Thousands of years ago, a volcano near what is now Fillmore erupted, spewing lava for miles. The resulting lava flow is still left on Utah’s landscape today. You can see lava fields, craters and tubes (caves). This spot is a pretty interesting place to explore. Take a look:

The lava flow is really large - notice how small the people appear in this photo.
Paul Inkenbrandt/flickr
You can tell that this area is pretty vast.
This place is often called 'Tabernacle Hill'
Boyd/flickr
To get here, drive five miles south of Fillmore to exit 158, marked "Meadow." Turn west at the sign that says, "White Mountain" and drive about three miles until you see the lava field.

The dirt road can be bumpy and difficult to traverse in bad weather; in good weather a two-wheel drive vehicle usually has no trouble.
You'll find lots of lava tubes that were created when the lava flowed along this spot between 10,000 and 24,000 years ago.
TouringUtah/YouTube
Some of the tubes are dark inside.
Paul Inkenbrandt/flickr
Bring a flashlight or headlamp so you can thoroughly explore.

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Can you spot the bat in this photo?
TouringUtah/YouTube
Bats call some of these caves home, so you might be lucky enough to see a few during your exploration.
Other tubes have natural "skylights," flooding the spaces with light.
TouringUtah/YouTube
It's hard to say how many lava tubes exist here - they've never been thoroughly mapped and explored.
Some of the tubes burrow underground for miles; others are quite small.

Take care while exploring, and never go by yourself on this kind of journey. Some of the lava is loose and might be unstable. Always make sure that you're equipped for emergencies.
Bring a lunch, some snacks and plenty of water, and plan on spending the entire afternoon out here.
Boyd/flickr
There's so much to explore!
The lava rock is rough and will tear you up if you fall, so come prepared to explore this terrain.
Boyd/flickr
Wear long pants and shoes with good traction. A walking stick might help you keep your balance on the uneven lava. While this can be a fun adventure for small children, keep a close eye on them - a fall here could be really dangerous.

To see more of the lava tubes, check out this video posted by TouringUtah on YouTube.com:

Have you ever visited the lava tubes near Fillmore? Tell us all about it!

Explore some more of Utah’s unique geography by visiting these mountains that look like they were painted with watercolors.

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