# Visit Cave Junction > An independent visitor guide to Cave Junction and the Illinois Valley in Josephine County, southwest Oregon: Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, the Illinois River, Lake Selmac and the Siskiyou Mountains, wineries and farms, and places to stay. Made by Anabasis Intelligence. Not the City of Cave Junction (cavejunctionoregon.us), the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce, or CaveJunction.com. Cave Junction is the main town of the Illinois Valley, in Josephine County in southwest Oregon. It sits on US-199, the Redwood Highway, 29 miles southwest of Grants Pass, at the corner where OR-46 turns east and climbs 20 miles to Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. About 18,000 people live across the valley, in Cave Junction and in Kerby, Selma, O'Brien, Takilma, and Holland. Visitors come for the marble cave, for swimming holes on the Illinois River and its forks, for Lake Selmac and the high country of the Siskiyous and the Kalmiopsis, and for the vineyards and farm stands on the valley floor. The map above is the US Geological Survey's topographic sheet laid over the real shape of the land. Tap a pin to read about a place, take the tour, or talk to the guide, which answers questions out loud from what this site says. Every fact on the site is checked against a dated source (last checked 2026-11-10). Hours, prices, and seasons change, so each page links to the official source. The full text of every page is at https://visitcavejunction.com/llms-full.txt. ## Guides - [Welcome to the Illinois Valley](https://visitcavejunction.com/welcome): Where Cave Junction is, who lives in the Illinois Valley, and what visitors come for, from Oregon Caves to the rivers, mountains, and farms. - [Oregon Caves](https://visitcavejunction.com/oregon-caves): Cave tours, tickets, height rules, trails, and camping at Oregon Caves, 20 miles up the Caves Highway from Cave Junction. - [Rivers](https://visitcavejunction.com/rivers): Where to swim, float, and fish on the Illinois River and its forks near Cave Junction, with safety notes and the rules that apply. - [Lakes and Mountains](https://visitcavejunction.com/lakes-and-mountains): Bolan Lake, Grayback, Babyfoot and Bigelow Lakes, the Kalmiopsis, Rough and Ready, and Page Mountain Sno-Park, with directions and what to expect. - [Wine and Farms](https://visitcavejunction.com/wine-and-farms): Illinois Valley tasting rooms, the Friday farmers market in Kerby, and the Sweet Cron farm stand, with what we could confirm in 2026. - [Eat and Drink](https://visitcavejunction.com/eat-and-drink): Sausage and Friday music at Taylor's, pizza and house beer at Wild River, and coffee under the angel, with what we confirmed open in 2026. - [Where to stay](https://visitcavejunction.com/stay): Treehouses in Takilma, lakeside camping at Lake Selmac, and RV parks along US-199: places to stay in the Illinois Valley we confirmed open. - [Kerby](https://visitcavejunction.com/kerby): Kerby was Kerbyville, the Josephine County seat from 1857 to 1886. Visit the Kerbyville Museum and the It's a Burl wood gallery on US-199. - [Selma and Lake Selmac](https://visitcavejunction.com/selma): Selma is on US-199 north of Cave Junction. Nearby Lake Selmac has county camping, yurts, trout and bass fishing, and a 10 mph boat limit. - [O'Brien](https://visitcavejunction.com/obrien): O'Brien is a stop on US-199 south of Cave Junction. See the red caboose and the giant fly at the country store, then head south toward the coast. - [Takilma](https://visitcavejunction.com/takilma): Takilma is a small community on the East Fork of the Illinois River south of Cave Junction, with treehouse stays and a trail into the Siskiyou Wilderness. - [Holland](https://visitcavejunction.com/holland): Holland is an old mining town off the Caves Highway east of Cave Junction, with a country store, a winery nearby, and roads up to Grayback. - [Illinois Valley history](https://visitcavejunction.com/history): The gold rush at Sailors' Diggings, Fort Briggs, the county seat's moves, the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base, and how Cave Junction got its name. - [Roadside oddities](https://visitcavejunction.com/roadside): A big cat sanctuary, a giant fly, a rooftop angel, a burl wood yard, and a 9-hole golf course along US-199 in the Illinois Valley. - [Getting here](https://visitcavejunction.com/getting-here): Driving US-199 and the Caves Highway, the nearest airports, road conditions, and what the weather does in each season. - [Events](https://visitcavejunction.com/events): The Friday farmers market, music nights, the Acorn Festival, and other recurring valley events, with the dates their organizers posted. - [Valley news by email](https://visitcavejunction.com/news): Sign up for short emails on what's open, events, seasons, and road and fire updates in the Illinois Valley, sent only when there's news. - [About this guide](https://visitcavejunction.com/about): Who makes this independent visitor guide to Cave Junction and the Illinois Valley, how we check facts, and how to send a correction. ## Areas of the valley - [Cave Junction](https://visitcavejunction.com/cave-junction): Illinois Valley Visitor