United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region

SUBWAY CAVE
Self-guided Trail
Lassen National Forest
Hat Creek Ranger District

GEOLOGY - Less than 20,000 yeas ago the lava of the Hat Creek flow was discharged in large volumes from a series of north-south fissures (cracks in the earth). This river of lava located near the town of Old Station, crawled northward 16 miles, covering the floor of Hat Creek Valley. While the top crust cooled and hardened, rivers of red-hot lava insulated by newly formed rock above, continued to flow. Eventually, the lava drained away, leaving tube-like caves. The entrance to the cave was formed by a partial collapse of the caves roof many years ago. Subway Cave is the largest accessible tube in the flow. LOCATION - Subway Cave is located near the town of Old Station, 1/4 mile north of the junction of Highway 44 & 89 across from Cave Campground. TEMPERATURE - Temperature inside the cave remains a cool 46 degrees F. year around. Be sure to take a jacket with you.

SAFETY - Rough floor, watch your step, low ceiling, sturdy shoes advised! SEASON OF USE - Cave is open late May through October. Closed during the winter months. VISIBILITY - Visibility is zero. Take a dependable flashlight with you. There are self-guided trail signs inside. LENGTH - 1,300 feet of winding lava tube. The total trail length is 1/3 mile. ROOF - Thickness varies from 8 to 24 feet. HEIGHT - Varies from 6 to 17 feet. INFORMATION: Contact Hat Creek Ranger District, P. O. Box 220, Fall River Mills, CA 96028, (530) 3365521 or stop by the Old Station Information Center, (located near Subway Cave) open April - Dec., hours vary.

To Mount Shasta

To Alturas 89 McArthur/Burney Falls Memorial State Park 299

z
To Redding 299

Hat Creek Ranger Station

Cave Campground

Subway Cave

Lassen National Forest

44

Entrance Stairway

q
Old Station Visitor Information Center 44/89

Trails Start
Devils Doorway
To Susanville

To Redding

Lasssen Volcanic National Park

Molten Lava River Trails End Stubtoe Hall

Wind Tunnel

44/89 Subway Cave

Cave a Campground

Cross-section of lava tube

Sanctum Roof Lucifers Cul-de-Sac

44

Old StationVisitor Information Center

The Sanctum

Lavacicle Lane Partial Collapse

Subway Cave
Underground Cave Trail Above ground trail
Rattlesnake Collapse Lava Bubbles

When you reach the end of the underground cave trail, go up the stairs and continue to your right on the above ground trail back to the start.

Exit Stairway

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