Subway Cave

I love Subway Cave. You all know that I like to be adventurous...to a certain degree, but my favorite kind of adventure is the kind that requires little effort. Because, well, I'm tired. And sometimes lazy. Subway Cave is the easiest way to experience something amazing without breaking too much of a sweat. 

Over Labor Day weekend, I was feeling particularly lazy. But even lazy parents have to pretend to be good parents sometimes, so we loaded up the kiddos and ventured to Subway Cave. Holy Smokes. Apparently everyone else wanted something easy to do while camping and they showed up in droves.  (Except for the one family that showed up in full spelunking gear. They were looking for a real adventure. I sure hope they weren't too disappointed when they realized there was no real spelunking going on. Just a walk through a lava tube. But hey, if they tripped and fell, they would be safe.) It's not usually this busy. We have been to Subway Cave probably a dozen times and there is rarely more than a few cars in the parking lot.

The Stats: Subway Cave

Cost: FREE (Donations Welcome)

Location: Trail head is located 1/4 mile north of the junction of State Routes 44 and 89.

When To Go: April through October 
Amenities: Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, "Vault" Toilets, Parking
Pets: Not allowed

Subway Cave is a huge lava tube that was created when Mt. Lassen erupted. There are lots of lava tubes around the Lassen Park area, but this is one of the largest and easiest to get to. 

Still Apprehensive about a cave? Free guided tours are available weekends only Mid June through Labor Day Weekend. Call the Hat Creek Ranger Station at 530-336-5521 for details.

Pro Tips: 

• Bring flashlights. It is pitch black in the middle of the lava tube. And while it is a fairly easy walk, the ground is not even. My littlest tripped twice and skinned his knee because he decided to point the flash light up while walking, instead of in front of him. (If you forget your flash light, you can rent one at the ranger station just down the road.)
• Wear tennis shoes. Again, the floor is uneven and you could easily twist an ankle or stub your toe if you are wearing flip flops.
• There are restrooms, but..you guessed it...they are pit toilets.
• As with most everything, if you go early in the morning there will be less people. Holiday weekends will be the busiest.
• At the end of the lava tube, you can either exit out the stairs and walk above ground along the trail back to the parking lot, or you can walk back through the cave and out the entrance. 
• Bring a sweatshirt. It's very cool inside the cave.
• Interested in how Subway Cave was formed? Stop and read the signage. It's actually quite interesting!

Then when you are done with your adventure, kick your feet up and pat yourself on the back for doing something amazing today. I suggest a hammock by the creek.

Looking for more to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park? Check out these posts:

• Bumpass Hell Sulfur Hot Springs 
• Eskimo Hill (Winter Snow Sledding)

Have you been to Subway Cave? Where's your favorite place to explore in Lassen Park?