Skull Cave Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Cave

The trailhead is located at the end of Skull Cave Road, which is north of Bunchgrass Overlook and south of Schonchin Butte. Take the road west passed the trailheads for Symbol Bridge Trail and Missing Link Trail to the small parking lot at the end of the road. The trailheads for Skull Cave and Lyons Trail are located at this small parking area.

The trail into Skull Cave is very short and easily traversed. Follow the trail as it descends down the side of the collapsed lava tube and into Skull Cave. Skull Cave is part of the Modoc Crater Lava Tube System and boasts one of the largest entrances of any cave in the park. The cave itself is made of three levels, the upper level being the largest at about 60 feet in diameter. The upper level ends about 450 feet from the entrance of the cave at a series of metal staircases that lead to the lower levels. A small, thin rock bridge is found near the top of these staircases. Following the stairs down, the trail eventually reaches the lowest level of the cave where a perennial ice floor is found. A metal gate keeps visitors from walking on the ice.

Skull cave was named by E.L Hopkins, a prominent figure in the area around the turn of the 19th century, for the large number of bones he and a small crew found in the lowest levels of the cave. Besides bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and antelope, they also found the skeletons of two humans.

The book "Lava Beds Caves" by Charlie & Jo Larson is an excellent resource and guide for exploring the caves of Lava Beds NM. It is available for purchase at the Visitor Center.