By Mariah Cannon

What is Oregon Caves National Monument?

Well, funny you should ask… Because I never even knew what it was until I was researching Southern Oregon things to do and BAM. My first thought was, there’s no way this is in Oregon, right?

The Oregon Caves is a 3.5 mile cave system that was discovered in 1874 by Elijah Davidson, but the National Park System believes the Takelma Tribe discovered it many years before this based on their presence in the area. Davidson’s favorite dog had ran off chasing a bear and he followed in hopes of finding his pup. As Davidson kept going further into the cave, he ran out of matches and after finding his way back out, he left the cave silent for several years until his brother and some friends revisited in 1877 and thought they found the end of it.

A few years after that, Walter Burch, a young gold miner – heard about the cave and discovered more of it. A main room called Niagara Falls was discovered by Burch, and the National Park System believes he was a key founder in discovering many main rooms in the cave system.

Where are the Oregon Caves?

The Monument is located in what’s known as the Illinois Valley deep within the Siskiyou Mountains. The closest town is Cave Junction. Some other towns close by are:

• Grants Pass, OR – 48 miles
• Roseburg, OR – 117 miles
• Ashland, OR – 89 miles
• Eureka, CA – 156 miles
• Shasta Lake, CA – 218 miles

Best Way to Get There

The road into the monument is rather windy and narrow in parts, but paved and fully accessible. The parking lot for the monument is pretty large, but I’d still recommend arriving early. A car will suit you just fine for this adventure.

Taking a Cave Tour

Cave tours run March through November each year and must be led by a park ranger. Unlike other caves throughout the U.S. – Oregon caves only has one main tour available, The Discovery Tour. It is just under a mile long walk with 500 steps throughout. This is considered moderate and the rangers let you know that you need to be able to do all the steps.

Tickets are available on Recreation.Gov and below is a snip from their website of current (2024) prices.

Other Things to Do Around the Monument

The great thing about visiting, you can do more than just explore the caves. It makes for the perfect full day trip to Southern Oregon.

• Check out the Cliff Nature Trail, a short .9 mile hike that leads you through gorgeous Southern Oregon views.
• Another great one that takes just under an hour to complete, is No Name Trail, where you’ll find a stunning covered bridge and after good rainfall some waterfalls at the end of the trail.
• Looking for a little bit longer trail to enjoy the area? Hike the Big Tree Loop – a 3.5 mile moderate hike with expansive views.

Looking for more? There are quite a few longer and more strenuous trails located within the Monuments boundaries. Check them out on AllTrails!

Grab a Bite to Eat After

• Wild River Brewing & Pizza Company (M-S 11:00a-9:00p, Sun 12:00p-9:00p)
• Taylor’s Sausage & Country Store (M-F)
• Carlos Restaurante (M-F 9:00a-5:00p)
• Trillium Bakery (Open only Thursday-Sunday)

Other Attractions in the Area

• Stop by the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum!
• Relax at Illinois River Forks State Park or check out one of the trails within the park.
• Looking to try some local drinks? Have a glass of wine at Bridgeview Vineyard.
• Visit the Rusk Ranch Nature Center to be immersed into many different gardens with butterflies, frogs, plants, and more.

Know Before You Go

Remember that the caves run a bit colder, I recommend always bringing a layer that you can easily take off and tie around you while on any cave tour. Close toed shoes are a requirement.

Please do not wear clothing or footwear that has been worn in another cave, to keep the remaining bats that call the cave home safe and healthy.

No bags are allowed! Come with just a jacket and anything that can fit in your pockets. I asked the ranger that was leading our tour if I could take my camera in and she was okay with it as long as I didn’t drop it. It’s best to check on items you’re unsure about with your rangers.

The rangers ask that you know your physicals limitations and understand that in certain areas the cave can get as low as 45 inches, so be prepared to duck walk!

Save this pin for future travels!

Let’s Get Adventuring!

Mariah