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Old Station Visitor Information Center
4.9
(9)
Subway Cave is located outside of the Northwest entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park. We had stopped to get gas at a gas station and general store in the tiny town of Old Station.
As we were talking to the attendant he asked if we had been to Subway Cave yet? We answered no, and he told us it was just a few miles down the road and we had to visit it. We thanked him and said we would.
We found the turnoff to Subway Cave and stopped to visit. We read the signs in front of the entrance and then started our short hike.
The history of the cave is that less than 20,000 years ago lava was flowing in large volumes in the area from deep fissures in the earth. The top portion cooled off and hardened as the molten lava continued to flow through the newly formed tunnel.
At some point it stopped producing new lava and the existing super-hot lava continued to flow.
The cave is a unique looking lava tube that is 1/3 mile from end to end. In the middle portion it is pitch dark, so a flashlight or headlamp is necessary. Also, portions have a low ceiling, so watch your head and/or wear a mining helmet!
It is slightly cooler inside the tube and the floor is uneven. But at least it is not 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit of flowing lava!
The hike to, through and from the tunnel is less than a mile of mostly level ground, a very enjoyable side trip, with a short lesson in geology. It was worth the time to stop...
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Once you arrive at the Subway Cave parking area, you'll need to walk about 0.2 miles until you reach the descending stairs. From this point, you'll notice a significant drop in temperature—the cave is usually around 48°F, even on hot 90°F days!
The cave itself is about 0.3 to 0.4 miles long, but be prepared for complete darkness! A good-quality headlamp or a strong flashlight is essential, as your phone's flashlight won't be sufficient to see all the intricate details, including markings left by previous eruptions.
The path through the cave is mostly straightforward, but there is one point where it splits. You can take the right path for a direct route or the left for a mini detour (about 50 steps). Keep in mind that the left side is a dead end, so you'll need to return to the original path.
At the end of the cave, you’ll find two possible routes leading back to the parking lot. Although I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat and don't like the darkness, tbe walk is short enough and worth it for the unique experience featuring the amazing marks from a lava explosion!
A few things to remember: the terrain can be uneven and rocky, so it's not stroller or wheelchair accessible, and unfortunately, dogs are not permitted due to the cave's delicate structure....
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The caves them selves are lovely, BUT after paying $28 per person, be aware that you will be rushed, rushed, rushed. Other than climbing stairs, our group was allowed less than five minutes in each of the “rooms”, because there was another group on our heels.
Some of our group who are older and a bit slower on the hundreds of stairs involved missed most of the guide’s spiel, because she did not wait for them. By the time they arrived, the guide was over half way through the information at that stop. She was very informative and knew the history well, but needed to be louder. I could hear the guide in the group behind us better than ours. Also, she was so comfortable with the script that she spoke too fast. Several of us couldn’t understand her well with the combination of low volume and speed.
Over all, what we got for our group’s 200+ dollars left us unsatisfied, annoyed and feeling totally ripped off. There a better caves that are far less expensive and far...
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