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    Mojave Lava Tubes

    4.7 (23 reviews)

    Mojave Lava Tubes Photos

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    Parking for the lava tubes
    Hannah S.

    Definitely one of the weirder adventures I've embarked upon - and undoubtedly one of the most fun!! What a trip haha! Finally made it out here - been trying since the #localadventurechallenge put it on my radar last September but it was closed due to Covid I think (or a fire - can't remember lol). You'll drive waaaay out into the Mojave Desert, passing tons of gnarly Joshua Trees - and then spend another 40+ minutes driving down an insanely bumpy, rocky, sandy road. Then you'll finally see the little roundabout parking area with a sign for the tubes - get out and hike a tiny bit - I'd say about 1/2 a mile - unless you're like us and take the wrong trail lol - hiking past all these rocky lava rock explosions! Black and red and so rough and pointy - it's mind blowing how anything can grow outta this stuff! And then you'll finally stumble upon a gaping hole opening up into the desert floor with stairs leading down. At the bottom you'll think you should go right but you actually want to go left - the opening on the right looks like it caved in as it's full of rocks and dirt - don't go that way! When you go left, you'll have to climb over large lava boulders and it gets super dark so have your cellphone light or a flashlight - you'll need it for sure! And then BAM!!! It suddenly gets light and opens up into the coolest chamber!! If you time it right, you'll catch beams of light shining in through lava holes in the roof of the cavern. We were there mid morning and there weren't any beams until we started to leave - around 1030am ish I think - a tiny beam finally appeared! I definitely want to go back to catch the full light beam effects someday - but phew that ride in sure is tough! That being said, I highly recommend a rental car - and an elevated one - Bc you're gonna be going over some serious bumps and even some large rocks along the road. It's only about 5 miles of the Hell Road but it takes a good solid 40 mins or more to drive it Bc of the conditions. And you'll also see a fork in the road on the way in - stay to the left!! Supposedly if you go to the right, the sand is really deep and you'll get stuck! To get here I used google maps - and I had downloaded the offline map - DO IT - Bc there's no signal out here whatsoever. But google maps recognized Mojave Lava Tube and got us here nonetheless. Apple Maps was all kinds of wrong lol. I also recommend hiking boots - you don't HAVE to have them - but the ground is incredibly rocky and hard to traverse- I had on my vans and it was so tough. Hiking boots would've been much more comfortable! Oh and there's absolutely NO cell signal out there for miles - so just be safe - maybe don't come alone - let somebody know where you're going etc.

    Ed T.

    This was an unique experience especially if there are any sunlight shining through the cave. Probably better if you have a high clearance car to drive 5 miles off-road to this location. From the parking, it was about a ~10 minute walk to the cave. After you climb down the stairs, head left to the opening with a flashlight. Then, crouch down to get through this small opening. The cave was smaller than I thought and can fill up fast with people looking to get photos!

    George L.

    It's a tiny cave in the middle of nowhere and almost risked getting stuck on the off-road path en route to here but it was worth it. It's quite easy to miss the entrance, but you have to go about 5 miles on a reallllllllllllllly bumpy road that before you make it to a roundabout. Download an offline version of Google Maps; no reception here. Park at the roundabout, then walk up the slight slope and go to your right and you'll see a ladder. You can go down from there and and you'll find the cave after going under a narrow gap. It's quite nice temperature-wise compared to the sweltering heat outside. You will have to walk down stairs, as well as hunch down to get in the cave, so it's NOT handicap friendly, for those that want to know. I want to reemphasize that my 2WD low riding car made it after going between 5-15 mph for almost 35 minutes, and only scratched it up once towards the last 200 feet after the cul de sac, which honestly was a mistake and I should've parked at the cul de sac then just walk the short distance to get to the tubes. It's also next to Kelso Dunes so I recommend visiting this place in addition to the caves if you're out in the Mojave here.

    Trail head is to your right you should be able to turn around and see your vehicle from where the trail head is.
    Kym S.

    Is an extremely easy jaunt up a slight slope to a fixed metal ladder. If you lose sight of your vehicle for more than a minute you've gone too far. You pass the second corral and there will be a small cul-de-sac dirt loop to your right a bit down the road. Unless you have an authentic 4 x 4 I would not suggest trying to go up the embankment which is about 200 feet to the ladder. When I went it was a weekday and there was nobody there. The road in, is very bumpy, sometimes graded and towards the end of the road has some sharp lava rocks so go easy. You do not require a 4 x 4 however it is suggested. I went in a sedan and the 4.2 miles took me about 35 minutes to go down because I needed to go so slowly. Definitely bring yourself water. And a flashlight, a headlamp if you have one. You will need both hands to go down the latter there are about 7-9 rungs, it's not very steep. You will need to duck to get into the larger portion of the cave. So when you reach the bottom of the ladder, you can make a right or a left. I suggest left. The left will take you out into the main cave area. The right is just a small dead end. As I stated it is very dark in there until you reach the area of the main cavern where there are portals for light comes through. It is safe enough for children to traverse. However I suggest leaving fido home. The rocks are sharp and probably not paw friendly. If you come out here enjoy the views. When I was out here I ended up hiking in additional 12 miles into the Mojave. If you're out here, you will hear a strange, deep booming noise occasionally. It's coming from the military base. I believe Fort Irwin. Nothing to fear just random bombing practices.

