Photo by Chad Copeland Switch on your lantern or flashlight before carefully descending 55 metal stairs into the Lava River Cave. A short drive from Sunriver, Lava River Cave was formed roughly 65,000 years ago and held lava that flowed toward the Deschutes River. The mile-long tube was one of the first to be discovered in Oregon, and it is the state’s longest walk through lava tubes. It takes about two hours to walk the two miles round trip. HISTORY Part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the Lava River Cave was one of the first lava tubes to be discovered in Oregon. It has a fascinating history from being as early as 10,000 BP. Euro-American exploration of the lava cave can be traced back to 1889. It was first known as Dillman’s Cave, named after Leander Dillman, who discovered it while hunting. Dillman was a local stockman and trapper who lived nearby and used the cave’s year-round 42 degrees temperature as a natural refrigerator to cool his venison. For 32 years, the cave was known as Dillman’s Cave, but in 1921 Dillman was convicted of a crime and the cave’s name was changed to Lava River Cave. The name is derived from a geologist’s study of the cave in 1923. Ira A. Williams called the cave “The Lava River Tunnel.” His work provided the first known map of the cave. In 1926, possibly due to William’s writings on the beauty of the area being threatened by logging operations, Shevlin-Hixon Lumber Company deeded 22.5 acres of land surrounding the entrance to the state of Oregon for a state park. The Newberry National Volcanic Monument is managed by Deschutes National Forest, which is administered by the U.S. Forest Service. ECOSYSTEMS The Lava River Cave has three ecosystems: the warm, dry climate just outside the entrance; the warm, muggy microclimate at the entrance and the cool, damp, dark environment inside the cave. Once inside the cave, the trail is flat with some rocks — be sure to wear closed toe shoes. Much of the cave can be traveled standing up, though at the end some adults may need to duck. The cave temperature is a constant 42 degrees. Dress warmly, even in the summer, and wear closed toe shoes. It’s recommended to bring two light sources. The cave is open seasonally, so check with the Lava Lands Visitors Center for the schedule. Lantern rentals are available for $5 until 4 pm. Reservations are required. fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/newberrynvm/dayuse 541-593-2421 Go Spelunking at Lava River Cave Recreation 2026-27 | SunriverChamber.com 39
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