You must first obtain a White-nose Syndrome Screening Pass from the rangers at the visitor center before entering any caves.
Individual caves are often closed during some portions of the year to allow bats a place to nest and care for their young.
Description
The trailhead is located right next to the east side of the visitor center. The trail is short, easy, and paved. The trail ends at the main park road where a crosswalk leads to the parking area for Indian Well Cave.
Along this trail is located Mushpot Cave. Mushpot Cave is the only developed cave in the monument. It includes a paved and lighted trail, illuminated interpretive signs that detail the many features found in lava tube caves, and a theater where videos are occasionally shown to park visitors. The cave is named for a feature called the "mushpot" that is located to the left of the stairway just inside the cave entrance. Also near the beginning of the cave is a small masonry fireplace called Moonshiner's Fireplace that was used during the early 1900s to make moonshine.
Although the main portion of the cave, which heads west from the entrance, is well developed, a small section of the cave leading east is undeveloped. After passing through a small passage about 2 feet tall, the passage opens up a bit before ending at a lava seal.
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.
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