    Kailee N.

    This is a very easy .5 mile hike to a beautiful cave with 2 light entry points that photograph very well! Quick read: yes, go it's worth it. But please try to leave the smoke bombs and manmade items out of the area! Some tips: 1: get gas before you head out. There aren't many stations near by. Not many restaurants open right now either so bring food if you want. 2: bring a phone flashlight or a real one just for the few feet of darkness. 3. Turn left at the sign that says lava tubes- there is no arrow. 4. The 5 mile road up to the trailhead is not at bad. Go slower over the rocks and around 30 on the washboard portions. You can take a car/sedan and be just fine. 5. park at the lot and walk the .5 up- trying to drive up the trail(some Jeep's were) destroys the trail. 6. Not much else to do around here, but if you like dunes there are sand dunes about 20 minutes away from this to also do. Now go check it out yourself!

    The old ladder was much less sturdy.
    Norm K.

    This is a pleasant natural area to check out when in the Mojave Nation Preserve. My photos are from 2006, the only time I've been here. Be aware that the map marker for this listing is not correct. Pay attention to the reviewers that tell you to go to Aiken Mine Road and then head north. The lava tube is west of Kelso, California, not east as this marker shows. When I visited, the road evidently was worse than it is today. While I didn't need my 4 wheel drive, the high clearance was necessary. It sounds like they've done some blading of the dirt road. As you follow the trail to the ladder, you bypass what's a natural hole where the lava hardened to the open air. Past this opening, you get to another one and here there's a ladder to go down to the floor of the lava tube. Since I've walked some long lava tubes in Hawaii, this was less impressive to me. But, this is in our area. How often to we get to fly off to Hawaii? One word of caution: avoid kicking up dust in caves in the southwest. Pack rats and mice make these places their home and they can carry the hantavirus. This is in their excrement and contact with it or from dust in the air can cause humans to be infected. Just keep the dust to a minimum and avoid exploring pack rat middens.

    Chandra F.

    Cool little place to stop, but definitely not a spot you'll be spending a lot of time at unless you plan on hiking and exploring the surrounding area. My girls and I spent about 10 mins taking pics and we were done. Bring a flashlight or use your phone light as there is a dark spot where you can't see a thing and depending on your height, you may have to crawl. Once off the main road, you will be on a bumpy dirt road, which is still very doable by sedan. Bumps are small, but sounds/feels horrible! You will see 1 sign when you are near the Lava Tube. MAKE SURE YOU GO STRAIGHT/LEFT LANE. My Google Map/Yelp, told us to turn right and that was a huge mistake! We drove for a few more miles. Luckily I have an SUV, but low clearance sedans would probably not make it through the thick dirt/sand and/or boulders. We eventually had to stop because we got to a section that my SUV would definitely not make it through without causing damage or popping a tire. The road was narrow so I had to drive in reverse til I could find a spot to turn my car around. But if you have a 4x4 jeep/truck, it definitely looks like a fun challenge! Anyway, once you see the sign, the parking lot takes less than a minute to get to and the walk up to the ladder is about 2-3 mins.

    Peter F.

    Yes yes and yes. I came here in a Friday with a friend and and some smoke fir photography. We where the only ones here that day. It was a cold February day and the drive from LA was long but worth it. Ok after you park your car walk the path about 200 ft and on your right you'll see some metal thin post, one of them is painted purple. Walk the path about a good 50 to 60 feet and you'll see the entrance with the stairs. Go down and go to the left. You'll hunch over walking through about 15 feet and you'll come into the main chamber. It's huge. It's a great place to just stare and wonder how and when this was created. We where alone so took some great shots with smoke, I suggest also when your done to just explore and walk some of the trails in the area. It's a geological wonder.

    Map to find the lava tube
    Anrana S.

