Discovery Tour

Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve Tours

There will be no advanced reservations available 2021. All tickets will be first come, first served when operations resume, purchased at the Illinois Valley Visitor Center located in Cave Junction at 201 Caves Hwy. 

Same day tickets are available for purchase at the Illinois Valley visitor center in Cave Junction or at the monument. Purchase tickets in Cave Junction to avoild long waits in Summer months. 

Explore and discover the marble halls of Oregon on this guided tour with a ranger of one of the most geologically complex and interesting caves in the country where you can discover the fascinating geology of the Siskiyou mountains from the inside out. You will also learn about ice-age fossils found in the cave, cave life found within the cave that are found nowhere else, and more. Children must be at least 42 inches in height and accompanied by an adult to participate. Children cannot be carried and there are no childcare sevices avialable. This tour is available all season, from late March through early November.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• Drive Time and Directions

  The drive from Cave Junction to the Oregon Caves takes a minimum of 60 minutes. The last several miles are narrow, steep, and winding. Large RV's and Travel Trailers are not recommended. Vehicles over 46' are prohibited. Carsickness is a real possibility. 

  DO NOT trust Google Map, GPS devices and similar applications - from the east these direct you through Williams Oregon and over a confusing route on mountainous gravel roads.

• Claiming Tour Tickets:

  All Ticket holders must check-in at the Oregon Caves visitor center desk no less than 30 minutes prior to the reserved tour time. Allow at least 60 minutes' drive time from Cave Junction to the Monument. NO REFUNDS for late arrivals. Parking lot check-in DOES NOT meet reservation check-in requirements.

• Age Requirement:

  Children must be a minimum height of 42 inches (107 cm) and accompanied by an adult to participate. Child care is not available. NO REFUNDS for children reserved that measure under 42 inches, or the adult that must remain with them.

• Be Prepared:

  The average cave temperature is 44 degrees (7 Celsius) year-round. Bring warm clothing and close toed shoes with good traction.

• Prohibited in Cave:

  Bags (including purses), food, drinks, gum, candy, flashlights, walking sticks, tripods, selfie sticks, pets, and tobacco products. Lockers are available at the visitor center.

• Protect the Bats:

  Do not wear clothes, shoes or other items worn or carried in another cave or mine. White-nose Syndrome is a fungus that kills 90-95% of bats it encounters. The fungus spreads with spores carried on clothes and other items. Washing detergents do not kill the spores. Wear nothing worn in another cave or mine!

• Health Warning:

  Visitors with known heart or respiratory problems, poor circulation or difficulty walking long distances and negotiating stairs, should carefully consider their limitations. Evacuation from the cave to a hospital for medical attention could take several hours.

  The Cave is very narrow in some areas and not recommended for those with extreme claustrophobia.

• Accessibility:

  Only the first room of the cave is wheelchair accessible. For safety reasons service animals are not allowed along most of the cave route, though at the owners discretion may be used to access the first room of the cave. With advanced notice, a ranger can be assigned to personally assist persons with sight impairments through the cave. Please see health warning. (For more information: www.nps.gov/orca/planyouvisit/accesibility)

• No Food or Lodging:

  The historic Oregon Caves Chateau is temporarily closed in 2020 for repairs and rehabilitation throughout the 2020 season. Pack a lunch or eat before you come.

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