Just southeast of Bend, the quiet Boyd Cave packs a lot of history and fascinating features into one quick trip.
Views from the trailhead and parking area include the Three Sisters—and only improve as you descend a short, steel staircase into the cave. The intact lava tube was formed thousands of years ago by Newberry Volcano, and its walls of basalt rock show evidence today of ancient flows.
Most visitors can walk the entirety of the cave, which measures about 0.75 mile (round-trip) and is up to eight feet high in most places. (Note that some areas are as short as five feet tall.) Sharp lava rocks line the mostly flat floor but shouldn’t challenge visitors with sturdy shoes; consider bringing trekking poles or a walking stick to keep your balance.
Boyd Cave is open year-round, though it’s arguably best experienced between spring and fall—when the 45-degree temperature offers a respite from warm days aboveground. Be sure to wear warm clothes to account for the cooler temperatures, and bring at least two sources of light (such as a headlight, flashlight, or lantern) and a first-aid kit.
Open Season
Year-round
Dog Friendly and/or Leash Rules
Dogs are not permitted.
Best time to visit
Year-round
Don’t Miss
A summertime visit helps visitors escape the heat and stay cool in the underground cave.
Fees or Pass Needed
None
Restrictions
The cave is not wheelchair-accessible.
Activities
Spelunking
Parking
Parking is available at the trailhead for Boyd Cave.
Directions
From Bend, the 15-mile drive to Boyd Cave takes about 25 minutes via southbound Highway 97, China Hat Road (which becomes Arnold Ice Cave Road), and an unnamed forest road denoted by a sign for Boyd Cave.
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