Center, Taylor's Sausage Country Store, Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co., Coffee Heaven, Jubilee Park, Illinois Valley Senior Center, Illinois River Forks State Park, Illinois Valley Country Club, Great Cats World Park, Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum - [Kerby](https://visitcavejunction.com/kerby): Kerbyville Museum and History Center, It's a Burl, Kerbyville Inn, Sweet Cron - Cron Produce - [Selma](https://visitcavejunction.com/selma): Lake Selmac County Park - [Holland](https://visitcavejunction.com/holland): Holland Store, Foris Vineyards, Bridgeview Vineyard and Winery, Fort Briggs historical marker - [O'Brien](https://visitcavejunction.com/obrien): O'Brien Country Store, Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside - [Takilma](https://visitcavejunction.com/takilma): Out 'n' About Treesort, Waldo Cemetery (old Waldo townsite) - [Oregon Caves and the Caves Highway](https://visitcavejunction.com/oregon-caves): Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, Grayback Campground, Cave Creek Campground - [The Siskiyou high country](https://visitcavejunction.com/lakes-and-mountains): Bolan Lake Campground, Page Mountain Sno-Park, Kalmiopsis Wilderness, Babyfoot Lake and Bigelow Lakes ## Places - [Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/oregon-caves-national-monument): A marble cave in the Siskiyous, seen only on ranger-led tours with over 520 steps and a 42-inch height minimum. Free surface trails climb through old forest to big Douglas firs and valley views. · 19000 Caves Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-5125 - [Bridgeview Vineyard and Winery](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/bridgeview-winery): A pond-side winery on Holland Loop Road with a tasting room and art gallery. It poured for a valley winery tour in May 2026 and is on the Illinois Valley Wine Trail. · 4210 Holland Loop Road, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-4688 - [Foris Vineyards](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/foris-winery): A family winery near Holland, started in 1974, known for Alsatian-style whites and Pinot Noir. The tasting room is open daily except holidays. · 654 Kendall Road, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (800) 843-6747 - [Kalmiopsis Wilderness](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/kalmiopsis-wilderness): Nearly 180,000 acres of serpentine ridges and wild rivers west of the valley, named for a shrub found here in 1930. The 2002 Biscuit Fire burned all of it, and trails are rough. · (541) 592-4000 - [Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/rough-ready-botanical-area): A free BLM stop on US 199 with a flat 0.3-mile trail through serpentine plants to a creek overlook. It has picnic tables and a portable toilet but no water. · US 199, about 4.5 miles south of Cave Junction (west side) · (541) 618-2200 - [Out 'n' About Treesort](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/treehouse-bed-breakfast): A treehouse bed and breakfast and campground in Takilma, with about a dozen treehouses up to 47 feet off the ground, a cabin, lodge rooms, tent and RV sites, and ziplines, trail rides, and summer rafting. · 300 Page Creek Road, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-2208 - [It's a Burl](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/its-a-burl-gallery): A family-owned gallery of burl wood furniture, carvings, and decor, opened in 1987 in the old Kerbyville post office. The outdoor wood yard sells raw burls to woodworkers and artists. · 24025 Redwood Highway, Kerby, OR 97531 · (541) 592-2141 - [Kerbyville Museum and History Center](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/kerbyville-museum): The valley's history museum, with exhibits on Native people, mining, logging, and pioneers. Outside are the 1880s Naucke House, a blacksmith shop, a miner's cabin, a log schoolhouse, and a replica pit house. · 24195 Redwood Hwy, Kerby, OR 97531 · (541) 592-5252 - [Illinois Valley Country Club](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/illinois-valley-golf-course): A public 9-hole course, par 36, with two sets of tees so you can play 18. There's a grass driving range, a putting green, and Gimmies Grill in the clubhouse. · 25320 Redwood Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-3151 - [Lake Selmac County Park](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/lake-selmac-campground-resort): Josephine County's lake park near Selma, with campground loops, 5 yurts, a boat ramp, nature trails, and disc golf. Motorboats are limited to 10 mph, and anglers fish for stocked trout and bass. The private Resort at Lake Selmac is across the lake. · Lakeshore Drive, Selma, OR 97538 · (541) 474-5285 - [Illinois River Forks State Park](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/forks-state-park): A free day-use state park where the East and West Forks of the Illinois River meet, just south of town. Picnic tables, a group shelter, a short trail, disc golf, and a calm stretch of river for summer swimming. · (541) 582-3128 - [Page Mountain Sno-Park](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/page-mountain-snow-park): A winter parking area