description Skull Cave Overview
Skull Cave is a prominent lava tube located within Lava Beds National Monument in northern California. The cave is named after the skeletal remains of various mammals, including pronghorn and bighorn sheep, as well as two human skeletons discovered inside. It features a wide, spacious upper level and a lower level that contains a perennial ice floor, creating a cold microclimate. The site is easily accessible to visitors via a developed trail and stairway, making it a popular destination for tourists exploring the park's volcanic landscapes.
help Skull Cave FAQ
Why is Skull Cave called Skull Cave?
The name comes from bones found inside, including remains from pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and two human skeletons. It is a lava tube in California's Lava Beds National Monument, not a limestone burial cavern.
Can visitors reach the ice floor inside Skull Cave?
Visitors can follow the main path and descend a metal staircase to a viewing platform above the lower ice floor. The National Park Service asks visitors to remain on the platform because walking on the ice damages it and can be dangerous.
How difficult is the walk through Skull Cave?
The National Park Service lists the 580-foot cave among the monument's least challenging caves. Its main passage has a high ceiling and relatively smooth path, but reaching the lower platform requires stairs and a flashlight.
Why does Skull Cave keep ice through the year?
The cave is a remnant of three large lava tubes stacked at different levels. Its shape traps dense winter air in the lowest chamber, creating a cold pocket where the ice floor can persist.
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