial . Worth the SHORT (~0.3mi) walk out to the beginning and the time to explore and learn about the lava tubes. I like how they have little placards along the way that give you a heads up and a description about what you are going to see. Seems that there have been people disrespecting the area (where the heck were the lavacicles?) which is irritating, but still really cool to read about it and see what is still standing. read more

Fun quick excursion. We did not need jackets. Very comfortable in shorts. Would recommend closed toed shoes. The ground is rough. Don't speed through or you'll miss stuff. We went back along the top. Great scenic read more

This is one of the coolest places I've been to in California so far, hands down. Located about 25 miles south of Burney, very close to Susanville and Lassen Volcanic National Park, open to the public from May to October, a cave created by lava from the southernmost active volcano in Cascade. Over 20,000 years ago these lava tubes were formed! It's about 3/4 of a mile long or less, and the tube stretches between two cave ins. There are many sections of interest, including The Devil's Doorway (Entrance), Lucifer's cul-de-sac, the Sanctum (Biggest open area of the tube), and Rattlesnake Collapse (Exit). As in my tip, dress warm as the temperature inside is in the 40's, although in May I went in shorts and a t-shirt and it wasn't terribly cold. Also, BRING FLASHLIGHTS! They are not joking when they say there is zero visibility inside, and lets just say that cell phone flashlights worked, but not well. :) Next time you're out this way check it out, there is a sign along Highway 89 you can't miss. It really is a sight to see. read more

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This is a fascinating piece of geological history in between Lassen Volcanic National Park and the McArthur-Burney Falls - two other places you don't want to miss if you find yourself in this area. Keep in mind that this is NOT a cave in the traditional sense, such as those at Lake Shasta Caverns. There are no underground streams, no steep descents into magnificent chambers, and no tower stalactites and stalagmites. This is an empty lava tube, through which two ancient flows of lava traveled. It is completely dark and the floor is rough, but a standard hand-held flashlight with fresh batteries will get you through safely. I had a headlamp on the hike, but I found that it was better to hold it in my hand instead of wearing it on my head, so that I could shine the light in any direction without having to move my head. There are a handful of informational signs within the cave, which provide a concise explanation of the geologic phenomena that created this cave. There is ample free parking at the cave, and the direction to the cave is quite clear when you arrive. However, upon exiting the cave we were briefly confused about the direction back to the lot until we noticed a single arrow pointing us in the right direction. The US Forest Service website mentions that the temperature is quite cool in the cave, and they recommend bringing a jacket. However, we entered in t-shirts and shorts, and we found the temperature to be a welcome relief from the 90+ temperatures on the surface. Closed-toe shoes are recommended. If you are very tall, shine your light up every once in a while as there are some low ceilings in the cave. Be wary of rattlesnakes basking on the trails leading to and from the cave. However, we were told that rattlesnakes inside the cave are generally not an issue. read more

Stumbled across this after a rather disappointing visit to Lassen NP. Didn't have the recommended flashlights, but decided to use that app on our phones. Not very far in, it became evident that my high end rubber-like sandals were not up to the pumice flooring of the cave. Plus it was a little cold in there for our tee-shirt & shorts attire. Many years ago we visited Lava Beds National Monument to the north. This appears to be a similar experience, but on a smaller scale. read more

Fun and different, these lava tube caves are pitch black and cold no matter what time of day and what the weather is like outside. It's a short but sweet trek and definitely fun for kids and adults too, but the main attraction of the caves is approximately 1/3 mile and therefore very short. There's only so Many ways to make it more interesting or to extend your time underground, so make the best of it and enjoy but you will probably want to plan something else around this very short "hike" read more

Worth your time to stop if driving through. It's a short, but fun walk through the cave. Especially good on a hot day, as the cave is much cooler. Walk carefully, as the ground is uneven and the cave is very dark. Bring a good light. read more

I'm so happy we stopped here before our visit to Burney falls was over... We had so much fun here... Remember to take a sweater it gets pretty chilly in there... And take good shoes and flashlights!! It's relatively short but nonetheless amazing. read more

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The short: short, big, scary, awesome, and very pitch black lava tube I had arrived at 10 in the morning with no other car in sight. At the beginning of the trail, there's a helpful information plaque describing how the lava formed the tube. I would recommend those who are scared of the dark to empty their bladders at the bathroom first. I don't mean the dark with twinkling lights. I mean pitch black and cold with no breeze (stagnant cold air feels so strange). ++ Bring a jacket: I'd guess its 50F in the cave. I felt like a fool bringing one because it was 80F after I stepped out of the cave ++ Bring a very good flashlight: I'm not sure how bright cell phone lights are, but I could barely see 5 feet in front of me with my headlamp. Reading the others reviews is kind of funny because people got lost, but I didn't. Read on! Head up stair set #1 and make a left at the fork. I repeat. Make a LEFT at the fork. I wondered where the right fork went so I followed it for a minute and found I was walking away from the entrance of the tube, so I retraced my steps back to the fork. If you're walking for 5-10 minutes on the trail, retrace your steps to stair set #1. I wish there was a plaque that said: "Entrance: This Way." Then, head down stair set #2 into the tube. Immediately, I began to feel a chill and was sooo glad I brought my jacket. And well, watch your step because the first area is Stubtoe Hall, a.k.a. the area where people trip. Thankfully, there are several sign posts with reflective tape throughout the tube that give information of where you are, what you're standing in, and how the area formed. I used the flash on my camera to get a better scope of the space I'm in. The tube is very big and very empty. It's impossible to get lost inside the tube because there's only one entrance and one exit. The entire time, I kept thinking, "wow, lava used to flow through here." And "wow, thank goodness there are no bears or lions or spiders to run into." And before I knew it, I saw a light at the end of the tube. THANK GOODNESS! My eyes, that were deprived of light for a 1/3 mile (length of tube), felt so grateful for the light peeking around the corner. 1/3 mile can feel long, but it feels so short at the end. I didn't notice this at first as I exited up stair set #3 out of the tube, but there are ARROWS on the fence pointing to the right. There are some benches at the top of the stairs to get your heart pumping again (I think I was holding my breath the entire time) and eyes used to the brightness, but don't forget to turn RIGHT at the exit (essentially a U-turn). Follow the trail that hugs a wall of sorts, back to the fork in the road in the beginning. This above ground trail walks above the tube (pretty awesome to know that lava used to flow below!) At the detour/junction, turn LEFT to reach the stair set #1 that will lead you back to the parking lot. Tip #1: Point the light to the walls (or ground) for brighter light impact. Pointing it straight ahead is of no use... Tip #2: Walk slow in the tube. There is a lot of uneven terrain. I wasn't super amazed because it is empty after all, but knowing that there used to be lava flowing below makes this a fun visit, especially if you're visiting the Lassen and Burney area. read more