on Forest Road 48 for getting out in the snow. You need an Oregon Sno-Park permit from November 1 to April 30. · (541) 592-4000 - [Grayback Campground](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/grayback-campground): A 39-site first-come campground on Sucker Creek, 12 miles up the Caves Highway, with drinking water. An easy 1-mile trail loops past an old CCC camp. · Oregon Caves Highway (OR-46), 12 miles east of Cave Junction · (541) 592-4000 - [Cave Creek Campground](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/cave-creek-campground): A small park campground on Cave Creek, about 4 miles below the cave. Sites take 2 tents and 2 vehicles but not large RVs, with water and vault toilets. · Off Highway 46, about 15 miles from Cave Junction · (541) 592-5125 - [Great Cats World Park](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/white-tigers-great-cats): A nonprofit sanctuary for exotic cats, strongest on the small and medium species most zoos skip. You see the animals on a guided tour of about 90 minutes. · 27919 Redwood Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-2957 - [Fort Briggs historical marker](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/fort-briggs-historic-site): A Josephine County Historical Society marker where Fort Briggs sheltered about 80 settlers during the Rogue River War of 1855 and 1856. The fort burned in 1908, and only the marker remains. · Holland Loop Road, east of Cave Junction, OR 97523 - [Taylor's Sausage Country Store](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/taylors-sausage): The Taylor family's meat counter, deli, and restaurant on the highway through town. Next door, their Pappy T's Pub & Grub hosts free Friday evening music. · 202 S Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-5358 - [Bolan Lake Campground](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/bolan-lake): A 12-acre lake at about 5,300 feet with 14 first-come campsites and no drinking water. A trail climbs from camp to the Bolan Mountain lookout, rebuilt in 2024 after the Slater Fire. · (541) 592-4000 - [Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/smokejumper-airport): One of the Forest Service's first smokejumper bases, open from 1943 to 1981 and now a free museum at the Illinois Valley Airport. Volunteers, some of them retired jumpers, show the 1940s planes, the parachute loft, and the old office. · 30902 Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 441-4804 - [Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co.](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/wildriver-brewery-pizza): Pizza, burgers, and house-brewed ales and lagers, with a weekday lunch buffet and a Wednesday open mic. · 249 N Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-3556 - [Illinois Valley Visitor Center](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/visitor-center): The first stop for Oregon Caves: check road and tour conditions, buy same-day cave tour tickets, and browse the park store before the drive up OR-46. · 201 Caves Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-5125 - [Kerbyville Inn](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/kerby-bed-breakfast-wine-tasting): A five-suite inn in Kerby with rooms named after wines. Its own site lists lodging only, with no tasting room. · 24304 Redwood Hwy, Kerby, OR 97531 · (541) 592-4689 - [Waldo Cemetery (old Waldo townsite)](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/old-waldo-historic-site): All that survives of Waldo, the gold camp that was Josephine County's first seat: a pioneer cemetery with burials from 1858 to 1918, and the separate Waldo Chinese Cemetery nearby. Both are on BLM land and in the National Register. · Off Waldo Road, about half a mile southwest of the old Waldo townsite, near Takilma - [Holland Store](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/historic-holland-store): A small country store on Holland Loop Road in the old mining town of Holland, with groceries, gas, cold drinks, and farm-fresh eggs. A handy stop on the way to or from the Oregon Caves. · 7251 Holland Loop Rd, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-4441 - [Coffee Heaven](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/coffee-heaven-angel-sculpture): A small coffee shop next to the Chevron, known by the big wooden angel on its roof. Espresso, juices, smoothies, and scones. · 409 Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-3888 - [Sweet Cron - Cron Produce](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/cron-farm-fresh-produce): The Nelsen family's farm stand on Sauer's Flat near Kerby, famous for its misspelled signs. Sweet corn first, then summer vegetables, and pumpkins and a corn maze in fall. · 22995 Redwood Hwy, Kerby, OR - [Jubilee Park](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/jubilee-park): Cave Junction's main community park, with a skate park, playground, splash pad, and pavilion. It hosted the SK8CJ skate contest and the Southern Oregon Battle in 2026. · 307 S Junction Ave, Cave Junction, OR 97523 - [Illinois Valley Senior Center](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/senior-citizen-center): Serves an all-you-can-eat country