Hundreds of thousands of people head to Smith Rock in Central Oregon every year to partake in unique activities and enjoy the splendid attractions found in this beautiful region. They enjoy hiking the 12 official trails in the park, practicing rock climbing, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, mountain biking, camping, kayaking down the Crooked River, along with other popular and unique activities.

However, most people who visit Bend don’t know that more than 1,000 lava tubes were created thousands of years ago because of volcanic activity. Those are located in Deschutes County, which encompasses the cities of Redmond, Sisters, and Bend. Anyone visiting Bend in Oregon must not leave the city before witnessing the fascinating underground system and the iconic 10,000-year-old lava tubes.

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This Marvelous Lava Tube Is Worth Exploring In Oregon’s Bend

Boyd Lava Tube is a must-visit in Bend and can be reached in a 20-minute drive. Moreover, one should take a guided tour of this lava tube. This is because the guide will explain the geology and history of the location during the ride. People will go 60 feet underground when heading towards Boyd Lava Tube in Bend. To begin the tour, they will need to walk down a set of metal stairs.

  • Tip: People are allowed to take pictures on Boyd Lava Tube. This is why they can seize the opportunity and snap the shots needed to turn the unique visit into a lasting memory.
  • Information: One thing to know about the lava tubes in Bend is that, during the winter season, most of them house hibernating bats. However, those lava tubes are not open to the public. The Boyd Lava Tube, which people can visit, makes it difficult for bats to exit and enter, thanks to its very narrow opening. The lava tubes containing hibernating bats are closed to the public because those animals truly hibernate during the winter. Instead of stocking up on food, they slow down their metabolisms, lower their body temperature, and drop their heart rates. This is why waking the bats up during hibernation is a dangerous thing to do, because they would immediately begin looking for food when there are no insects around during the winter. Thus, they will be hurting the humans around them. As a result, the lava tubes frequented by bats were closed to the public.

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This Is How To Be Prepared When Entering Boyd Lava Tube

People are advised to bring with them several headlamps and extra batteries when exploring Boyd Cave. This is because the latter is dark, and there are no other light sources than the headlamps people bring with them to the inside and the entrance. Moreover, the Boyd Cave runs 600 meters long, and people will be faced with total darkness within minutes of going inside. They will not have the chance even to see the slightest shadow. Some people like the experience of turning the headlamps for a couple of seconds to see how it feels to be in complete darkness. However, most of them will immediately turn the lights back on.

People must expect that the tour in Boyd Cave will take them around 90 minutes to complete. They will need to crawl through thin cracks, on smooth paths, and over rock rubble.

However, the tour is easy to complete. Even elderly people and kids can participate because the crawl is very short, and people will not feel any anxiety during the process.

Visitors to Boyd Lava Tube must bring their jackets with them because it might feel cold inside. Moreover, because the space is dusty, people must wear clothes that they don’t have a problem getting dirty. Wanderlust Tours will supply headlamps, batteries, and helmets.

Here’s What To Know About The History Of Oregon’s Lava Tubes

The lava tubes of Bend in Oregon result from an eruption that occurred some 150,000 years ago. This eruption was the first of its kind that led to giant lava rivers flowing through the valley. Smaller rivers resulted from more minor eruptions that occurred tens of thousands of years after the first big eruption. One of those later eruptions resulted in a bit of trench in the side of the massive cave it created. People exploring the cave will feel that it’s not challenging to complete the tour, and many will find that they’ve been through more narrow passages during their lifetime.

The lava tubes of Bend are spacious and very wide. They may have some small squeezes and one final crawl space where people will have to get down on their knees and hands. However, for the most part, the tour of the lava tubes is easy to complete. After all, touring the Boyd Lava Tube in Bend is one of the most unique experiences to have in Oregon. And what makes it more enriching and fun are the rich tips and information that the guide provides to the visitors during the fascinating tour.

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