The Oregon Caves

Jacob and  spent this last weekend on a little vacation in Southern Oregon so we stopped to see the Oregon Caves.  I’ve been a fan of caves since I was a little girl and visited  Ape Cave, but I’ve never had the chance to visit this National Monument in Southern Oregon.  And there is a good reason… it is a long drive to get there!  From Grants Pass, it’s nearly  2 hour drive southwest.  One hour of which is on a slow winding road.  But.  I’d say it’s worth it if you can spare the time.

The only way to see this cave is on a 90 minute tour.  The passages inside are paved and lighted, so you don’t need any special equipment beyond a sweatshirt (it’s 44 degrees F inside). We made in there around 11am and only had to wait for about 20 minutes for a tour, which is $8.50 per adult.  Now, it may be paved, but that does not mean it’s easy. There are over 500 steep stairs to climb and a lot of ducking low ceilings. Not a good place for small children, but I think school age kids would LOVE this.  I know I would have.

 

I’m not going to go into too many details of the actual tour.  I’m sure I’ll get lots of the info wrong, but it’s pretty fun.  The guide explains how the cave is formed, how cave eco systems work, the history of the cave and shows off some of the unique geological features.  It’s really informative without being too long winded.  Lots of short stops that give you plenty of time to take photos.

Two thumbs up from me for this attraction.  If you have the time and you are in the neighborhood (this is on one of the routes to the Redwoods) give it a shot.  I had a smile on my face the entire time.  I bet you will too.

OREGON CAVES NATIONAL MONUMENT
SOUTHERN OREGON OFF OF OR-99 BETWEEN GRANTS PASS & CRESCENT CITY, CA
SEE WEBSITE FOR HOURS AND TOUR DETAILS