Oregon Caves
High in the Siskiyou Mountains at the end of Highway 46, water has dissolved a cave out of solid marble. The only way inside is on a ranger-led tour. Above ground, a handful of trails climb through old forest, and a small campground sits along Cave Creek a few miles down the road.
The park is closed for the winter as of November 2026, according to the National Park Service. Check the NPS hours page for next season's opening date.
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
A hunter, Elijah Davidson, is credited with finding the cave in the fall of 1874. President Taft made it a 480-acre national monument on July 12, 1909, and Congress added the surrounding preserve in December 2014. Entry to the monument is free. You pay only for a tour.
The parking lot is 20 miles from Cave Junction, and the drive takes about 50 minutes. The last 8 miles are narrow, steep, and full of blind curves, and deer are common. The park discourages large RVs and trailers past Grayback Campground (more on Grayback). It also warns against trusting GPS from the east: map apps can route you through Williams onto gravel roads. From the lot it is a 900-foot walk to the visitor center.
Cave tours
The standard tour is the Discovery Cave Tour: about 90 minutes with a ranger, 15 people at most, and more than 520 steps. Many are steep and uneven, and some have no handrail. In 2026 it ran from March 21 to November 1. The park also offers a Candlelight tour (ages 10 and up) in summer, a Kids and Family tour from late June to early September, and a 3-hour Off-Trail Caving tour for ages 15 and up that involves crawling on your belly.
In 2026, the Discovery tour cost $20 for adults and $15 for ages 15 and under. Senior and Access Pass holders get half off their own ticket. Tour and camping fees are card only.
Tickets. A limited number of tours can be reserved on Recreation.gov. Same-day tickets are usually sold first come, first served at the park's visitor centers, and your whole party has to be there. 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. Bring a photo ID and any pass you're using.
Height and fitness rules. Children must be at least 42 inches tall, and nobody can be carried through the cave. Before the tour, everyone is asked to crouch to 45 inches and walk a few steps, because one stretch of passage has a ceiling that low. If you can't, you may be offered a short visit as far as Watson's Grotto. The park advises against the tour for anyone with heart or breathing problems, poor balance, or trouble with stairs.
What to wear and leave behind. The cave stays at 44°F, so bring a warm layer and sturdy closed shoes. Sandals and flip-flops aren't allowed. Leave flashlights, backpacks, purses, walking sticks, tripods, food, and gum in the car. To keep white-nose syndrome away from the cave's bats, don't wear clothes or shoes that have been in another cave or mine.
The Chateau
The six-story Oregon Caves Chateau opened in 1934 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987. It has been closed for repairs since 2018. In 2026, the NPS said the Chateau, its café, and its dining room remain closed until further notice. There is no lodging or restaurant at the caves, so pack food and water.
Surface trails
The trails are free and start near the visitor center or the Chateau parking lot. Distances are from the NPS.
- Cliff Nature Trail: 1 mile from the visitor center, or 0.7 mile from the cave exit, over marble outcrops with views down to the Illinois Valley.
- Old Growth Trail: a gentle 1-mile loop through big trees.
- No Name Trail: 1.3 miles, short but steep, past mossy cliffs and small waterfalls.
- Big Tree Trail: a 3.3-mile loop with 1,125 feet of climbing. The NPS calls the tree at the top one of the largest Douglas firs in Oregon.
- Cave Creek Trail: 3.6 miles round trip, down through forest to Cave Creek Campground and back up.
- Bigelow Lakes and Mount Elijah loop: 9.2 miles and 2,390 feet of climbing, a full day for experienced hikers. See Lakes and Mountains.
Cave Creek Campground
Cave Creek Campground is a small park campground along Cave Creek, about 15 miles up Highway 46 from Cave Junction and about 4 miles below the cave. Each site takes up to 2 tents and 2 vehicles. Sites are small, with no pull-throughs, so large RVs and trailers won't fit. There are vault toilets and drinking water, but don't use the taps to wash dishes or clean fish. Expect no cell service.
In 2026 the campground opened May 22 and stayed open until the first fall rains. Sites cost $20 a night, or $10 with a Senior or Access Pass. You can reserve on Recreation.gov, or pay at a park visitor center for a same-day site. Want more camping on this road? Try Grayback, lower down.
On the map: Oregon Caves and the Caves Highway
- Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve: A marble cave in the Siskiyous, seen only on ranger-led tours with over 520 steps and a 42-inch height minimum.
- Grayback Campground: A 39-site first-come campground on Sucker Creek, 12 miles up the Caves Highway, with drinking water.
- Cave Creek Campground: A small park campground on Cave Creek, about 4 miles below the cave.