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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

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.

06/07/2026

On this last day of , we'd like to highlight the integral role that water plays in shaping our cave.

Oregon Caves is one of only three marble caves protected by the National Park Service. Caves like these often form from water flowing below the surface and dissolving away the rock under our feet, becoming what is known as a solution cave. Today, water can be seen dripping from the ceiling and flowing through the cave as the River Styx. It will eventually leave the cave and continue to flow down the mountain where it will eventually meet the Illinois River.

Water doesn’t just erode the rock in our cave. It also transports and deposits the mineral calcite to form the many beautiful formations you may see on a tour through Oregon Caves, from the chandelier-like draperies and stalactites hanging from the ceiling to the flowstone and stalagmites following the path at your feet. Hydrology is how it all happens and is the scientific study of how water forms many of the landscapes on our planet, from the valleys above to the caves below.

Happy caving!

NPS photo #1 by John Roth
NPS photos #2 and #3 by Sarah M.

06/05/2026

Make no bones about it, caves are excellent environments for the preservation of fossils! Their stable temperature and humidity can preserve fossils for thousands or even millions of years! Cave fossils include plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, or trace fossils that display an organism’s activity, rather than its remains. Fossils can become exposed over time from cave-forming processes or are found by exploring cave openings, sinkholes, and tubes. Animals may use caves for shelter or feeding, but those who don’t make it out become entombed and safeguarded until we discover them or the cave is ready to reveal its paleontological treasures!

Many fossils have been found in Oregon Caves, including at least 50,000-year-old grizzly bear bones and 38,000-year-old jaguar bones! The jaguar is one of the most complete specimens of its kind and the northernmost jaguar remains ever found. Paleontological research allows us to learn about species diversity and distribution in the park over time.

Both caves and fossils are fragile and irreplaceable resources that we want all visitors to enjoy; please make sure not to disturb or collect any fossils that you may find during your visit and contact a Park Ranger if you do find one.

Come visit and take a cave tour to learn more about the importance of caves and why it’s crucial we protect them. Happy Cave Week!

NPS photo of the jaguar jawbone found in Oregon Caves.

06/03/2026

Happy everyone! Today we wanted to highlight the amazing critters that call and have called our cave home. Animals that use caves can be classified into three groups based on their adaptations to and dependence on the cave environment; trogloxenes, troglophiles and troglobites!

🦇🐻 Trogloxenes or "Cave Guests" use caves temporarily for shelter, feeding, or breeding but depend on the surface for survival. In our Park the trogloxenes that you might see include camel crickets, Townsend's big eared bats, bushy tailed woodrats, and 3,000 years ago the black bear whose bones you can see on our on-trail tour!

🦎🐛 Troglophiles or "Cave Lovers" can live both inside and outside caves, which at Oregon caves include Pacific giant salamanders, Sabacon occidentalis harvestmen, bristletails, and centipedes

🕷🦂 Troglobites or "Cave Life" are exclusively adapted to cave life and cannot survive outside. Due to their advanced adaptations these animals are typically endemic, which means that they are only found in one particular location or have a very small habitat range. In our caves we have over 10 endemic critters, including the Onychirus oregonensis springtail, Taracus silvestrii harvestmen, Grylloblata oregonensis grylloblatid, and Pseudotyrannochthonius gracilis pseudoscorpion

If you see any of our amazing cave critters while at Oregon Caves remember to never disturb them, as we want to preserve them for all enjoy!

06/02/2026

Happy Cave Week, day 2! One of our favorite things about the Ghost Room-- besides its spoooooky atmosphere 👻-- is its incredible geologic diversity! The Ghost Room features all three major rock types: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic.

Sedimentary rock is formed when layers of sediment, or minerals dissolved in water, accumulate and harden over time. The limestone that eventually became Oregon Caves began as sedimentary rock formed in an ancient ocean millions of years ago 🌊. Today, sedimentary processes are still at work inside the cave: as mineral-rich water drips and flows through the passages, it deposits tiny amounts of calcite that gradually build cave formations such as soda straws and our famous Spitting Rock!

Igneous rock forms when magma or lava cools and solidifies 🌋. This type of rock can be referred to as an extrusion if it was formed by lava cooling at the surface, or as an intrusion if formed by magma cooling underground-- like the diorite intrusion visible in the Ghost Room ceiling! A common igneous rock in Oregon is basalt (fun fact: basalt is also found on the moon🌙).

Metamorphic rock forms the majority of our cave. This rock is created when another rock experiences so much heat and pressure (kind of like being put in a pressure cooker!) that it chemically transforms into a different substance. Our cave's marble walls began as limestone before being transformed by metamorphism 🪨.

P.S. Keep scrolling for a beautiful look at diorite up close!

06/01/2026

🦇🌎 Celebrate Cave Week with Us! 🌎🦇

Join us for Cave Week as we explore the fascinating world beneath our feet and discover the many ways caves help us understand and protect our public lands and natural resources.

Throughout the week, we'll highlight:
🦴 Cave Paleontology – uncovering clues about ancient life preserved in cave environments
🌿 Cave Ecology – exploring the unique plants, animals, and ecosystems that depend on caves
💧 Cave Hydrology – learning how water shapes caves and supports underground systems
🪨 Cave Geology – discovering the rock formations and geologic processes that create these remarkable landscapes

From preserving evidence of the past to supporting biodiversity and water resources, caves are valuable natural treasures worthy of stewardship and conservation.

