Lava Beds Wilderness
A million years of volcanic turmoil produced the ragged and seemingly inhospitable landscape of Lava Beds Wilderness, located in the Lava Bed National Monument. Despite this, even the youngest cinder cones—hardly more than 1,000 years old—are now covered by vegetation which supports a variety of wildlife. Ground squirrels, deer, marmots, jackrabbits, and rattlesnakes are abundant. Plant species such as desert sweet, purple desert sage, yellow blazing star, spreading wood fern, western swordfern, as well as a variety of lichens and mosses are also common. Raptors nest on the cliffs overlooking Tule Lake, which lies just outside the northern boundary, and thousands of migratory birds pass through each spring and fall.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 28,460 acres |
| Designated | 1972, by Congress |
| Center point | 41.75° N, 121.52° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 19) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 4 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
1 named Forest Service trail enters this wilderness, 1 mile in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Cinder Butte | 1 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedGoodlow Piles Rx
34 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6.3 miCarpenter and Paint Shop ↗National Historic Landmark
- 0.5 miSchonchin Butte Fire Lookout ↗Tulelake, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Lava Beds Wilderness?
28,460 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Lava Beds Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Lava Beds Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Lava Beds Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1972.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Lava Beds Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Lava Beds Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 41.753° N, 121.519° W. Lava Beds National Monument is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Lava Beds Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Goodlow Piles Rx at 34 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Lava Beds Wilderness?
Lava Beds National Monument (adjacent) and Tule Lake National Monument (6 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Lava Beds Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Carpenter and Paint Shop and Schonchin Butte Fire Lookout.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.