Klamath Falls News - Locally owned news brand, reporting stories affecting citizens of the Klamath Basin.
All national parks, including Crater Lake National Park and the Lava Beds National Monument, will waive entrance fees on 4 special days in 2018
Every day is a great day, in a national park. Free entrance fee days offer an extra incentive to visit one of these amazing places. We continue to encourage all Americans to discover the beauty and history that lives in our national parks.
Read MoreCrystal Ice Cave contains some of the most spectacular ice formations among Lava Beds' many caves. Because of the sensitive nature of this cave's formations and its cold environment, Crystal Ice Cave is open to park visitors only on small ranger-guided tours during the winter months.
Tours of no more than six visitors (ages 12 years and older) are offered every Saturday at 1:00 pm from January through March and last 3+ hours.
Read MoreIf you are looking for a refreshing experience the day after Thanksgiving, come to Lava Beds National Monument on Black Friday for great opportunities to learn about the history, geology, and ecology of the area. On Friday, November 24th, rangers and park partners from the Great Outdoor Alliance will lead an 11:00 AM nature walk, a 2:00 PM tour of Valentine Cave, and a 3:30 PM tour of Golden Dome Cave. The 11:00 AM walk will meet at the visitor center parking lot. For cave tours, you must come to the visitor center on Black Friday to get a ticket, as tour space is limited. Tours are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Although the programs are free, the $15 per vehicle entrance fee still applies.
Read MoreTULELAKE, California- Lava Beds National Monument invites you to join us for our first ever haunted cave tour! Staff and volunteers are busily preparing one of our most famous caves into a truly unique Lava Beds experience. Throughout the tours, a guide will keep you safe from both the normal and paranormal hazards of the cave; however you are likely to witness several long departed cavers ushering in some mysterious events.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A new book on the Modoc Indian War of 1872-73 will be discussed in a program at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Klamath County Museum.
“Spirit in the Rock – The Fierce Battle for the Modoc Homelands” was written by Klamath Falls native James Compton, who died three years ago in Seattle. Thursday’s program will be presented by his widow, Carol Arnold Compton.
The program, cosponsored by the museum and the Shaw Historical Library, is free and open to anyone interested. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
Read MoreCave entrances can take many forms; from walk-in entrances like Valentine Cave, to entrances that are only accessible by ladders or ropes. Kenneth Ingham (NPS)
Fall is a great time to visit the Lava Beds National Monument. The cool crisp nights and warm days make for a comfortable adventure.
Basin Adventures is sponsored by the Klamath Falls KOA Journey, the adventure base camp of the Klamath Basin.
Many of the caves are developed and contain trails, stairways and ladders. Cave Loop, a 2-mile road just south of the visitor center offers most of the developed caves in the park. A short walk from the visitor center is Mushpot Cave. A perfect first cave to visit, as this cave has lighting and exhibits explaining the features of the cave. Mushpot is the only lit cave in the park.
Before heading underground, a stop at the visitor center is required. Where you get a flashlight (if you did not bring one) and a hard hat. Yes you will bonk your head more than you think it is a must have accessory.
Caves are divided into three groups based on varying levels of difficulty in the hardest section of the cave – Least, Moderate and Most Challenging.
Some caves to check out on your first visit are – Mushpot, Sentinel, Valentine, and Skull. A complete list of least challenging caves can be obtained on the Lava Beds Website at http://bit.ly/2fzlqmg
Before you go caving there are a few things you need to know.
1) Before entering any cave you must be screened for “White-nose Syndrome” a deadly fungal bat disease. This can be done at the visitor center. [http://bit.ly/2fyzEUo]
2) Most information you need to know is contained in the caving brochure. [http://bit.ly/2fzDltc]
3) Cave safely and softly. Conditions are dramatically different underground than they are up top. So please wear proper clothing, and leave no trace of your visit. [http://bit.ly/2fzpG5h]
Travel through the Monument is by private vehicle or commercial tour as there are no public transportation options in the park. All roads in the park, accommodate standard passenger vehicles.
Please note - Pets are not allowed on trails or in caves at the Lava Beds National Monument
For more information and to plan your trip to the Monument visit https://www.nps.gov/labe
____________________
Basin Adventures is brought to you by the Klamath Falls KOA. Centrally located in Klamath Falls, the Klamath Falls KOA is the perfect jump-off point to visit all the spectacular recreation sites of the Klamath Basin – Crater Lake National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, wildlife refuges, hiking, biking, fishing and so much more. Visit http://koa.com/campgrounds/klamath/ for more details and to book your next adventure base camp.
