Oregon Caves History Tour - Highway 46, Oregon

Adventure Drives in the Heart of the Siskiyou Mountains

The road to Foris Vineyards and Winery offers scenic views of the Illinois Valley, Oregon. The Oregon Caves history is a loop drive out of Cave Junction that is divided into two sections.

The Valley Loop

The valley loop is fourteen miles of scenic driving that passes several points of historic interest before returning you to Cave Junction. Some of the historic features seen on this 14 mile loop reaches back to Oregon’s first gold discoveries. The valley loop can be made in about 30 minutes if no stops are made. It is recommended that people on this loop tour take the five mile first section of the Oregon Caves option.

The Oregon Caves Option

The first six miles of the Valley Loop follows the Oregon Caves Highway, the same road you follow to go to Oregon Caves National Monument. If you are going to Oregon Caves, you have the option of switching from the Valley Loop Drive to the Oregon Caves National Monument road log. Once you have visited the caves, you can return and continue on the History Loop Tour back to Cave Junction. The total distance to go up to the caves and return through the Holland Loop Section is about 45 miles, just five miles longer than going to Oregon Caves National Monument and returning to Cave Junction by Highway 46. The trip to Oregon Caves adds another hour of driving to the tour time.

Many features pointed out on the drive are on private land. Respect privacy and enjoy these historic features from the highway. If you stop, find a place where you can park so your vehicle is off the road and does not pose a hazard to passing vehicles.

The tour route will take you to three wineries that each has a tasting room. Please designate a driver if you plan to sample the wine products from our valley.

How to begin the tour

The tour begins at the Illinois Valley Visitor Center located on Highway 46 behind the Chevron Station on the right. The next page will get you started on this adventure drive.

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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...