Lava Lands Visitor Center, Lava Butte open Friday

Lava Lands Visitor Center, Lava Butte and Lava River Cave will open to visitors this Friday, the Deschutes National Forest reported.

The visitor center and cave will be open Thursday through Monday. Lava Lands Visitor Center will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Lava River Cave will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; however, the site gate at Lava River Cave will close at 3:45 pm.

Summer hours will begin on May 23, when both sites will be open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The gate at 10 mile sno-park on Deschutes County Road 21 accessing Newberry National Volcanic Monument’s Newberry Caldera is scheduled to open on May 17. Interested visitors should track the up-to-date status of the opening to Newberry Caldera on Deschutes County’s website ( www.deschutes.org/road ).

There will be limited access to recreation sites, boat ramps and trails upon the opening of the caldera due to snow loading. Recreation fees are required where posted.

Other monument sites and services anticipated opening dates:

LOCATION Opening Information

Lava Butte Shuttle Memorial Day Weekend, then daily June 15 – September 2. Lava Butte is open to passenger vehicles when Lava Lands Visitor Center is open and the shuttle is not running.

Forest Service Rd. 9720 to Lava Cast Forest Open and snow free

Paulina Visitor Center Weekends from 10-4 starting May 25

Caldera Area USFS Campgrounds TBD between May 24 and June 12 for first-come, first-served camping. Reservations are open for dates starting June 13 for Little Crater, East Lake, Paulina and Newberry Group campgrounds. Cinder Hill (tentative August 1) and Chief Paulina (June 27) have delayed openings due to an ongoing tree removal project.

Forest Service Road 500 to Paulina Peak TBD based on snowmelt typically end of June to early July