Oregon Caves National Monument

Oregon Caves National Monument is a protected park centered around the Oregon Caves system set inside in the Siskiyou National Forest in Southern Oregon. The preserve encompasses over 4,500 protected acres of land, with the monument itself composed of about 480 acres containing several hiking trails, lodging, a visitor center, and a marble cave system open for visitors to view on guided tours.

While the first-known visit to the cave occurred in 1874, since that time the caves have endured attempted efforts to market it as a tourism destination before receiving protection under the Antiquities Act. Since receiving National Monument status in 1909 under the Taft presidency, the Oregon Caves have gone through a mix of public and private preservation and development, leading to the current state of a large rustic lodge being constructed on the site.

The primary attraction at the monument is the marble caves complex, which can be viewed via a variety of park-offered tours. These include the Discovery Cave Tour, along with a Candlelight Cave Tour and Off-Trail Cave Tour. Aside from the caves, hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels travel throughout the park, including:

• Cliff Nature Trail (1.1 mi)
• Old Growth Trail (1.2 mi)
• Big Tree Trail (4 mi)
• No Name Trail (1.5 mi)
• Cave Creek Trail (3.6 mi)
• Bigelow Lakes + Mt. Elijah Loop Trail (9.2 mi)

Set at an elevation of 4,000 feet, the park and its outdoor trails and visitor center are open year round, however, cave tours and other features remain closed during the winter, when snow can cover the area. The park has a historical chateau open seasonally that serves food and snacks, and the visitor center has large interpretive exhibits along with a gift shop staffed by park rangers.

Oregon Caves National Monument is about an hour's drive from the nearest town of Cave Junction. The Illinois Valley Visitor Center is located in Cave Junction, and can answer questions and sell tickets for Cave Tours at the park.

The nearest camping is at the small Cave Creek Campground located within the preserve.

Additional information can be found on the National Parks Service website. As of 2019, the chateau is closed for renovations, and there are currently no food or lodging options at the park.