Candlelight Cave Tour

Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve Tours

Experience Oregon Caves lit only by the flicker of lanterns on this adventurous ranger-guided cave tour! Discover what early explorers of the cave might have experienced as they traveled through the dark passages of the cave. Hear stories of early exploration and marvel at the caves geology by the glow of your lantern. This tour is limited to 10 people and children must be a minimum of 10 years of age and be accompanied by an adult for this tour. Available all season as the last tour of the day. Call ahead or stop by the Illinois Valley Visitor Center in Cave Junction for same-day availability.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• NOTICE:

  Tour schedules are subject to change at a moment’s notice. Weather, power-outages, and staff illness could cause tour cancellations or closures. Alerts during these unforeseen circumstances will be sent via text and email at our earliest ability. Refunds may not be approved in these circumstances.

• Cave Entry:

  The Oregon Caves are not accessible without a guided tour. Advanced reservations are highly recommended. Limited same-day tickets are available for purchase first-come, first served at both of our visitor center locations.

• 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 for a safety message. Late arrival can result in denied cave entry. Allow 60 minutes drive time from Cave Junction to the Monument. NO REFUNDS for late arrivals. Parking lot check-in DOES NOT meet our reservation check-in requirements.

• 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. Car sickness is a common occurrence.

  Please, 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. Western travelers are promised an earlier arrival time than safely possible.

  Maintain your lane. We understand the route is narrow and mountainous, but for your safety and everyone else traveling Hwy. 46, please, maintain your lane at all times.

• Children's Age Requirement:

  Children must be at least 10 years of age and must be accompanied by an adult age 16 or older. NO REFUNDS for children reserved under age, or the adult that must remain with them.

• What to wear:

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

• 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!

• Prohibited in the Cave:

  • Bags (including camera bags & purses)

  • Food, drinks, gum or candy 

  • Flashlights/headlamps

  • Walking sticks 

  • Tripods or monopods 

  • Pets 

  • Tobacco or vaping products 

  Limited lockers are available at the visitor center for a refunded 0.25 cent fee.

• 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.

• Inter-Agency Senior or Access Pass:

  Visitors with America the Beautiful Senior or Access passes need to bring their card & photo ID to the counter at check in. Discount only applies to the pass holder.

• Inter-Agency Pass Holder Discounts:

  Visitors with America the Beautiful Senior and America the Beautiful Access passes must apply their pass information to their reservation as well as bring both the physical pass and pass holder photo identification to the counter at check-in. 

  Tour discounts only apply to the pass holder, per pass. Misapplied discounts will be charged at the check-in counter.

  America the Beautiful Annual, Military, Every Kid Outdoor, and Volunteer passes do not apply to expanded amenity fees, such as tours. 

• Accessibility:

  Only the first room of the cave is wheelchair accessible. For safety reasons service animals are discouraged 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 Fuel or Lodging:

  The historic Oregon Caves Chateau is closed for repairs and rehabilitation. Fuel up in Cave Junction. Pack a lunch or eat before you come. Ask our staff for local camping or lodging. 

• Camping:

  Cave Creek Campground is open for tent camping Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Sites are first-come, first-served and cost $10.00 per night. Sites cannot accommodate RVs or Travel Trailers.

• Pets in the park:

  Please, there is little shade in the parking lot. If you have a pet be prepared! Pets must be on a leash and stay on paved roads when not in a vehicle. Pets are prohibited on trails, inside the cave, and in park facilities. Pets may be left unattended in vehicles, however, please be aware that if pets display signs of distress due to conditions such as hot weather, owners may be cited for endangering an animal. Whenever possible, please leave your pets at home, or look into nearby boarding options. 

• Service Animals:

  Service animals are welcome in the visitor center and other areas where pets are traditionally prohibited. For safety reasons, service animals discouraged in the cave. This is for the safety of the handler, the animal, and other people on the tour. Guide Dogs for the Blind, Portland Campus, advised not to allow service animals into the cave because the animals become nervous or disoriented. Contact us and we will work with you to make the cave a safe, accessible, and enjoyable experience for everyone. For more information on service animals, please visit our accessibility page: https://www.nps.gov/orca/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm

Photo Gallery