    OMG. This is the most awesome thing I have ever done in my whole entire life. Seriously. Climbed around inside a lava tube. First - to get there. Look at the maps I posted. Or WAZE knows how to get you there. I tried to go 2 years ago, but couldn't get up the road since I didn't have AWD or high clearance on my rental. This year the road had been regraded and I'm pretty certain any 2WD could make it. Aiken Mine Road doesn't have a street sign. There is a white rock at the road. Once on Aiken Mine, there are a couple turn-offs. But just always pick the straightest Fork. The road kinda ends in a cul de sac parking lot. It's about a 1/4 mile walk from here. But if you do have AWD high clearance, you can continue on the road and get right up to within 200' of the tube. Our Infiniti QX60 was able to make it. Look for the rock cairn and the pink spray paint post. Walk the trail from here. Ignore the first hole in the ground and continue to the second hole. You can actually see the ladder sticking out of the second hole. Climb on down. Over to the right is a dead end. Climb down to the left. You will then see a tunnel about 3' tall. Climb through that. It's only that low for about 5'. And you can stand up straight again in about 10'. Then you are below the first hole. You are actually in a huge room. And you see the tube of light coming down from the small hole in the ground. It is such a surreal experience. I've been in a few caves. But this is different. If it was the 80's, I'd say it was tubular.

    From the inside looking out.
    Ellebelle B.

    Amazing pretty much sums it up! A four wheel drive type of vehicle is highly recommended though our Mini Cooper did just fine as well. Prepare to go off roading for 10 miles round trip as you will need to drive your car in the dirt/sand and into the actual lave tube trail itself. Take it all in once you get there and stay for a long as you can, it is truly amazing.

    Hike! No car.
    Wendy C.

    Kelbaker Rd -- approx 20 miles Right on Aiken Mine Rd approx 5 miles Once reach sign "Lava Tube Trail" hike from here! Leave car. Go up short trail and make a right when you see trail heading uphill (red painted rod will indicate way) You will pass a hole 3 minutes into hike, skip that one and keep going until you come across another hole. This one will contain a ladder. Happy exploring :)

    Mike P.

    This place was pretty cool. There is the possibility of getting the hanta virus from going here, no joke, so try not to disturb the dust to much in the cave. There is a large chamber you have to crab walk to get into and it's the size of a large living room. The path that leads you to the mouth of the tube/cane is denoted by the world's smallest sign that doesn't aurally say anything. It's about 25 miles into the mojave to get here but it worth it. The off roading path was always pretty fun.

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    7 years ago

    Who knew 10 seater van can go off road ...no signs ...so explored and then....found tubes....but worth the time...

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    7 years ago

    Drive up was rough but it was still an intriguing little adventure. Make sure to wear approptiate shoes. Lots of rocks!!

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    Ask the Community - Mojave Lava Tubes

    Review Highlights - Mojave Lava Tubes

    If you're out camping and exploring in the Mojave Desert, the Lava Tubes are definitely worth the drive and hike.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve

    Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve

    4.4(27 reviews)
    23.3 mi

    I've been on a LOT of tours in a LOT of places around the world, and Willy is in my top 10! The…read morecaverns are pretty cool, but Willy's knowledge, humor, pacing, and care made this a five-star experience. Our group ranged in age from tween to 60s and everyone was engaged for two hours. I'm a California Naturalist with high standards and Willy knows his stuff! As a native Californian I especially loved knowing he's local, young, and a former CCC "graduate". His contributions and energy are why these government programs are so important. Must see if you're visiting the area, but be warned -- you need reservations and these fill up weeks ahead of time. The paved road, nature center, views, and well-organized everything made this a real treat!

    Tours are offered on Friday-Sunday and Holiday Mondays at 11am and 2pm from October to May. In June…read moreand September, tours are on the same days but only at 10am. Reservations are highly recommended, as tour size is limited to approximately 12 people; and reservations are only taken via phone on Mondays between 8am-5pm. Cost is $10 per adult 17+ and parking is $10, payable at the visitors center upon arrival for the tour. The tour itself takes approximately 2 hours, and is about 1.5 mile round trip. It may feel strenuous for some people walking back up to the parking area from the caverns. Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative. I recommend bringing food and drinks to eat before or after the tour, as none is available. Also, leave your bags/belongings in the car. You will be asked to put these items at the entrance of the caverns, including water bottles.

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    Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve
    Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve
    Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve

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    Teutonia Peak - Athens out exploring

    Teutonia Peak

    4.5(4 reviews)
    12.3 mi

    I first hiked Teutonia Peak in 2004. It was a great hike then and still is but the landscape has…read morechanged so much. That's why I wanted to go back. During the summer, the Dome fire burned this area. What was once the largest concentration of Joshua trees in the world is now a sad hike along Joshuas that have been burned. It looked like some had some green at the top and may come back, but most won't. This three mile round trip hike starts along Cima Road. There is plenty of parking on both sides of the road. The first mile of the hike is on sand and gravel with the sand hard packed in a few places. There's a side trail that goes to some remnants of an old silver mine. The trail is clearly marked although some of the signs have faded in the desert sun. At about one mile out, the trail becomes totally different. It's here that the elevation gain of 700 feet begins. Much of the way up requires using rock steps and it becomes a workout. I seem to remember that the trail was a lot less steep almost 17 years ago, but maybe it's just me. At 1.5 miles out, you get a view of Cima Dome. It's a convex mound caused by movement of the tectonic plates in this area millions of years ago. This is where we decided to turn back as we had other things to see in the Mojave National Preserve. This is a good trail for families. It's not as beautiful as it was before the fire but the views and the rock outcrops make it a worthwhile hike!

