Oregon Caves

If I didn’t have it in my head to go to all 392 National Park Service sites we probably would not have gone to Oregon Caves National Monument Friday (#211).

This obscure park is not easy to get to; sitting 20 miles up a narrow, twisting mountain road south of the town of Cave Junction, Oregon; which itself sits on a road that is only slightly wider and slightly less twisting that connects Grants Pass, Oregon with Crescent City, California.

However, there is a lot to be said about this hidden gem and we are glad we made the effort to visit this park.

On Friday we drove to Cave Junction and settled into an RV Park on the outskirts of Cave Junction. The RV Park would be a perfect spot for Charlie Manson to retire; if he ever gets released from prison. Actually, other than the occasional gunshots in the woods, it was very quiet and peaceful.

We had a great cave tour from an enthusiastic young ranger from Tennessee who was very interested in caves. It was his last tour of the season.

Oregon Caves is a pristine, limestone cave – some of it marbleized - that is atypical of most Oregon’s volcanic-inspired caverns.