breakfast open to the public on the first Saturday of each month, and hosts a holiday bazaar in November. · 520 E River St, Cave Junction, OR 97523 · (541) 592-6888 - [O'Brien Country Store](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/obrien-caboose-giant-insect): A highway gas station, grocery, and deli with an old red caboose out front and a giant fly sculpture on the restroom roof. A handy stop on the way to or from the coast. · 33096 Redwood Hwy, O'Brien, OR 97534 · (541) 596-2555 - [Babyfoot Lake and Bigelow Lakes](https://visitcavejunction.com/places/baby-foot-and-bigelow-lakes): Two separate trips. Babyfoot Lake is a 1.2-mile walk into the burned edge of the Kalmiopsis, west of the valley. Bigelow Lakes sit in meadows on Mount Elijah, east of the valley above Oregon Caves. · (541) 592-4000 ## Questions visitors ask ### Where is Cave Junction, Oregon? In Josephine County in southwest Oregon, on US-199 between Grants Pass and the California coast. It's the main town of the Illinois Valley and stands about 1,340 feet above sea level. From Interstate 5, leave at Exit 58 in Grants Pass, pick up US-199, and Cave Junction is 29 miles southwest. More on Getting here. ### How far is Oregon Caves from Cave Junction? 20 miles east on OR-46, the Caves Highway. The National Park Service says to allow about 50 minutes from town to the visitor center, including a 900-foot walk from the parking lot. The last 8 miles are narrow, steep, and winding, and the park discourages large RVs and trailers. More on Oregon Caves. ### Is Oregon Caves open right now? The park closed for the winter as of November 2026, according to the National Park Service. In 2026 the Discovery Cave Tour ran from March 21 to November 1. Check the NPS hours page for next season's opening date. ### How much is a cave tour, and can children go? In 2026 the Discovery Cave Tour cost $20 for adults and $15 for ages 15 and under, card only. It lasts about 90 minutes and climbs more than 520 steps. Children must be at least 42 inches tall, nobody can be carried, and everyone has to crouch to 45 inches before the tour. The cave stays at 44°F, so bring a warm layer and closed shoes. ### Where do I buy cave tour tickets? Some tours can be reserved on Recreation.gov. Same-day tickets are usually first come, first served, and the park suggests buying them at the Illinois Valley Visitor Center, 201 Caves Highway in Cave Junction, before you drive up. Tours sell out during spring break and summer. ### Can I stay or eat at the Oregon Caves Chateau? No. The Chateau has been closed for repairs since 2018, and in 2026 the National Park Service said it, its café, and its dining room remain closed until further notice. There's no lodging or restaurant at the caves, so pack food and water. ### Where can I stay near Cave Junction? Most beds in the valley are treehouses, cabins, and campsites: Out 'n' About Treesort in Takilma, camping at Lake Selmac, RV parks along US-199, and Forest Service campgrounds. We couldn't confirm any motel in the valley open in 2025 or 2026, so for a standard hotel room, Grants Pass is about 30 miles northeast. More on Where to stay. ### Where can I swim near Cave Junction? Illinois River Forks State Park, just south of town where the East and West Forks meet, is a day-use park with a long, calm summer swimming stretch. It had no day-use fee when we checked in November 2026. State Parks warns of swift currents and hidden obstructions and asks swimmers to wear a life jacket. More spots are on Rivers. ### When is the Cave Junction Farmers Market? Friday afternoons from 4 to 7 p.m., mid-April to the end of October. It's called the Cave Junction Farmers Market, but it sets up in Kerby, at 24100 Highway 199, across from the Kerbyville Museum. The 2026 season ran April 17 to October 30. More on Wine and farms. ### What's the weather like in Cave Junction? Winters are wet and summers are hot and dry. The valley gets about 61 inches of precipitation a year, about 33 of them from December through February, and July and August average highs around 94°F, by NOAA's 1991 to 2020 averages. The caves sit at 4,000 feet and get snowy winters. More on Getting here. ### Is there an airport near Cave Junction? There's no airline service in the valley. The nearest scheduled flights are at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) and at Del Norte County Regional Airport (CEC) in Crescent City, California, both a drive away on US-199. ### Is this the City of Cave Junction's website? No. visitcavejunction.com is an independent visitor guide made by Anabasis Intelligence. The city's official site is cavejunctionoregon.us. Corrections are welcome; see About this guide. ### Can I ask the guide questions out loud? Yes. Tap Talk to the guide on the map and ask, or type instead. The guide moves the map to each place it talks about, and it knows only what this site says, so for hours and prices it points you to the place's own website. ### Why is the guide a mule? Kerby was officially renamed Napoleon in 1856, and Napoleon crossed the Alps in 1800 on a sure-footed mule, not the rearing horse of the famous painting. Mule trains worked this valley in the gold-rush years too. The whole story is on Kerby.