Map of Caves National Monument in Oregon
Oregon Caves National Monument. How to get by car to the Oregon Caves National Monument. How to book a room and its price in the Oregon Caves National Monument
Oregon Caves National Monument in southwestern Oregon, near Cave Junction
Below ground at this monument is a marble cave created by natural forces over hundreds of thousands of years in one of the worlds most diverse geologic realms. Above ground is 480 acres of wilderness, including a remnant of old-growth coniferous forest, crisscrossed with hiking trails. In addition to its unique geologic setting, Oregon Caves has Pleistocene mammal fossils and a large assortment of endemic cave life. The monument was proclaimed in 1909 and transferred to the National Park Service in 1933.
WHAT TO SEE & DO
Cave touring, hiking. Facilities: Visitor center with interpretive displays, trails. Book sales area. Programs & Events: Ranger-guided walks, day programs (Memorial Day-Labor Day). Tips & Hints: Entrance to caves by guided tour only. No reservations. Come early to avoid crowds. Wear tennis shoes or boots and a jacket for cave tours. Temperature is 42°F in cave. Don't take tour if you have breathing or heart problems. Cave trail is 1 mi with ascent of 250 feet; there are more than 500 stairs. Tour takes about l hours. Large RVs not recommended on road to park, shuttles available from Cave Junction (see below). Go late Apr. or May for wildflowers in valleys, June for meadow flowers. Busiest July and Aug., least crowded Labor Day-Memorial Day.
FOOD, LODGING & SUPPLIES
Camping: None in park. In Siskiyou National Forest: Cave Creek (Rte. 46, 16 mi east of Cave Junction, tel. 541/592-2166; 17 sites; $10; pit toilets; closed mid-Sept.-mid-May), Grayback (Rte. 46, 12 mi east of Cave Junction, tel. 541/592-2166; 35 sites; $10; flush toilets; closed Sept.-mid-May). In Cave Junction: Country Hills Resort (7901 Caves Hwy, tel. 541/592-3406; 25 sites; $14-$18; flush toilets, showers, hookups). S Hotels: In the park: Oregon Caves Chateau (20000 Caves Hwy., tel. 541/592-3400; 22 rooms, 3 suites; $75-$125; closed Nov-Apr.). In Cave Junction: Out N' About (300 Page Creek Rd., tel. 541/ 592-2208; 1 cabin, 9 tree houses; $85-$ 160). X Restaurant: In the park: Oregon Caves Chateau (20000 Caves Hwy., tel. 541/592-3400; $7; closed Nov.-Apr.). Groceries: None in park. In Cave Junction: Shop Smart (205 Watkins St., tel. 541/592-3333).
FEES, HOURS & REGULATIONS
Free. Cave tour $7.50 adults, $5 ages 16 and under. Free tour to first room for families with small children. Cave restrictions: children must be at least 42 inches tall and able to climb a set of test stairs unassisted. No infants. No child care available. Canes allowed in first cave room only. First room (only) wheelchair accessible. No pets on trails, leashed pets elsewhere. Mountain bikes on existing roads only. No motor vehicles on trails. Monument open daily. Visitor center open mid-Mar. -Memorial Day and mid-Oct.-Nov, daily 9:30-4, Memorial Day-late June and Labor Day-mid-Oct., daily 8:30-5; late June-Labor Day, daily 8:30-7. Cave tours run mid-June-Labor day, daily every 15 mins; Labor Day-mid.-Oct., daily on the hour.
HOW TO GET THERE
20 mi southeast of Cave Junction via Rte. 46. Closest airport: Medford (80 mi). Shuttles (tel. 541/659-5103 or 888/203-8502) from Cave Junction cost $20 for the first person in the group and $2 for each additional person.
CONTACTS
Oregon Caves National Monument (19000 Caves Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523, tel. 541/592-2100, fax 541/592-3981,)
Oregon Caves National Monument. How to get by car to the Oregon Caves National Monument. How to book a room and its price in the Oregon Caves National Monument
The distance by road from Portland to Caves National Monument is 314 miles.
Oregon Caves National Monument. How to get by car to the Oregon Caves National Monument. How to book a room and its price in the Oregon Caves National Monument