I would use caution entering caves. The stupid little flashlight on your phone will NOT work. You need something much stronger. I went in with my husband and special needs son. We all felt scared Bc it was extreme pitch black and there was a group of guys near us and honestly I think if someone wants to harm you or your kid they totally can. I'd go with other people in a group and stick together. My husband was off duty and didn't have his gun with him, I think people are vulnerable in here. Maybe I'm too cautious but I'd rather be overly cautious than not enough read more

I don't get how people can be slightly impressed with a natural wonder... anyway this is super cool if you understand what you are looking at and take your time to look as you walk through this AWESOME sight. It is a quarter of a mile underground. Interesting hiking with volcanic interest around the area. Must have a flashlight for this. read more

This was a fun stop for our family during our road trip. We had a hard time finding it, we stopped to ask directions and had to go back quite a ways to find it. There is a sign, but it came sooner than expected so we weren't looking for it yet. There was almost no one there in the middle of summer! The cave was huge and nice and cool. It was fun to explore with flashlights (it was pitch black). read more

I had high hopes going into Subway Cave and Lava Tubes. I was sorely disappointed. Perhaps it was my own fault or perhaps the trail was not clearly marked enough. Either way, I got lost up top. I walked all around until I found what I assumed was the entrance. But then I saw a sign that read "Trails End." So I hiked almost all of the way back until I found a couple heading the other direction. So I followed them right back to where I had first turned around. I entered the cave from there. I don't know if it was the beginning of the cave or the end. I guess it didn't much matter though. I walked in and quickly realized that my very bright headlamp, or what I assumed was very bright, was not nearly bright enough. It was still very dark. I could not tell the bottom from the top in there except that the bottom was at my feet. And it was a very uneven surface. I nearly twisted my ankles and fell at every step. But I made my way through until I found a group on a tour. I thought I would tag along with them until I smelled what can best be tactfully described as a nervous stomach. So I left on my own route. Again. I finally made my way to the other side and found myself on the trail. Again. I ended up walking that damned thing three times. By the time I got back to my car I was hot, thirsty, hungry and tired. I would not choose to go back. I've seen better caves. I like the idea of it more than anything. Use caution if you choose to go. Extreme caution. read more

This place is pretty cool. BrinG a fllashlight, jacket and maKe sure you have tennis shoes, sandals aren't a good idea. The floor of the tubes are very uneven so you need to be able to catch your balance. It's very dark and a little scary but is a very fun experience. We went in May and when we came out it was like a heatwave hit us. It's fun and worth the time. read more

This awesome 1/3 of a mile solid lava tube cave is well kept, clean, and easily accessible. We wanted to checked it out while traveling in the area during march off season, to find that it was unlabeled on the road- we found it by using a detailed map of the area- and the gate closed at the entrance. A short 3 minute hike brought you to a picnic area with restrooms and explanatory signage. Then a quick walk up stairs and through a bee-guarded scrub brings you to the entrance of the cave. Descend down another flight of stairs and you are quickly in a pitch black lava tube, all alone, and very chilly. You absolutely need to bring flashlights of some kind- there are no breaks in the cave ceiling to let light in. Its a loop trail though the cave and up and out the other side. I would recommend this to anyone remotely interested in volcanoes, geology, or just plain adventure! read more

Subway Cave & Lava Tubes - Headlamp in use at entrance to lava tube - Parks Near Me - Hat Creek, California

This is a great stop on the way through the area. Get out and stretch your legs but make sure to bring a flashlight. This is good with kids but no pets allowed. It is cool on a hot summer day and can be explored in under an hour. There are several of these lava tubes around but this is the only one with easy access I know of. Stop and enjoy yourself. read more

Been going to subway caves for years never had a issue finding the entrance. Bring good hiking shoes and a battery operated light also a light jacket. read more

It was just a bit out of the way but sounded interesting so we drove out anyways. It was way smaller then the hype of it. Since its self guided and totally dark and really short, it was less then I expected though mildly interesting. I think if I was a little kid and could run through it several times it would have appealed to me. ( or scared me, pitch dark, bring a flashlight) The upside is there are a few short adjunct hiking trails with views of Mt. Lassen and a place to picnic read more