The Flagstaff Lava River Cave, or "the Lava Tubes" as locals tend to call it, is a .75 mile underground cave that is located in the heart of the Coconino National forest just west of Flagstaff, Arizona. These "tubes" were formed over 650,000 years ago when lava erupted from a nearby volcanic vent. And you can hike them... HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?!
If you've been there before, you probably still remember your first time rolling up in the dusty parking lot and sitting in the middle of the forest thinking, "okay so... this is it?" After you park, you walk down a short trail of maybe a couple hundred yards and all of a sudden in the middle of the ponderosa pines there lies... a pile of boulders. It's no surprise that a group of lumbermen discovered the cave because there is literally nothing else around this place besides trees. As you get closer to the pile of boulders, it's then that you realize that there is an opening maybe 5ft tall that leads into total and complete darkness.
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| Entrance to the Flagstaff Lava Tubes. Maaajor props to whichever lumberjack went in first. |
But before you hike into the underground, there are some things you should probably know first:
1. It's dark down there. Common sense? No? You'd be surprised! You'll want at least two light sources for this exploration. We recommend a headlamp and a pocket flashlight. You'll need your arms to do a bit of climbing at times.
2. It's cold in there. Should be common sense, right? Well if you told us that the first time we went, you'd have seen the light bulbs go off over our heads because we didn't even think about that. The temperature in the cave lingers between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Pack a jacket!
3. It's pretty slippery. The condensation in the cave can be seen on the walls and also felt on the ground. Wear shoes with a good grip!
4. It's rocky and uneven. I mentioned you have to boulder-climb but you also will have to watch your step throughout most of the hike. This paired with the fact that it's dark and slippery can be a recipe for disaster if you're not careful.
5. It can be a tight squeeze. If you don't like confined spaces, this may not be for you. There are parts where you must crouch or crawl to keep going. You can always turn around or go a different route but just remember that this is a cave and it does get crowded at times so it's something to consider!
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| My (then) 3yo in one of the tightest points of the cave at not even 3ft wide. Notice she is wearing shorts and a t-shirt? Yea, we were unprepared. |
Now that you have the details, here's one last tip for you:
If you're looking to dodge the crowds, go at night. You can camp nearby for free on the forest roads and since the cave is going to be dark whether you go during the day or at night, might as well hit the tubes at night and head over to Humphry's Peak or one of the other nearby spots that is better explored during the day.
Happy Exploring,
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