Oregon Caves National Monument

Oregon Caves has cave tours, hiking trails, children activities and, during summer months, offers scheduled Ranger programs, nature walks and tours of the Oregon Caves lodge, a National Historic Landmark.

Oregon Caves is located at the end of Oregon Caves Highway (Highway 46), 20 miles from Highway 199 and Cave Junction, Oregon. The last part of the highway is a narrow mountain road with many curves. Allow 45 minutes to drive to the monument. Oregon Caves Highway road guide.

There is limited parking for large vehicles at Oregon Caves. If you are driving an RV and have a vehicle in tow, it is recommended you park at the Visitor Center, located on Oregon Caves Highway (Highway 46) one block from Highway 199 and drive your towed vehicle to the monument.

Children must be 42" tall to go on the regular cave tour. Oregon Caves National Monument offers a free "family tour" for families with children who are too small to go on the full tour. There is no charge for the tour and all family members are encouraged to join.

Planning your visit
Below are some tips to help you avoid crowds and warm summer temperatures during your visit to Oregon Caves National Monument:

Summer Months
During summer months, the best way to avoid crowds and long waits for cave tours is to arrive early between 9-10am or wait until later in the day, between 4-6pm, to come up to Oregon Caves. If you come up during the busy time of the day, it is possible that waits for tours may be one hour or more. Be certain to get your cave tour ticket first and then plan on eating lunch in the Oregon Caves lodge restaurant, visit the gift gallery with art work from local artists, and seeing a Ranger program. Don't forget that children can earn an Oregon Caves Junior Ranger badge by completing the free activity book and can also earn trail buttons by hiking trails and completing trail activity sheets.

If you want to do hiking, it is best to do so early in the morning and wait until later in the day to take the tour through the 42 degree temperatures of the cave. It is possible to go to the visitor center when it opens and purchase a cave tour ticket for any tour of the day. Purchase a ticket for a time when you know you will be back from your hike or maybe a little later if you decide you would like to first get a milk shake or lunch at the Oregon Caves lodge restaurant before your cave tour.

Fall Months
The most beautiful time of the year to visit Oregon Caves is from mid September to mid October when the monument has fall colors, cool temperatures and less crowded conditions. Winter rains commonly begin falling after mid October. In late November, icy conditions and snow may become more common and visitors to Oregon Caves are cautioned to call ahead for current road conditions. Many of the monument's staff drive up in the morning and can provide information on what the road was like as they came to work.

Winter

Cave tour operations are closed from early December through to late March. No tours are offered. However, the monument is open to hiking and snow activities.

Spring Months
Spring months are usually wet and snow can be expected on most trails. The cave can be very wet this time of the year so it doesn't hurt to wear a rain resistant jacket if you have one.

Oregon Caves National Monument Information
541 592-2100
Oregon Caves official website

Oregon Caves Chateau Lodge Information
541 592-3400

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Disclaimer: All information in Highway199.org is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, conditions in outdoor settings can change dramatically after storms or fires. For this reason, travelers are advised to check current road conditions before traveling through the area, drive responsibly and take measures to understand safety issues in the region. When participating in outdoor activities, always plan and prepare for safe hiking, swimming or any other activities mentioned in the Highway 199 website. More on disclaimer and copyright...