Indian Well Campground

Lava Beds National Monument

The Indian Well Campground is in the heart of Lava Beds National Monument. The campground is comprised of 43 sites available on a first-come, first serve basis and one group site that is available by reservation April-October. 

The monument was established as a national monument on November 21, 1925, and includes more than 46,000 acres (190 km2).The monument lies on the northeastern flank of Medicine Lake Volcano, which is the largest volcano by area in the Cascade Range. The Monument has over 800 lava tubes, with 27 having marked entrances and developed trails for public access and exploration. The monument also offers trails through the high Great Basin shrubland desert landscape and vast volcanic fields. Lava Beds National Monument is the site of the Modoc War, involving a band led by Kintpuash (also known as Captain Jack). 

The Indian Well Campground is located a 1/2 mile (0.8 km) from the Visitor Center and Cave Loop. The campground is comprised of 43 sites available on a first-come, first serve basis and one group site that is available by reservation April-October. First-come first-serve camping permits are available at the self-registration kiosk in Indian Well Campground and must be obtained within 30 minutes of occupying a campsite. Affix your purchased camping permit to your campsite post. 

Sites can accommodate tents, pickup campers, small trailers and motor homes up to 30 feet. Not all sites can accommodate motor homes. A-Loop of the campground is open year-round and B-Loop closes in mid-November and reopens in the spring. Each campsite driveway is paved with either back in or pull through available. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Additionally each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table. There are no showers or RV hookups available.  

The Indian Well Campground Group Campsite accommodates groups of 15 to 40 occupants. The group site is on an unpaved road, has pit toilets, water, a fire ring and picnic tables. The group site road is unpaved and the site closes from November 1st through March 31st. 

Need to Know

• An entrance pass is required in the park and while staying in the campground. Lava Beds National Monument charges the following entrance fees: $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, or $15 per pedestrian/cyclist. Visitors may purchase the 4-park, Lava Beds, Whiskeytown, Lassen and Crater Lake annual pass for $55. Buy your Lava Beds National Monument pass online through Recreation.gov.   

• Campsite capacity for a standard campsite at the Indian Well Campground is 8 persons per site.  

• In any 30-day period, camping in Lava Beds National Monument may not exceed 14 days, either consecutively or in a combined period. Further, camping within the monument shall not exceed 30 days annually.     

• Park all vehicles, trailers, motorhomes, campers, etc. within the designated parking spot of the campsite site and on pavement only. If your vehicle, trailer, motorhome, camper, etc. encroach into an adjacent parking spot of another campsite you are required to purchase that additional spot to accommodate the equipment size. You will need to buy a sperate permit for each designated campsite. You may park additional vehicles in front of the A-Loop bathrooms if available or at the Visitor Center parking lot. 

• Persons are prohibited from utilizing a campsite for day use or picnicking within Indian Well Campground unless they have obtained a camping permit intended for overnight use.   

• Fires are permitted only in metal fire rings within Indian Well Campground. Fires may be prohibited during periods of very high or extreme fire danger.    

• Dead and down firewood can be collected on the nearby Modoc National Forest. Wood may also be collected from designated collection/disposal sites in the Monument and will be posted as available to the public and located at the campground when available.   

• Pets are permitted in the campground and may be left tied to an object in an occupied campsite with owner present in Indian Well Campground (subject to a valid Camping Permit) provided they create no hazard or nuisance.  

• Group Site: Only 2 vehicles are allowed to park behind the gate at the group campsite. RV's are prohibited. All other vehicles must be parked in the "A" loop overflow parking area, near the bathrooms, or at the Visitors Center. There may be parking directly across from the group campsite gate at campsite B7 for approximately 4 vehicles if occupants pay additionally for that campsite at the self-pay kiosk. 

Natural Features

Lava Beds National Monument lies on the northeastern flank of Medicine Lake Volcano, which is the largest volcano by area in the Cascade Range. The Monument is geologically significant because of its wide variety of volcanic formations, including over 800 lava tubes, fumaroles, cinder cones, spatter cones, pit craters, hornitos, maars, lava flows, and volcanic fields.The region in and around Lava Beds National Monument lies at the junction of the Sierra-Klamath, Cascade, and Great Basin physiographic provinces. The southern most area of the monument is the highest in elevation and receives the most precipitation, and supports a Ponderosa Pine forest. Farther to the north of the monument, the middle elevations are a juniper and shrub woodland. Extending to the northern boundary are lower grasslands and sagebrush. Despite semi-arid conditions, native wildlife has adapted to the environmental constraints and are abundant and diverse. 

Recreation

Lava Beds National Monument has the largest concentration of lava tubes in North America with over 800 documented in the Monument. 27 caves have marked entrances and developed trails for public access and exploration. Mushpot Cave has electrical lighting; the others are illuminated by ceiling collapse portals or require flashlights. The monument also has 13 hiking trails, all of which cross or enter the backcountry. The most popular trails are short, but lead to a number of historic sites as to several geological areas. This includes sites of the Modoc War that includes Captain Jack's Stronghold. Birding and wildlife viewing is also a popular activity along the north boundary of the monument. 

Contact Information

Physical

1 Indian Well Hqts. Tulelake CA 96134

Mailing

PO Box 1240 Tulelake CA 96134

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 530-667-8113

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Available Campsites

• Site B9, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A2, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B13, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B28, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B6, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B27, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B4, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B10, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B5, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B26, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B11, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B31, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B24, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B3, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B23, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B16, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B18, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B2, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B14, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A4, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A1, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A7, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A11, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B7, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A9, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A5, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B20, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B8, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B25, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A6, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B29, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A3, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B12, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B19, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B17, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B21, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B30, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B15, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B1, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B22, Loop B-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site Group Site, Loop B-Loop, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
• Site A10, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A8, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A12, Loop A-Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric

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