Devils Homestead - Lava Beds National Monument
N 41° 47.578 W 121° 33.722
10T E 619475 N 4627789
Devils Homestead is a scenic look-out within the Lava Beds National Monument (park fees may apply in season) and located along a stretch of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway in Siskiyou County, CA.
Waymark Code: WMFGEE
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 10/16/2012
Views: 9
Devils Homestead is a roadside look-out for visitors passing through the Lava Beds National Monument. It offers a captivating view of the large expanse of natural lava beds that exist within the Monument boundaries. This stretch of road also falls within the official Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, which begins at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, continues south through the Lava Beds National Monument and ends at Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. There are a few informative signs here that describe this area. Some text taken from one of these informative signs:
Where Did All the Lava Come From? You are standing on the northern flank of the massive Medicine Lake shield volcano, named for the broad, gently sloped profile you see on the horizon to your right if the weather is clear. Although more difficult to recognize than more familiar sharply peaked volcanoes, this Cascades volcano is the largest by volume. Hundreds of diverse eruptive events spewed lava from over 200 magma chambers underground, building the moon-like landscape of lava Beds over the course of a half-million years.
Visitors to the Lava Beds National Monument will be welcomed with some wonderful natural and human history of the area. There is a visitor center which is a great place to learn about the former Natives, known as the Modoc, who used to live here thousands of years ago before white settlers emigrated to the area. There are also many sites along this stretch of road to visit natural caves as well as learn about the Modoc Indian War that was fought in 1872-3 and resulted in the death of the only U.S. General to be killed in an Indian War.