    The hike is a fairly easy hike roughly 1.72 miles to the top. There is parking just outside the…read morestart of the trail and picnic tables at the Mojave Cross. The area is absolutely breathtaking the entire way full of wildlife and Joshua Trees and amazing cloud formations. The hike to the peak is worth it. The view is amazing!

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    Teutonia Peak - Interesting and precarious rock formations

    Interesting and precarious rock formations

    Teutonia Peak - Athens in the mancave

    Athens in the mancave

    Teutonia Peak

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    Ludlow - Ghost Town - Ludlow - a mecca for abandoned cars!

    Ludlow - Ghost Town

    4.1(7 reviews)
    41.3 mi

    If you are on the 40 hwy stop at this little town which is all but ruins! 2 gas stations one on…read moreeach side of the freeway, both selling gas at 6.59 gallon!

    About 52 miles east of Barstow, California on the I-40 you'll run across an old town called Ludlow…read more Don't blink or you'll miss it. Pulling off the freeway into Ludlow you'll immediately see there aren't many active businesses left. There's a gas station, a cafe and a small motel. That's it. Less than a half a mile behind this thriving metropolis you'll find quite an assortment of ruins. The town was formed in 1883 originally as a water stop for the railroad. Ore was found in the nearby hills and Ludlow was off and runnin. The town was doing well until the 1940s when the railway activity and the mining sort of dried up. The town survived by catering to travelers along old Route 66. I-40 was built in the 60s and now people were able to blow by the town at highway speeds never giving it a look. It was around that time most of the residents started to move on to greener pastures. The building behind me was built in 1908, Most of the other side of the building is in ruins due to a earthquake that hit the area in 2000. Apparently this use to be the general store for the community. Now days there's a handful of residents that call Ludlow home. The morning I visited there wasn't a soul to be found. Wandering around old abandoned places such as this always makes me wonder what they were like in their heyday. Years ago this town boasted a population of around 600 people. If you're a fan of picturesque old buildings Ludlow is definitely worth pulling off the highway for.

    Photos
    Ludlow - Ghost Town - Abandoned cars decaying in the hot desert sun.

    Abandoned cars decaying in the hot desert sun.

    Ludlow - Ghost Town - Old mining building...

    Old mining building...

    Ludlow - Ghost Town

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    Rainbow Bridge Via Pacific Crest Trail

    Rainbow Bridge Via Pacific Crest Trail

    4.8(4 reviews)
    104.5 mi

    The Pacific Crest Trailhead - Mojave River Forks End of Road serves as a significant access point…read moreto the iconic Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in Southern California. Situated at an elevation of 923 meters in the Mojave Desert region, this trailhead marks a unique intersection where the vast wilderness of the PCT meets the end of California Highway 173. It is a crucial gateway for exploring the diverse landscapes of the San Bernardino Mountains foothills and the unique desert environment. Visitors consistently highlight this trailhead as the most accessible starting point for reaching the popular Deep Creek Hot Springs, making it a favored destination for hikers. The opportunity to experience a distinctive desert section of the Pacific Crest Trail, with its scenic Deep Creek Canyon and lush riparian vegetation, is another major draw. The convenience of a wide parking area at the end of the paved road also contributes to its popularity among those looking for day hikes or shorter excursions on the PCT. Before setting out, hikers should be prepared for a creek crossing within about a mile of the trailhead, as Deep Creek must be forded. While often shallow or dry, especially during certain times of the year, water levels can rise significantly after rain or snowmelt, potentially requiring an alternative parallel track near the dam. The trailhead offers ample free parking at the dead-end of Highway 173, making it easily reachable by passenger vehicle. This trailhead is ideal for hiking and trail running, particularly for those aiming for the Deep Creek Hot Springs, which is typically a 12-mile out-and-back journey. The arid desert climate suggests that spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for exploration, avoiding the extreme heat of summer or potential high waters in winter. Its location also provides convenient access to nearby amenities at Mojave River Forks Regional Park, including camping and recreational opportunities at Silverwood Lake.

    i love this trail, but do it on a cloudy day, wont recommend hiking this on a hot day because…read moretheres no shade the whole time. and pls. pick up after your pet. parking is kinda sketchy too. so take the risk. Other than that love the bridge at the end of the trail!

    Photos
    Rainbow Bridge Via Pacific Crest Trail
    Rainbow Bridge Via Pacific Crest Trail
    Rainbow Bridge Via Pacific Crest Trail

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    Mojave Lava Tubes - hiking - Updated May 2026

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