Last Updated on 2 March, 2026 by Robyn Dockendorf

The Mojave Desert lava tubes are located in the Mojave National Preserve of southern California. This massive Preserve includes a rich diversity of landscapes, much of which is old volcanic activity, including the lava tubes! The best part? You can hike underground into the lava tubes!

This ultimate guide to the Mojave Desert lava tubes will go over where to park, how long the hike is, and what to expect on your underground adventure. I’ll offer tips to make your hike the ultimate volcanic escapade, and share my experience hiking this fascinating geological feature.

Lace up those hiking boots, charge up your headlamp, and let’s dive into the details of the Mojave Desert lava tubes hike! 

By the way, after you finish the lava tubes, check out our guide on 7 thrilling things to do at Mojave National Preserve for your next adventure!

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Where Are The Mojave Desert Lava Tubes?

The Mojave Desert Lava Tubes are located in the northwest section of the Mojave National Preserve. Specifically, you’ll find the lava tubes off Aiken Mine Road.

• Location (Trailhead): N35.2136, W115.7531
• Beginning of Aiken Mine Road: N35.1554, W115.7904

Aiken Mine Road is off Kelbaker Road, one of the main roads running through the National Preserve. Kelbaker Road is paved, but Aiken Mine Road is an extremely washboarded dirt road.

From the beginning of Aiken Mine Road, it’s a grueling, bumpy 5-mile drive to the trailhead. Make sure you eat a snack before heading to the trailhead, as you do not want to be hangry on this road!

The Mojave National Preserve is the perfect stop before or after Joshua Tree National Park, as it’s only a little over an hour away! Death Valley is also nearby, meaning you can hit a triple-parks run on your road trip!

Do You Need 4-Wheel Drive?

If you check out a Mojave National Preserve Map, you’ll notice that 4WD and high clearance are recommended for Aiken Mine Road. This is only true in wet conditions. 

In dry conditions, any vehicle can reach the Lava Tubes trailhead, including 2WD and low-clearance vehicles. We drive a heavily loaded Ram Promaster van that is 2WD and low-clearance, and we had no problems on the road (except for cursing at the washboards!).

There is one section with a dip in the road, but if you drive slowly, you won’t have any issues. Otherwise, the road is not rutted, and there are minimal potholes.

Aiken Mine Road is home to a few dispersed camping sites if you want to stay overnight inside the Preserve. Dispersed camping sites are free, but offer no amenities. Head over to our article on the 13 places to stay in Mojave National Preserve for more camping locations.

Getting To The Lava Tube Trail

If you can withstand the bumpy road and make it to the trailhead, you’ll be happy to know it’s just a short 0.2-mile walk from the trailhead to the underground entrance of the Mojave Desert lava tubes.

Finding The Trailhead

Before we begin our underground adventure, let’s make sure you get to the correct trailhead parking lot.

1. From the beginning of Aiken Mine Road, drive 4.5 miles to a Y intersection. 
2. A sign will point to the left-hand road saying “Lava Tube Trail.”
3. Stay to the left here.
4. Continue on the road for 0.2 miles to a large, oval-shaped parking area.
5. Park your vehicle here.

On the north side of the parking lot is a post with a sign with an arrow on it. This is the beginning of the trail.

Finding The Lava Tube Entrance

The beginning of the trail is a rocky 4WD road. Follow this for 0.2 miles until you come to another Y-intersection. Turn right here to get to the Mojave Desert lava tubes entrance. Signs are also present, indicating the correct way to go.

After turning right, it’s about 300 feet to the large, obvious opening into the lava tubes. A ladder is present, offering an easy way into this amazing underground geological feature.

Hiking The Mojave Desert Lava Tubes: What To Expect

After reaching the ladder and entrance to the Lava Tubes, it’s time to take this hike underground! 

Head down the ladder. You’ll see that there appears to be an entrance both to your right and left. However, the cavern to your right is a dead end. Head left to begin the lava tube adventure.

