The Lava Tube at Mojave National Preserve is a 0.5-mile round trip across a boulder field to a skylight opening in a 27,000-year-old basaltic lava tube, where a metal ladder descends into two underground chambers. The tube sits in the Cima Dome Volcanic Field and requires a high-clearance vehicle to reach via Aiken Mine Road.
Overview
When lava flowed across this section of the Mojave basin 27,000 years ago, the outer surface cooled and hardened while liquid rock continued flowing beneath — leaving behind a hollow tube frozen in the basalt. The skylight entry is a collapsed section of the tube ceiling, and the ladder drops you into the main chamber. Inside: cool air, two rooms, and the kind of darkness that makes you appreciate a headlamp.
What to Expect
The approach is 0.25 miles across a boulder field on loose rock. At the skylight, a metal ladder descends roughly 10 feet into the tube. The main chamber opens into a second room connected by a low section requiring crouching. Total interior exploration is short. Bring a flashlight or headlamp — the tube goes fully dark away from the skylight.
Tips & Logistics
Access requires a high-clearance vehicle on Aiken Mine Road (5 miles from Kelbaker Road; stay left at the fork). Check road conditions before driving out — the road deteriorates significantly after rain. Leashed dogs are allowed. No permit required. Year-round accessible, though the road is rougher in wet weather.