What are the Lava Tubes?
Lava River Cave is located north of Bellemont just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona
How long are the lava tubes?
3,820 feet in length – (0.72 of a mile) (3)
(1 mile equals 5,280 feet)
How long does it take to hike to the end of the cave and back?
about 2 hours (Anita: It took me about 2 hours to hike it there and back. Including stops for photos and exploring.)
Can a pet (dog) go in the cave?
Pets not allowed. (1)
What to bring?
3 sources of light – flashlight, headlamp,
good, close toed shoes – rock floors may be slippery
hiking stick
light jacket
optional – helmet or hat (low ceilings at times) ** (Anita recommends it! You really need to look down at where you are stepping a lot, and may not realize a low part is coming. Ask me how I know! LOL. I hit my head on the ceiling and it laid me out flat! Luckily, I had my headlamp on my head so I hit that instead of my head directly.)
Where are the GPS coordinates to the parking lot to drive to?
35°20’32.2″N 111°50’08.2″W
How long of a walk it is from the parking lot to the entrance of the cave?
1/4 mile (1)
What does the cave look like?
map of the cave here
Is there camping near the lava tube cave?
Dispersed camping is not allowed within 1 mile of the cave entrance. (2)
What are the temperatures in the cave?
between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit (1)
When is it open?
year round – but FR 245/FR171 are closed during winter months (1)
To get the current status of cave – call 928-526-0866
Resources
1. https://www.flagstaff.com/lava-tubes
2. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55122
3. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/coconino/learning/nature-science/?cid=stelprdb5275785
