Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve

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Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve This is the official page of Oregon Caves National Monument.
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“The stalagmite and stalactite formations of this cave surpass anything ever dreamed of … nothing I ever beheld in Nature before so completely overcame me with suggestions of sublimity and beauty.” —William Fidler 1877 on his first trip to the cave.

Join us this Saturday, October 10th from 8:00-9:30 pm for an exciting, family-friendly nighttime adventure and learn abo...
10/05/2026

Join us this Saturday, October 10th from 8:00-9:30 pm for an exciting, family-friendly nighttime adventure and learn about light that you see at night! This one-mile ranger-led hike along the Old Growth Trail will explore hands-on demonstrations of different types of light, including UV fluorescence. 🦂

Be sure to bring warm layers, sturdy shoes, water, and a headlamp or flashlight, with red lights preferred.

This is our last night sky event of the season. We hope to see you there!

Quick, head over to https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/251610/ticket/10253727 and book your Haunted Tour at Oregon Caves!...
10/01/2026

Quick, head over to https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/251610/ticket/10253727 and book your Haunted Tour at Oregon Caves! Offered for the first time since 2018, these candlelight tours are available Saturday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 31, with nine tours each day. Tours are open to visitors ages 10 and older and cost $20 per person.

Led by park rangers, the candlelight tours introduce visitors to the cave’s nocturnal world and some of the lesser-known stories from Oregon’s past. Along the way, visitors may encounter bats and spiders and explore dark passages by candlelight - but there are no jump scares.

09/26/2026

🚨New species alert!🚨For the first time ever, a North American River Otter 🦦 (Lontra canadensis) has been documented at Oregon Caves! This footage was captured by a visitor in August and sent to park staff, perfectly exemplifying how vital citizen science can be to natural resource management.

A finding like this sparks many scientific questions, are local river otter populations expanding their range? Why might that be? What kind of potential ecosystem impacts, both positive and negative, could the presence of river otters have at the park? The resource management team at Oregon Caves will continue to monitor the streams, search for signs of otters, and determine if any changes in management are recommended to adapt for the presence of otters.

When exploring the outdoors, be curious and record your observations, you never know what new discoveries you might be witnessing and how easy it can be to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge!

September 13th, 2026, marks the first International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK), the United Nation's newest holiday! B...
09/14/2026

September 13th, 2026, marks the first International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK), the United Nation's newest holiday!

But why celebrate caves?

Caves and karst landscapes provide water to more than a billion people, supporting communities all around the world. These spaces are home to endangered critters ranging from tiny flatworms to massive colonies of bats. 🦇 On top of that, nearly 25% of the Earth's land surface is covered by karst, including the Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve!

Interested in supporting caves and karst in your community?

The easiest way to get involved is by visiting nearby caves, including Oregon Caves! Another way to help is to tell your friends- the more our communities know about caves, the easier it is to preserve their splendor.

Please join us at Oregon Caves for a ranger-led night sky talk on September 12th at 8pm! (weather permitting) We will be...
09/04/2026

Please join us at Oregon Caves for a ranger-led night sky talk on September 12th at 8pm! (weather permitting) We will be meeting in the parking lot to learn about the different nocturnal animals that call Oregon Caves home. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring a camp chair, and use a red-light headlamp if you have one.

Alert!!! Tonight's bat program has been cancelled due to weather. The colder rainy weather is not conducive to a success...
08/28/2026

Alert!!! Tonight's bat program has been cancelled due to weather. The colder rainy weather is not conducive to a successful bat capture and program. We are truly sorry for any inconvenience.
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Event reminder! Join us at Oregon Caves on August 30 and September 13 to learn about the many kinds of bats that call this park home. You'll see our experts capture and study a variety of bat species as well! There will be a short presentation outlining bat facts and the work we do at the caves.

The public events will last from around 6:30pm to 10pm, though bat capture may go on until midnight. Be sure to dress for cool weather, and we're excited to see you there!

Today is a very special day as we continue our celebration of National Park Week. Today is the 110th birthday of the Nat...
08/26/2026

Today is a very special day as we continue our celebration of National Park Week. Today is the 110th birthday of the National Park Service! For over a century, the NPS has been protecting and preserving our amazing public lands for all to enjoy. Since National Park sites are always 10 out of 10 experiences, below we have highlighted a list of 10 things to do at Oregon Caves.

1. Go on a guided tour of the cave.
2. Take a hike!
3. Explore the Blind Leads.
4. Look for wildlife.
5. Admire the wildflowers.
6. Check out the historic buildings.
7. Listen to the peaceful sounds of Cave Creek and the River Styx.
8. Have a picnic.
9. Watch the sunset from the top of the Cliff Nature Trail.
10. Go stargazing.

Happy America in Motion Monday! What’s your favorite way to explore our national parks? At Oregon Caves, visitors have t...
08/24/2026

Happy America in Motion Monday! What’s your favorite way to explore our national parks? At Oregon Caves, visitors have the unique opportunity to join our off-trail caving tour and receive a rugged, guided experience of rarely seen sections of the cave. Whether on the off-trail or discovery tour, or hiking one of our six scenic trails, we encourage you to stay active and experience everything our national parks have to offer!

Safety Sunday at Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve 🦇✨104°F on the valley floor… 44°F underground!When summer hea...
08/23/2026

Safety Sunday at Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve 🦇✨

104°F on the valley floor… 44°F underground!
When summer heat hits Cave Junction, there’s no cooler escape than exploring Oregon’s marble halls. Whether you're celebrating an NPS 250th event, vacationing with family, or simply wandering for the day, let the cave be your refuge—and let safety guide your adventure.

Above Ground: Stay Ready for the Heat
• Prepare for hot temps! Surface temperatures in summer and early fall often climb into the high 80s and low 90s—bring water, sun protection, and warm‑weather layers!
• Expect varied terrain. Trails can be steep, uneven, and exposed, so move with care and stay on designated routes.
• Plan ahead. Cell service is limited, so let someone know your itinerary and check conditions before you arrive.

Below Ground: Embrace the Cool Cave
• Layer up! Even when it’s blazing outside, the cave stays a crisp 44°F year‑round—bring cozy layers to stay comfortable!
• Watch your footing. Narrow passages, slick surfaces, and low ceilings mean slow and steady is the best way to explore.
• Respect wildlife. Give bats and cave creatures plenty of space and help protect delicate cave formations.

And our most important safety tip: Follow Ranger Guidance!

Rangers are here to help you explore responsibly and get the most out of your visit. No matter how you celebrate, recreating responsibly keeps Oregon Caves safe for everyone—and protects this remarkable part of the Siskiyou mountains for generations to come.

Photo credits I. Ekblom

Address

19000 Caves Highway
Cave Junction, OR
97523

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15415925125

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