Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Oregon Caves National Monument is a 4,558-acre national monument in Southern Oregon that protects a 3-mile-long (5-km) cave in the marble rock within the Siskiyou Mountains.

2 sights · 9 things to do · 2 places to eat · 3 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Oregon Caves National Monument

Chalet Visitor Center

Built in 1924, this visitor center is adjacent to the Chateau and offers exhibits about the cave and items for sale. Cave tour reservations must be made at the desk, and cave tours start from the visitor center.

Illinois Valley Visitor Center

General Cave Tour

This 90-minute tour traverses a half mile (1 km) of the cave and is moderately strenuous. The cave is well-developed, but visitors will need to climb 500 stairs and stoop in some areas. Sights on the tour include numerou…

Candlelight Cave Tour

Off-trail Cave Tour

Haunted Candlelight Tour

Only offered around Halloween, these special candlelight tours focus on some of the creepier local history of the caves. Cameras are not allowed, but costumes may be worn as long as there is no danger of fabric or other …

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 32°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Medford)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
MFR Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, Medford — 33 mi away. Directions
CEC Jack Mc Namara Field Airport, Crescent City — 48 mi away. Directions
PDX Portland International Airport, Portland — 244 mi away (major hub). Directions

The only road to the park is Oregon Route 46, a winding mountain road that travels 20 miles (32 km) east from the town of Cave Junction. The road is not recommended for trailers and RVs beyond milepost 12.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

Places to stay listed here: about $10–$10 a night (typical $10), from 2 listed prices.
Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$50, mid-range ~$80, comfortable ~$180.

Options are grouped as Lodging, Camping, Backcountry in the Sleep guide ↓.

Sample 3-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Chalet Visitor Center, Candlelight Cave Tour
Lunch Chateau Dining Room
Afternoon Cliff Nature Trail, Bigelow Lakes - Mount Elijah Loop
Dinner Caves Cafe

Day 2

Morning Illinois Valley Visitor Center, Off-trail Cave Tour
Afternoon No Name Trail, Cave Creek Trail

Day 3

Morning General Cave Tour, Haunted Candlelight Tour
Afternoon Big Tree Trail

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Photos

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Understand

History

The first person known to have entered the cave was Elijah Davidson, who followed his dog Bruno into the cave while pursuing a bear in late November 1874. After venturing into the cave and exhausting his supply of matches the hunter was forced to crawl in darkness out of the cave, following the underground river for guidance. At the urging of his brother, Davidson returned to the cave in 1877, this time with more light, to further explore the cave.

While few people visited the cave in the ten years after its discovery, the following two decades saw several private investors try (and fail) to turn the cave into a tourist attraction. President Taft declared the area a national monument in 1909, and the construction of the Caves Highway in 1922 resulted in a huge increase in visitors to the caves.

Landscape

Oregon Caves are unusual due to the fact that the rock is marble, although the caves were formed from the common process of slightly acidic water seeping through cracks. It is believed that the cave is at least one million years old, and possibly several million years in age.

Flora and fauna

Trees in the monument include Douglas fir, oak, white fir, and alder, including "Big Tree", which at 42 feet (12 m) in diameter is the largest Douglas fir in Oregon.

The park is home to approximately 50 species of mammals, 86 species of birds, and 11 species of reptiles and amphibians. Nearly 160 species are found inside the cave, including 8 species of bats. The most commonly seen animals include black-tailed deer and Townsend's chipmunk, but lucky visitors may see black bear, cougar, northern flying squirrel, and Pacific giant salamander.

Climate

The monument is located at 4,000 feet (1,220 m) elevation and experiences summer temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C). The area gets over 50 inches (127 cm) of rain per year, much of it in the fall. Winters are snowy and chains may be required on the park highway, and the road may be temporarily closed during winter storms.

Visitor information

Park website (NPS)

Get in

Fees and permits

There is no park entry fee, but fees are charged for cave tours.

Get around

The park is compact, so visitors park at the lower parking lot and then walk. The Chateau and Visitors Center are about one-quarter mile up a paved roadway from the main parking lot, and trails are well-maintained.

See

See Chalet Visitor Center

📍 19000 Caves Highway☎ +1 541-592-2100⚠ Last checked May 2015 — confirm before you go

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See Illinois Valley Visitor Center

The center provides information about the area, including up to the moment cave tour information at the Oregon Caves National Monument. Same day tickets for cave tours are available at the center Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Afternoon wait times can be long in the summer. Buying tickets before driving to the park can save a lot of time and hassle. (Reservations can be bought up to one day in advance of the day of visit on Recreation.gov.)

📍 201 Caves HwyIn Cave Junction⚠ Last checked Jul 2020 — confirm before you go

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Do

Cave tours

Reservations for cave tours are on a first come, first served basis and are available from the visitor center. The busiest times are between 11AM and 3PM, when waits can be up to two hours; early arrival is recommended. Children shorter than 42 in (107 cm) in height are not allowed on cave tours. Due to technical difficulties credit cards may not always be accepted, so ensure you can pay in cash if necessary. Tours are not available from November through mid-March in order to protect hibernating bats. Backpacks, food, drinks, gum, tobacco, canes, flashlights and tripods are not allowed in the cave. Temperatures in the cave average 44°F (7°C) year-round, so a jacket is recommended.

Do General Cave Tour

💲 $10 for adults, $7 for children 15 and under, Golden Age and Golden Access pass holders receive a 50% discount⚠ Last checked Jul 2020 — confirm before you go

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Do Candlelight Cave Tour

Offered on Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30PM from Memorial Day through Labor Day, this tour covers the same route as the general cave tour but the cave lights are turned off and each visitor carries a lantern in order to experience the cave in the same way as early visitors saw it. In addition to the 42 in height restriction, participants must be age 12 or over.

💲 $10 for adults, $7 for children 15 and under⚠ Last checked May 2015 — confirm before you go

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Do Off-trail Cave Tour

Off-trail tours are only offered between June and September and must be reserved in advance, with space limited to 8 per tour. See the Oregon Caves information page to make a reservation. The three-hour off-trail tour provides an introduction to caving and visits areas not seen on the general cave tour. Visitors will have to scramble over boulders, squeeze through tight spaces, and will have only a headlamp for illumination. All equipment is provided by the park service.

💲 $45 per person, age 15 and over only⚠ Last checked May 2015 — confirm before you go

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