California’s Newest National Natural Landmark! Visit a special place where the earth has opened up to reveal its inner treasures. This underground wonderland will amaze you with its majestic stalactites and stalagmites, intricate and delicate halectites, and more. Learn of the history and mystery of its past with Indians, explorers and a secret society. Tickets can be … [Read more...]
#55 – Hat Creek Volcanic Area, Subway Cave
Located in Lassen National Park, Hat Creek Volcanic Area is the second largest ancient lava bed in the state. 20,000 years ago a river of lava called the Hat Creek Flow crawled northward near Old Station for 16 miles, and covered the floor of Hat Creek Valley. Typical of a lava field, the landscape is a mostly barren expanse of craggy rock but there are two points of interest … [Read more...]
#86 – Pluto’s Cave
The majestic grandeur and almost other-worldly presence of Mt. Shasta have inspired countless fantastic tales, including some about an underground city located beneath the mountain and populated by a species of wee folk called Lemurians. Access to this fabulous city is said to be, as one would expect, through caves, although exactly which cave and where it is located is a … [Read more...]
#87 – Lava Beds National Monument
Developed volcanic caves, history and culture are what you’ll find at the one of a kind Lava Beds National Monument. An enormous shield volcano has created a diverse landscape with over 700 lava tube caves, many of which have been improved for visitors and have easy to follow trails, ladders or staircases, and, in one case, lights. The Ranger Station offers guided tours through … [Read more...]