The Lava Canyon Trail offers an extraordinary hiking experience, starting with an ADA-accessible interpretive trail and proceeding down a steep, rugged canyon to a unique swinging bridge.

Trail Sections:

1. Section 1: Easy and Accessible
   • From the parking lot, the trail descends into the canyon on a paved path with a gentle grade, making it perfect for everyone from young hikers to those with knee issues. This section ends at a waterfall viewpoint.
2. Section 2: Moderate Difficulty
   • Beyond the viewpoint, the trail becomes more challenging as it narrows and skirts high cliffs. This loop crosses a 125-foot suspension bridge, offering breathtaking views of the canyon and gushing water below. The sight can be unnerving, so watch your footing. The trail then returns on the south side of the canyon, crossing a steel bridge upstream of the waterfalls and rejoining the paved trail.
3. Section 3: Advanced Hiking
   • For the adventurous, this segment descends further into the canyon. If you have a fear of heights, this part is not recommended. After the suspension bridge, the trail crosses an exposed face and a water crossing, assisted by a cable. A metal ladder then descends a vertical cliff, providing access to the canyon’s thunderous waterfalls. The trail intersects with Ship Trail, which climbs to a viewpoint atop a lava formation overlooking a series of waterfalls in the lower canyon. As you continue, the canyon broadens and flattens, approaching a large alluvial fan spreading into the Smith Creek valley.

For more volcanic geology, explore the nearby Trail of Two Forests. This area features lava tubes formed when a lava flow moved through an old-growth forest and cooled, leaving vertical columns where the trees once stood.

Driving Directions

From I-5, take exit 21 and drive east on SR-503 for 28 miles to Cougar. Continue east on FR-90 past the Swift Dam. Turn onto FR-83 and proceed 12 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road.