The Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve boasts 15,000 feet of underground passageways that wind and dive ever deeper into a marble cave. When it comes to things to do in Oregon, this adventure must be on your list.
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The History of the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
History of the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve begins as early as the cave itself, and that is a difficult number to figure out. Sometime in the past one million years, acidic water began seeping its way into cracks in the marbleized rock.
Over the many years, water widened the cracks until the caves themselves were formed. The water slowly but surely eroded the rock and began creating underground tunnels and passageways. The process is similar to how the Grand Canyon was formed, except at Oregon caves, it happened all underground.
The first discovery of the caves inside the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve was in 1874 by the Davidson family.
Later, between the 1880’s and the early 1900’s, two different men tried to turn the caves into a tourist destination. Both failed miserably.
The first man, Walter Burch charged visitors $1 each to explore inside the cave alone. If crawling through cave with no pathways or light weren’t a frightening enough proposition, the road to the cave was treacherous, and it did not attract many visitors.
The second entrepreneur to attempt a business out of the Oregon marble caves was Alfonso B. Smith. Smith had big plans for the caves but based is business model on lies and exaggerations. He claimed the caves were larger and longer than they were to draw in more investment money.
However, Smith did pinpoint one area where his predecessor Burch went wrong. Consequently, Smith hired crews to make the caves easier to navigate. They created trails and placed directional arrows on the walls inside the caves to prevent visitors from getting lost. Unfortunately, in this process, many of the fascinating geological structures were damaged or destroyed.
Shortly after making his improvements and opening the caves, Alfonso ran off with the investment money, never to be seen again.
In 1909 the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve was founded and guides were appointed to give tours and keep visitors safe inside the caves. By 1928 the roadways to the cave had been improved and the use of cars was more widespread, so the marble caves saw more visitors.
By 1933 the caves had seen a lot of changes. Tourist cabins and staff dormitories were constructed as well as kitchens and service buildings. A six-story hotel was built to give the visitors a place to stay. And lastly, a 500-foot man made exit tunnel was constructed at the end of the cave to stop tours from having to turn around and backtrack to the exit.
Today, the caves are unchanged, and the park is relatively the same. More land has been added to the preserve for use for hiking.
Cave tours of Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
Discovery Cave Tour
The Discovery Cave tour is the main Oregon Caves tour, and the most accessible. We did this tour in the summer of 2017, a few days before the total eclipse, and things were a bit busy at the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve.
We began our tour outside of the cave, near the Oregon Caves Visitor Center, just waiting to enter. Our tour guide explained the geological history of the cave and how it came to be, and then the human history involved with the cave. She also made sure we were all physically able to maneuver safely through the cave corridors.
To take the tour, children must be above 42″ tall, and all guests must be able to stand for 90 minutes, ascend and descend 500 stairs, and crouch below 45″.
One cave section narrows down a bit, but there is an option to leave after the first short section of the tour if you get too claustrophobic.
Entering the caves themselves begins with an immediate blast of cold air. Manmade pathways and bridges keep you above the flowing water. Lights installed throughout the cave illuminate the pathways as well as important geologic structures
In the beginning of the tour, the passageways are large and open, except for one short, narrow dark passageway where we were instructed to feel our way through. Shortly after this point, we found ourselves in a large cavern. Here the tour guide explained more information about the cave as well as what we had seen so far.
From that point, the cave narrows some, and this is where I lost my mom. Which is unfortunate, because this is also where things really get fascinating.
We soon got to see some of the old pathways from the failed attempts at turning the caves into a tourist attraction. The pathways were barely marked, steep, and at one time even included rickety wooden ladders to navigate over trenches. Our tour guide explained how the first people to explore the cave would often get lost and need help to get out. They had to navigate the Oregon Caves by candlelight and it was very dangerous.
Another highlight on the trip for me was a piece of marble that had pencil markings and names from the very early 1800’s. These names were signed on the marble walls in pencil near the end of the cave and preserved by a naturally-forming layer of calcium.
Prices for the Discovery Tour at Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve range from $3.50 to $10 per person based on age. You can find all prices here.
Candlelight Cave Tours of the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
The National Parks Service also offers a Candlelight Cave Tour, so guests can really see what it was like to tour the underground labrynth in the early days.
The tour is for those over 10 years of age and only allows 12 people, so reservations are recommended. Each guest is given a lantern to carry through their journey. It is said the candlelight dances upon the marble walls in breathtaking ways.
Off-Trail Caving Tour at the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
The off-trail caving tour is just as it sounds, a tour that travels off the typical tourist paths of the caves. This tour teaches you caving techniques and is run by experienced off- trail cavers.
The experience takes you into the deep, dark depths of the cave and into passageways as narrow as 19 inches. It is physically demanding, and perfect for those who are into thrilling adventure.
Who Should Think Twice About an Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve Tour?
Due to the need to climb stairs within the cave, the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is not handicap accessible, and those who are claustrophobic might want to think twice about entering the marble halls as well. Families may also opt for a child-centric family tour, where park rangers add more kid-friendly elements to the experience.
The cave does open up into a very large cavern in the beginning, complete with stone steps to make your way down, but steep, somewhat scary metal steps make up the remainder of the tour.
The worst part for many of the people on our tour was navigating the narrow part at the end where ceiling heights narrow to just 45” tall during one of the final stretches. The narrowing is for just a few steps, so no one who remained on my tour had trouble navigating it.
At the end of the tour we ascended 500 feet of manmade tunnel that suddenly opened up to the top of the mountain, with the sun blinding you as the door opens. A short hike down the trail brought us back to the visitor’s center, gift shop, and restaurants.
The tour involves crawling on your stomach through small cave openings, over and under boulders, and learning about the complex structures of the cave as well as how to safely navigate.
Oregon Caves Camping
There is camping located just 4 miles from the best caves in Oregon. The Oregon Caves Preserve does have 17 first come, first serve campsites located just 4 miles from the cave entrance.
The sites are for small campers only, with a maximum vehicle length of 20 feet, and only 2 vehicles per space permitted.
The sites are available first come, first serve, with a 14 continuous day limit. The campground is open from Memorial Day to Labor day, with some years being longer if the fall weather is favorable. For current seasonal opening dates, click here.
The campsites have minimal water access, no electricity and 3 compostable toilets.
Other Nearby Camping Areas
Lake Mountain Resort is located about 30 minutes from the Oregon Caves. This resort offers full hookup RV camping, a variety of cabins, and teepees for rent. This resort has many activities such as hiking, fishing, and swimming.
Out N About Treehouses offers treehouses in Cave Junction Oregon for rent. The treehouses can hold 2-4 people, depending on which one you rent. The treehouses are beautiful, but expect a woodsy experience.
Some of the treehouses have full bathrooms, while the rest have access to a bathhouse for showering amenities.
What to Know Before Your Visit to Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
- The cave tours of the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve require you to navigate uneven terrain, ascents, descents and steep stairs with no handrails
- The cave tours are not for those with claustrophobia
- The caves are not safe for small children under 42 inches in height. Carrying children in the caves is not permitted.
- For cave tour reservations, information, and availability, click here.
- The Chateau Lodge and restaurants inside are under refurbishment, so no lodging or dining are available at the caves during this time. Bringing a lunch or eating in Cave Junction are recommended. For updates on the refurbishment, click here.
- The Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve has 17 campsites that operate on a first come first serve basis with no vehicles larger than 20 feet in length allowed. Camping is $10 per night.
- Many miles of hiking trails are located in the preserve.
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