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Places, Earth |
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Throughout the country, state parks, historic sites, homes, buildings, museums, and similar institutions are struggling to continue operating. Because of general financial problems, many of these institutions are operating on a reduced schedule or in danger of closing. Some are being forced to sell off artifacts and property. Many will not weather these hard times without your help. Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep state parks open. It will be your loss. Public Service Announcement |
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| Back | Josephine County Main Page |
Oregon Caves National Monument
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2009 - 2012.|
Oregon Caves is unusual in that it is a marble cave. Limestone caves are common but here, the limestone was subjected to heat and pressure and metamorphosed into marble. Originally named Oregon Caves expecting to find more caves, additional caves were not found until recently. In the early days of cave tours, tunnels were blasted leavng the debris behind, air circulation was disrupted, formatins damaged. Recently debris was removed, formations have been repared as much as possible, and airlocks have stopped unnatural air circulation. Guided tours take visitors through the cave after buying tickets at the Visitor Center which also has a small museum space. The original opening is no longer used and the tour begins by entering on a bridge over a stream that exits the cave. The ninety minute tour winds through about a half mile of narrow passages and up and down about 500 steps and allows views of many beautiful formations. Formations include stalactites, stalagmites, straws, ribbons, columns, popcorn, and others. Animal life includes a fissile mammal, bats, spiders, and insects. In places, roots from trees far above emerge from the cave walls. Several hiking trails through old-growth forest can also be enjoyed at the monument. The widest girthed Douglas fir tree known to exist in Oregon can be seen at the monument. The Oregon Caves Chateau, AKA Oregon Caves Lodge, is a National Historic Landmark. Tours are considered moderately strenuous. For their safety, children must be 42 inches tall to go on the cave tour. Cave tours are seasonal and are offered late March through the end of November. There are no cave tours during the winter, see official web site for exact dates. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The Oregon Caves National Monument is always open to visitors. Occasionally in winter, snow can temporarily close park roads until they are plowed. The Visitor Center is closed for winter and Thanksgiving, see the official site for exact dates. The General Cave Tour leads through the cave on a path and stairs. Off-Trail Cave Tours - summers only, are an "Introduction to Caving" getting off the path and learning about caving techniques, etiquette, and conservation. Candle Light Cave Tours - summers only on weekends, the last tour of the day is conducted by candle light giving visitors a chance to see what early explorers of the cave might have seen as they went from room to room with only a candle. Bags (including camera bags), back packs, and similar objects are not allowed in the cave. Lockers are available Mailing address: 19000 Caves Hwy Cave Junction, OR 97523 Phone Oregon Caves Visitor Center (541) 592-2100 ext. 262 Illinois Valley Visitor Center (541) 592-4076 Fax (541) 592-3981 From I-5 Take exit 58 to merge onto NE 6th St/OR-99/Redwood Hwy Continue to follow Redwood Hwy (2.9 mi) Turn right at US-199 to Cave Junction (28.3 mi) Turn left on OR-46. Follow OR-46 for 20 miles to the Monument. From Crescent City, California Take a left at US-101 (3.8 mi) Take exit 794 to merge onto US-199 toward Grants Pass/I-5 (48.8 mi) Turn right at OR-46 Follow OR-46 for 20 miles to the Monument. The last 10 miles are narrow, steep and winding. Please drive no faster than 10 miles per hour while on the Monument. Travel trailers and large RVs are not recommended beyond Grayback campground (mile post 12) due to the winding road to the Monument. If you use GPS or get directions not provided by NPS, you will be given directions that use Forest Service roads from Williams, Oregon. This route is NOT recommended. |
The road to the caves.
 The historic Lodge or Chateau. |
 The historic Lodge or Chateau. |
The Visitor Center also has a small museum.
 Ferns. |
 Moss covered trees. |
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| Ferns, moss, and other vegitation along the path to the cave entrance. | |
Mossy rocks near cave entrance.
 Trees along the path to the entrance. |
 Vista along path to cave entrance. |
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| Cave entrance. | |
 The old entrance is no longer used. Note the horizontal bars allow bats to fly through. |
 Cave entrance. |
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These tree roots are penitrating from hundreds of feet above. | |
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| Tunnel. | |
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| This ledge was left by running water long ago. | |
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 Looking up. |
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 Going up the circular stair. |
 Going down the stairs. |
 Column. |
 Column. |
 Column. |
 Column. |
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| Paraadise Lost is a high chamber lined was formations created when water fell from a distance. | |
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 Igneous intrusion. |
 Igneous intrusion. |
Igneous intrusion.
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Column.
 This exit tunnel was blasted through. |
 Tunnel wall. |
 Cave spider. |
 Cave spiders |
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| Josephine County Main Page |
This page last updated: Sunday, 22-Feb-2009 00:10:22 EST
| Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
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This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ... | ||
 You can buy candles from my wife. |
 Or donations can be mailed to the address on the contact page. |
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This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson. Copyright © 2004 - 2012, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved. Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website. |
| This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com. |
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