The main chamber of the lava tube is beyond a low-ceilinged section of the cavern. The ceiling is approximately 3 ½ feet high, but the section is only a few feet long. Most people can duckwalk underneath or perhaps use their hands on the cavern floor to squeeze past.

This low-ceiling section is the most difficult part of the lava tube, and it’s not all that difficult. Almost all skill levels can get beyond this area of the hike. Even if you are somewhat claustrophobic, it is very wide with plenty of space on either side.

After this section, you’ll be greeted with the expansive main chamber of the lava tube. Shafts of golden sunlight pour through holes in the ceiling, illuminating this underground marvel. 

Take your time to explore all this chamber has to offer, from the hidden bird nests to the streaks of minerals on the walls and ceiling. Imagine scalding hot lava flowing through this underground chamber, ripping through the earth, and eventually cooling to form the space you now stand in.

When you’re ready to head topside again, retrace your footsteps back to the ladder, taking care during the low-ceiling section. Climb the ladder and return to the trailhead parking lot to finish the hike!

If you’re like us, you love bringing your furbag on all your adventures. You’ll be happy to know that this short hike is dog-friendly, so go ahead and bring your canine companion along! One thing to note is that the ladder at the beginning is rather steep, so older pups with joint issues may have problems, or if your dog is very small, they may need help down the ladder.

We have a list of dog hiking gear essentials you can look over to make sure your pup has all their gear for the adventure.

Useful Gear For The Mojave Desert Lava Tube Hike

Hiking underground is vastly different from hiking above ground. Below are some useful items that will make your underground trek easier.

• Headlamp: A headlamp is useful inside the lava tubes because it keeps your hands free and illuminates your surroundings. Something like the Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp works great! As a bonus, it can run on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A flashlight works just as well.
• Jacket: Temperatures inside the lava tubes are drastically lower than aboveground temperatures. Consider packing a light jacket to ward off the chill.
• Sturdy Shoes: This goes without saying, but the floor inside the lava tubes is uneven and pitted in some places, so a sturdy pair of shoes will help keep your balance and avoid slips, trips, and falls.

Check out our day hiking gear checklist to ensure you have everything you need to enjoy your hike!

Here’s How The Lava Tubes Formed

If you’re wondering how such a geological marvel came to be, it all happened about 27,000 years ago when the volcanoes in Mojave National Preserve were active. 

Hot, molten lava oozed across the desert floor. Over time, this lava cooled at different times, carving out tube-shaped caverns in the earth. The top layer, which is exposed to the air, cools and solidifies first while the lava beneath continues to flow, carving out the tube-shaped cavern.

Eventually, all the lava cooled and solidified, and what was left behind are the Mojave Desert lava tubes!

Wrapping Up Our Underground Adventure

The Mojave Desert Lava Tubes are one of the most popular destinations in the Preserve. It may be a small underground adventure, but it offers stunning views that few get to see. 

The only downside is the bumpy 5-mile road to get there. We hiked the lava tubes around 8 am on a Thursday and had the entire hike to ourselves. If you prefer to explore without the crowds, aim to get there before 10 am.

To recap, here are the most important things to know to hike the Mojave Desert Lava Tubes:

• Length: The hike is about 0.5 miles total. 0.2 miles to the entrance, 0.1 miles underground, and 0.2 miles back to the trailhead parking lot.
• Difficulty: This hike can be done by almost all skill levels and is considered easy. There is a steep ladder with approximately 10 steps at the entrance, as well as a low-ceiling section that is approximately 3 ½ feet high.
• Vehicle Access: When the road is dry, low-clearance 2WD vehicles can make it to the trailhead. However, the road is extremely washboarded.

Temperatures inside the lava tubes are cool, so bring a jacket if you get cold easily. A flashlight or headlamp is helpful when navigating the beginning of the lava tube and exploring the hidden nooks and crannies of the main chamber.

That’s all we have on hiking the Mojave Desert Lava Tubes! Until next time, give your furbags an extra pet from us and keep exploring this beautiful world of ours! For more hiking guides, check out the Dirtbags with Furbags blog!