National park · United States
Oregon Caves National MonumentOregon Caves National Monument & Preserve
Book the 90-minute cave tour before you drive: same-day slots sell out and summer waits hit 2 hours between 11:00 and 15:00. Add the 1.6 km Cliff Nature Trail for the valley view, and skip the cave entirely November to mid-March, when tours stop for hibernating bats.Book the 90-minute cave tour before you drive: same-day slots sell out and summer waits hit 2 hours between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Add the 1.6 km Cliff Nature Trail for the valley view, and skip the cave entirely November to mid-March, when tours stop for hibernating bats.Book the 90-minute cave tour before you drive: same-day slots sell out and summer waits hit 2 hours between 11:00 and 15:00. Add the 1 mi Cliff Nature Trail for the valley view, and skip the cave entirely November to mid-March, when tours stop for hibernating bats.Book the 90-minute cave tour before you drive: same-day slots sell out and summer waits hit 2 hours between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Add the 1 mi Cliff Nature Trail for the valley view, and skip the cave entirely November to mid-March, when tours stop for hibernating bats.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
18 km²7 sq mi
approximate
Established
1909
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 18 km²7 sq mi
- 4,558 acres (18.4 km²) per the monument's designation; the 2014 expansion added the Preserve around it (check).
- Established
- 1909
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Oregon Caves protects a 5 km marble cave inside the Siskiyou Mountains, plus old-growth forest above it. The cave is the reason to come and the only part you must book; the trails, the 1934 Chateau and the Big Tree are what you do around the tour. It sits 32 km east of Cave Junction on a mountain road that is slow in a big vehicle, so plan the drive, not just the ticket.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1909.
Size and age
18 km²7 sq mi · national park since 1909
4,558 acres (18.4 km²) per the monument's designation; the 2014 expansion added the Preserve around it (check).
Why go
- A rare marble cave: most US show caves are limestone, this one was dissolved out of marble.
- The 90-minute tour covers 0.8 km of cave, 500 stairs and an underground river.The 90-minute tour covers 0.5 mi of cave, 500 stairs and an underground river.
- Above ground, old-growth Douglas fir including the widest-girthed one in Oregon.
- The Chateau, a 1934 lodge built across a gorge, is on the National Register.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanCave tours closed; snow and possible road closures
- FebCave tours closed; chains may be required
- MarTours resume mid-month; snow lingering
- AprQuiet; wet trails, cool cave
- MayTours daily; wildflowers; Chateau opens
- JunLong days; off-trail tours start
- JulWarmest and busiest; book ahead
- AugBusy; afternoon waits longest
- SepDry, quieter, off-trail tours still running
- OctFall colour; rain returns
- NovCave tours stop; wettest stretch begins
- DecCave tours closed; snow
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bats inside the cave (8 species)Apr–Oct · Tours stop November to mid-March so hibernating bats are not disturbed. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Black-tailed deer and Townsend's chipmunkApr–Oct · Common along the trails and around the parking area. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Black bear and cougarMay–Sep · Present but rarely seen; store food properly. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Pacific giant salamanderApr–Jun, Oct · In damp forest near streams after rain. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Cave Junction
Drive Oregon Route 46 east; winding, and trailers and RVs are not advised beyond milepost 12.
45 min
From Medford
I-5 to Grants Pass or Cave Junction, then Route 46.
2–2.5 h
From Crater Lake
South on US-199 and Route 46 via Cave Junction.
3–3.5 h
From Southern Oregon plan
Where the caves fit with the coast, Ashland and the Rogue Valley.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Cave interior | The marble passages, decorated rooms and the underground river. | Guided tours only; no backpacks, food, drink, gum, tobacco, canes, flashlights or tripods. |
| Visitor centre and Chateau area | Chalet Visitor Center, tour departures, the 1934 Chateau and its dining room. | Open to all; about 400 m up a paved road from the lower lot. |
| Forest trails | Cliff Nature Trail, No Name Trail, Big Tree Trail and the ridge routes. | Open; no ticket needed. |
| Mount Elijah and Bigelow Lakes | High meadows and the monument's high point, with Mount Shasta views on clear days. | Open; snow until early summer. |
Sketch map
- 1Cave Junction · Town≈42.163, -123.647Map ↗
- 2Illinois Valley Visitor Center · Headquarters≈42.162, -123.645Map ↗
- 3Lower parking lot · Gate≈42.097, -123.406Map ↗
- 4Chalet Visitor Center · Headquarters≈42.098, -123.407Map ↗
- 5The Chateau · Sleep≈42.098, -123.408Map ↗
- 6Cave entrance · Cave≈42.097, -123.406Map ↗
- 7Mount Elijah · Summit≈42.110, -123.370Approximate.Map ↗
- 8Cave Creek Campground · Sleep≈42.118, -123.433Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| General cave tour, adult | US$10 | person | 2026 estimate; children 15 and under about $7 (check). |
| Candlelight cave tour | US$10 | person | Fridays and Saturdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day, age 12+ (check). |
| Off-trail cave tour | US$45 | person | June–September, age 15+, 8 people per tour, reserve ahead (check). |
| Monument entrance | Free | vehicle | No separate gate fee; you pay for the cave tour. America the Beautiful passes cover federal entrance fees, not this tour. |
| Cave Creek Campground | US$10 | site per night | Forest service site just outside the boundary; 2026 estimate (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Cave tour reservation permit or guide
Off-trail tour permit or guide
Backcountry camping permit or guide
Park rules
- What you cannot carry into the cave
- Backpacks, food, drinks, gum, tobacco, canes, flashlights and tripods are not allowed; leave them in the car.
