LASSEN NATIONAL FOREST
Activity: Spelunking (sorta), Hiking
Date: June 2, 2020
Distance: .7 mile, 19 feet elevation change, 30 minutes duration, rated Easy
After a few days of exploring the beautiful Lassen Volcanic National Park I made a stop at Subway Cave, which is outside of the park, but still in the Lassen National Forest, in Shasta County.
I am assuming that because of the Covid-19 the parking area was closed. The Cave seemed to be open, regardless if it was actually open or not I had the place to myself, which when you are alone in the pitch dark can be a bit unsettling. It can be down right spooky when you are entering the Under World through Devil’s Kitchen, taking a right at Lucifers Cul-de-Sac, to enter the Sanctum.
The Subway Cave is a unique and interesting hike that is not long, so as far as a hike it is pretty simple, but as far as being different it was pretty cool. The actual cave itself is a lava tube, remember this whole area is a very volcanic area. The length of this lave tube is about a third of a mile in length. As far as lava tubes, and I have been in a couple others- one being in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, the other being the Lava Tube in Mojave National Preserve, Subway Cave is one of the more prominent and available such features in the world. The Subway Cave is accessible due to partial collapses in the roof. Once inside it is so dark that you will not be able to see the nose on your face, so be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp. It would be advisable to wear sturdy shoes as the floor is uneven. There are some places where you will need to watch your head, but other spots where the ceiling is probably 15 feet tall and the room is relatively expansive. Above ground the temperatures were in the 70s, but inside the cave you could see your breath so you might want to bring a sweater or jacket. I read that the temperature is a pretty constant 46 degrees. At the end of the tube is a short hike through the undergrowth of this beautiful part of the country.
So I would recommend this as a fun and different experience which certainly is worth the stop.
Lizard
Roof of Lava Tube 
Thanks for joining me on this unique and unusual exploration into the Under World as I was “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure“ alone, underground, in a pitch black hole. There is more balance to be found as we let go of our mundane, everyday existence… at least for a little while. Don’t miss a single exciting adventure by doing this before you get busy with everything else that takes up our precious time: FOLLOW, SHARE, LIKE, and COMMENT. The menu above has a vast selection, by area, of places throughout the West that PBTA ventures to. Each is a separate site and thus must be followed independently. There is a place to get outfitted SHOP APPAREL, which has the best stuff.
Happy Trails,
Roger Jenkins, Pursing Balance Through Adventure
NoCal Hiking 