Big Painted Cave & Symbol Bridge Trail

Lava Beds National Monument

The 0.75 mile Big Painted Cave & Symbol Bridge Trail winds past interesting lava tube collapses and other features.

Directions:

Take Skull Cave Road to the parking area and trailhead.

To reach Lava Beds National Monument:

From the I-5 corridor, take U.S. 97 north at Weed to a right turn on California Hwy. 161, also known as Stateline Road, as shown by large signs. Travel east on CA 161 through the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge to Hill Road. Turn right on Hill road at the West End Grocery Store, following monument signs. Travel south on Hill Road 10 miles until you enter Lava Beds National Monument

From the Klamath Falls area, take Oregon Hwy 39 south approximately 20 miles until it enters the town of Merrill, OR. Approximately one (1) mile south of Merrill, turn right (south) on Malone road. Travel south on Malone road approximately 2 miles until you reach Stateline Road 161. Turn left (east) and then take the immediate right at West End Grocery Store onto Hill Road. Travel south on Hill Road 10 miles until you enter Lava Beds National Monument. You will pass the visitor center for Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge on your way to the monument.

For those traveling east on California Hwy 299 from the Redding or Lassen National Volcanic Park areas, travel north at Bieber on Hackamore / Lookout Road (closed in winter) to California Hwy 139. Travel north on CA 139 until meeting directional signs that will direct you to the monument at a left turn.