Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway Backcountry — Medicine Lake Highlands to Lava Beds
Alien lava country north of Shasta.
The Medicine Lake Highlands sit on the largest shield volcano in the Cascades, and most people drive straight past it on their way to Crater Lake. That’s their loss. This route punches off Highway 89 north of McCloud and climbs Forest Service roads through glass-black obsidian flows at Glass Mountain, past Burnt Lava Flow, and around the rim of Medicine Lake itself — a caldera lake sitting at 6,700 feet with primitive camping on the shore. The final push drops into Lava Beds National Monument from the north, where you can poke your truck nose right up to cave entrances before pulling camp in the monument’s designated sites.
Roads here are well-graded pumice and gravel with some rougher two-track spurs — a high-clearance 2WD can manage the main loop in dry conditions, but 4WD opens up the side tracks to Glass Mountain’s obsidian fields and the back side of Burnt Lava Flow. Snow closes the highlands from November through May, sometimes into June. No water on the plateau — carry everything. Fuel in Burney or Weed. The payoff: volcanic scenery that feels genuinely alien, near-zero crowds, and a sky so dark out here the Milky Way looks painted on.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 68 mi / 109.4 km |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7200 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD (dry) / 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | McCloud, CA |
| Land manager | Modoc National Forest / Lava Beds National Monument (NPS) |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail without a lift?
Yes. A stock high-clearance truck or SUV does fine on this route in dry conditions. The dirt and gravel surfaces are rough but not technical — the bigger enemy is sharp volcanic rock shredding sidewalls, so run quality tires and carry a plug kit.
When does the Medicine Lake Highlands section open up after winter?
Snow typically clears by mid-June, but the plateau sits at 7,000+ feet and can hold late snow or refreeze overnight into early summer. Check with Modoc National Forest before heading out if you're going before July — road closures happen without much notice up there.
Do I need a permit to camp along this route or enter Lava Beds?
Dispersed camping in Modoc National Forest is free and requires no permit. Lava Beds National Monument charges a $25 vehicle entrance fee (valid 7 days), and cave exploration requires a free cave permit obtained at the visitor center.
What's the hardest part of the route and what should I actually expect?
The roughest sections are the unmaintained two-tracks crossing the obsidian flows near Glass Mountain — loose volcanic rubble, embedded rock, and zero margin for a low-clearance vehicle. It's not a rock crawl, but one sharp chunk of obsidian at speed will end your day fast.
Is there any place to get gas or water between McCloud and Lava Beds?
No. There are zero services on this route once you leave McCloud. Top off your tank before you go — it's roughly 100+ miles of remote driving — and carry all your water. Medicine Lake has a developed campground with water in summer, but don't count on it as your only source.
Trail track
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