Lava Beds National Monument
Crystal Ice Cave Film
Crystal Ice Cave Film
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National Monument
1925 Park Size 46,560 acres Annual Visitors 136,000 Park Fee $25 Superintendent Chris Mengel Park Partner Cave Research Foundation Location Modoc County, CA |
Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geologic and historic. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features.
Crystal Ice Cave is one of the most spectacular and sensitive features in the park. It lies deep beneath the surface and contains a variety of geologic features, including intricate ice formations. Since this cave is extremely fragile and very difficult to access, reservations are required and tours with park rangers are limited to just six hardy participants per week, January through March. Less than 100 visitors per year enter the cave. The Fund for People in Parks provided a grant for production of a film that brings the rare adventure of a trip into Crystal Ice Cave to thousands of visitors who would otherwise never see it. The film tells the story of Lava Beds, the ranger-guided tour, and captures the unique beauty of the cave. The film was completed in 2015 and can be seen below or on the park's YouTube channel. Furthermore, the funding enabled the National Park Service to obtain a matching grant to do community outreach and design new infrastructure in Skull Cave, one of the most dramatic and popular park sites. The film was selected for a Merit Award by the National Speleological Society at their 2020 (virtual) Convention. Project Cost: $19,500 Project Completed: 2015 Exquisite cinematography, beautiful lighting, and adept editing makes this film a delight to watch and is a wonderful promotional asset for Lava Beds National Monument. This film is certainly the next best alternative to actually visiting these impressive ice caves.” Terrific film! I've always wanted to go to this park, but now I'm putting it on my MUST explore list!" |