Follow along all week to learn more about the science, history, and importance of caves!

05/29/2026

On this National Snail Day, we are excited to celebrate the snails that call Oregon Caves Monument and Preserve their home. 🐌🌱

Our Pacific sideband snails are the most common snail you will see in the park, especially if it's been raining. Just like the name implies, these snails have shells that lean to the side. Take a closer look and note the dark band that surrounds the swirl of the shell. 🌀
Although small, these tiny creatures remind us to take it slow and stay hydrated. 💧

Snail Facts!
🐌Snails help forests by decomposing decayed plant matter.
🐌Snails are an important food source for birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
🐌Pacific sidebands are only found on the west coast.
🐌On average, snails move about 0.5 - 0.7 inches per second.
🐌Snails can stay attached to surfaces even when they are completely upside down because of a combination of surface tension, sticky mucus, and a strong muscle called their foot that runs along the bottom of their body.

Have you seen a snail at Oregon Caves? Let us know in the comments!

Alt text: Four photographs of a Pacific sideband snail taken from the front, side, and back. One photograph features the snail clinging upside down on a rock. The snails have soft, grey and pink bodies, and a brown shell with a dark brown band that leans to the side.

NPS photos by Sarah M

05/26/2026

🏞️ Internship Opportunity - Deadline of June 14th 🏞️

Oregon Caves has 3 Scientists in Parks (SIP) positions open for the 2027 season available through the Scientists in Parks website!

Two Science & Natural Resource roles are available:
🏔️ Natural Resource Management Assistant 🏔️
🦇 Cave and Karst Assistant 🦇

We are looking for folks who are excited about working outside, passionate about caves and karst, and ready to wear multiple hats with opportunities to work in everything from hydrogeology to wildlife biology!

We also have an opening for an 🌟 Interpretive Assistant 🌟, who should have experience in science communication, public engagement, and enthusiastic about caves.

💻 Apply online at the links below by June 14th; we look forward to hearing from you!

Natural Resource Management Assistant: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/p/06e5e58a3d68-natural-resource-management-assistant-26-weeks-americorps

Cave and Karst Assistant: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/p/f363deadc0e6-cave-and-karst-assistant-26-weeks-americorps

Interpretive Assistant: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/p/b3fdb0727f71-interpretive-assistant-26-weeks-americorps

05/20/2026

We’re thrilled to announce that our candlelight tours will begin this weekend! Get ready to experience the park in an enchanting new light as we guide you through its history and stories, all illuminated by the warm glow of candles. Experience the park in a unique, beautiful glow as we guide you through its history and stories by candlelight. Whether you’re seeking a relaxing evening or a memorable adventure, these tours offer a wonderful opportunity to explore and connect. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing this magical experience together!

You can reserve your spot on this tour at Recreation.gov or stop into one of our visitor centers. For safety reasons, children must be 10 years or older to participate in the candlelight tour.

05/18/2026

🍄✨ Cave surprise! ✨🍄

At first glance, caves may appear inhospitable to life, but look closer and you can find it thriving. This mushroom, of the genus Mycena, found a perfect home in the cool, humid, dim light of the cave. Most Mycena are saprotrophic, meaning they feed on dead matter or waste. In addition to a comfortable habitat, this individual also found a nutritious meal in the dead tree root it’s growing out of!

This delicate flush of fungi appears only briefly each year on the same piece of decomposing wood deep within Oregon Caves — a tiny seasonal reminder that even in the darkest places, ecosystems are hard at work. 👀🌿

Next time you visit the cave, remember: there’s a whole hidden world growing in the shadows.

Photo credit: NPS/ Sarah M

05/15/2026

As temperatures start to warm up and you plan your next adventure at Oregon Caves, we want to remind visitors about how to share the preserve safely with one of our resident species, the black bear! Spring and early summer bring increased bear activity as black bears search for food, move through habitat and, in some areas, protect cubs. When visiting Oregon Caves remember these important tips to keep you and our bears safe!

🐻 Most encounters can be prevented! Visitors can reduce their risk of a black bear encounter by hiking in groups, avoiding hiking at night, dawn, or dusk, making noise while hiking, staying alert, and storing food correctly.

🐻 Bear safety protects people and bears; food-conditioned or habituated bears are more likely to approach people, damage property or require management action. Improper food storage puts both visitors and bears at risk, so do not allow bears to get human food and ensure you are picking up and packing up.

🐻 If you happen to encounter a bear never approach it, a photo or selfie is not worth a negative bear encounter! If it doesn't notice you stay calm and quietly back away, picking up any small children. Report the encounter to park staff as soon as it is safe to do so.

🐻 If a black bear sees you stay calm, speak in a calm voice, slowly wave your arms and back away slowly. Do not run away as it could provoke them into chasing you.

🐻 If a black bear approaches you stand your ground and make loud noises by yelling and clapping your hands.

We want you to enjoy Oregon Caves safely, so always be Bear Aware!

Photo by: NPS/ 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

Website

http://www.nps.gov/orca/index.htm

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