TRAVEL


See You in Siskiyou Exploring California’s wild, northernmost county ::


BY BECCA BLOND D


escending the steep metal ladder into Golden Dome Cave in Lava Beds National Monument,


a chill goes down my spine as the temperature drops and I’m surrounded by darkness. Outside, it’s close to 100 degrees


Fahrenheit, but here inside the cave, it is only 55 and pitch-black. Armed with a flashlight and a


safety helmet, I walk along the rocky trail, my heart racing as the cave walls and ceiling close around me. At times the trail is so narrow and


low that I must duck and scramble on my knees. This is the most extreme spelunking I’ve ever done — and the most thrilling. After about 15 minutes of walking


through the cave, the ceiling gets higher and I find myself in a larger room with a golden glow, the result of light reflecting off water droplets that bead up on a coating of hydrophobic bacteria (not dangerous to humans). Lava Beds National Monument


is one of the most incredible parks I’ve ever explored, home to more than 700 lava tube caves created by smooth lava flows 10,500 to 65,000 years ago, of which about 20 can be accessed in a DIY caving experience. Most of the developed caves are


located along a 2-mile road near the visitor center. Golden Dome is one of the more extreme caves to traverse, but many others are much easier to explore. If you are uncomfortable wandering alone, park rangers also lead guided tours. The park is in Siskiyou County,


California’s northernmost county, which is truly a hidden gem for


80 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | JUNE 2024


©BECCA BLOND


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