- Height and age limits
- Under 107 cm (42 in) not allowed on any cave tour; candlelight tours are age 12+ and off-trail tours age 15+.
- Payment
- Card readers have failed here before; carry cash for same-day tour tickets (check).
- Camping
- No camping inside the monument; use Cave Creek or Grayback campgrounds on the park road, or designated forest land outside the boundary.
- Winter road
- Chains may be required on the park highway and the road can close temporarily during storms.
Where to stay
In the park
The Chateau at the Oregon Caves
Historic 1934 lodge next to the visitor centre, about 23 rooms, open roughly May–September; check current renovation status before booking.
Near the park
Cave Creek Campground
Primitive forest service site at about milepost 16, tents and small trailers only, first-come first-served, late May to end September.
Near the park
Grayback Campground
39 first-come sites about 13 km from the caves, running water, RVs to about 11 m, late May to mid-September.39 first-come sites about 8.1 mi from the caves, running water, RVs to about 11 m, late May to mid-September.
Near the park
Cave Junction
Motels and rentals 32 km west, the practical base if the Chateau is full or closed.Motels and rentals 20 mi west, the practical base if the Chateau is full or closed.
Safety
Steep, wet, low cave passages medium
Winding mountain road medium
Summer afternoon waits low
Winter closures medium
Accessibility
- The visitor centre, Chateau and the paved path from the lower parking lot are step-free but uphill.
- Cave tours involve stairs, uneven ground and low ceilings and are not wheelchair accessible.
- Trail surfaces are dirt and rock; the No Name and Cliff trails have roots and short steep sections.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on trail above ground; the forest and cave soils are easily damaged.
- Do not bring food or drink into the cave, and never touch or break formations.
- Keep quiet and keep lights off bats; the winter tour closure exists to protect them.
- Pack out everything from the trails; there is no rubbish collection on the ridge routes.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Oregon Caves National Monument?
There is no entrance fee for the monument itself. You pay for the cave tour: about $10 per adult and $7 for children 15 and under for the 90-minute general tour, with the candlelight tour at a similar price and the off-trail tour around $45. Prices are 2026 estimates; confirm on Recreation.gov when you book.
What are the best hikes in Oregon Caves National Monument?
For a short walk, the Cliff Nature Trail (1.6 km loop, 113 m of climb) gives the best valley view and links to the cave exit. The No Name Trail (2.1 km) is the easiest, from the lower lot. The Big Tree Trail (5.3 km, 343 m) reaches Oregon's widest Douglas fir, and the Bigelow Lakes – Mount Elijah loop (14.8 km, 728 m) is the serious half-day option.
When is the best time to visit Oregon Caves National Monument?
Late May, June and September: cave tours run daily, the Chateau is open, the off-trail tours operate in summer, and the trails are mostly dry. July and August are the busiest, with waits up to two hours between 11:00 and 15:00. Cave tours do not run from November to mid-March, and the park road can close in winter storms.
Do I need a reservation for the cave tour?
Yes in practice. Tours are first-come, first-served, but summer slots fill and same-day tickets can be bought on Recreation.gov up to a day ahead, at the Chalet Visitor Center desk, or at the Illinois Valley Visitor Center in Cave Junction from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
Can children go on the cave tour?
Children under 107 cm (42 in) tall are not allowed on any cave tour. The candlelight tour is age 12 and over, and the off-trail tour is age 15 and over.
Can I camp inside the monument?
No. Camping is not allowed inside the monument. Cave Creek and Grayback campgrounds sit on the park road just outside the boundary, both first-come first-served and open late May to September; backcountry camping is allowed only in designated Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest areas.
What should I wear for the cave?
The cave stays around 7°C all year, so bring a jacket even in July. Wear shoes with grip for 500 stairs and some stooping, and leave backpacks, food, drinks, gum, canes, flashlights and tripods behind.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go