Lava Beds National Monument is a National Monument in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 37 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Lava Beds
We matched 37 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Lava Beds. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Natural Arches (21)
Natural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchNatural ArchMountain Peaks (1)
Caves (8)
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CaveCaveCaveVolcanoes (5)
Volcano
VolcanoVolcanoVolcanoVolcanoFire Lookouts (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Lava Beds the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:32 AM | 8:15 AM | 4:18 PM | 5:01 PM | 242° | 9h 29m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:40 PM | 254° | 10h 37m |
| March | 7:19 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:13 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:26 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:47 PM | 284° | 13h 20m |
| May | 5:47 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:20 PM | 297° | 14h 32m |
| June | 5:32 AM | 6:14 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:43 PM | 303° | 15h 12m |
| July | 5:45 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:40 PM | 300° | 14h 55m |
| August | 6:15 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:08 PM | 290° | 13h 52m |
| September | 6:47 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:17 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:48 PM | 6:26 PM | 259° | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:56 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 246° | 9h 51m |
| December | 7:27 AM | 8:12 AM | 3:52 PM | 4:37 PM | 239° | 9h 10m |
Computed for the park's reference point (41.7592, -121.5172); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Lava Beds, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:36 AM – 5:36 AM | 1.0 | 16° |
| April | 2:37 AM – 4:37 AM | 2.0 | 19° |
| May | 12:35 AM – 3:45 AM | 3.2 | 19° |
| June | 10:54 PM – 3:14 AM | 4.3 | 19° |
| July | 10:44 PM – 1:54 AM | 3.2 | 19° |
| August | 9:53 PM – 11:53 PM | 2.0 | 19° |
| September | 8:52 PM – 9:52 PM | 1.0 | 16° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Park elevations range from 4,000 to 5,700 feet. Cold weather is possible any time of year, and snow has been recorded in all months. Winter daytime highs average 40°F; lows average 20°F. Morning fog is frequent from autumn through spring. Summer daytime highs average 75° to 80°F; lows average 50°F. Occasional thunderstorms occur in summer.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 18% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (66%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Lava Beds is a truly remote park, in a corner of California most people never visit. Most roads into this area wind through mountains, and along rivers, and travel may take longer than expected. Services are few and far between and winter driving conditions can be encountered anytime between fall and spring.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Caving
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
Nearby parks
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