The Oregon Caves
Explore the Oregon Caves
Take the unique tour through the Oregon Caves, a trek along an asphalt trail complete with low ceilings, narrow passages and an occasional tight squeeze. General cave tours with a forest ranger include a 90-minute discussion of geology, fossils, wildlife and bats within the caves and the watersheds and old-growth forests around them. In the summertime, visitors can sign up for off-trail cave tours, which introduce visitors to caving techniques, etiquette and conservation. Summertime candlelight cave tours offer a sense of how the caves must have appeared to the first explorers. For something spooky-special, come back in October for haunted candlelight tours.
Deer Creek Vineyards
Deer Creek Vineyards of Southern Oregon produces award winning, premium handcrafted wines, ensuring a unique, handcrafted touch in every bottle […]
Pietro’s Italian Restaurant
Classic Italian food with vegetarian and gluten free options.
Coffee Heaven
Enjoy an espresso beverage, juice or smoothie at Coffee Heaven.
Shady Acres Evergreen RV Park
Country Hills Resort – RV Park
In addition to RV sites, Country Hills Resort also offers cabins with full kitchens, TV, air conditioning, motel rooms and […]
Chateau at the Oregon Caves
Closed for restorations.
River Adventure Family Trips
Rabbit Lake Trail
The trail drops down through a heavily wooded ridge to a saddle before beginning to climb toward Little Grayback Peak. […]
Josephine Campground
A rustic setting above Josephine Creek and the Illinois River. 6 campsites with picnic tables, and fire pits No […]
Getting There
Directions
DO NOT trust Google Map, GPS devices, and similar applications – When traveling from I-5 these direct you through Williams Oregon, and over a confusing route on mountainous gravel roads.
Grants Pass from the I-5:
Take exit 58 to merge onto NE 6th St/OR-99/Redwood Hwy
Continue to follow Redwood Hwy (3 mi)
Turn right at US-199 toward Cave Junction (29 mi)
In Cave Junction, turn left onto OR-46; If time allows stop at Illinois Valley Visitor Center for current conditions and information.
Follow OR-46 for 20 miles to the monument parking lot.
(From Cave Junction, the drive and 900ft walk to the Visitor Center takes one hour.)
From Crescent City, California:
Drive north on US-101
Take exit 794 to merge onto US-199 toward Grants Pass/I-5
In Cave Junction, turn right onto OR-46; If time allows stop at the Illinois Valley Visitor Center for current conditions and information.
Follow OR-46 for 20 miles to the monument parking lot.
(From Cave Junction, the drive and 900ft walk to the Visitor Center takes one hour.)
From Brookings, Oregon:
Drive south on US-101
Turn left at CA-197
Turn left onto US-199 toward Grants Pass/I-5
In Cave Junction, turn right at OR-46; If time allowing stop at the Illinois Valley Visitor Center for current conditions and information;
Follow OR-46 for 20 miles to the Monument.
(From Cave Junction, the drive and 900ft walk to the Visitor Center takes one hour.)
OREGON CAVES NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Oregon Caves is one of only five national parks or monuments in Oregon. The 480-acre Oregon Caves National Monument, located in the Siskiyou Mountains at elevations from 3,800 to 5,460 feet, was created in 1909. Temperatures in the caves hover around 42 degrees Fahrenheit year round. The caves are home to one of the largest, most pristine, and most complete segment of old oceanic crust in Western America.
ILLINOIS VALLEY
Between Grants Pass and the Coast you’ll drive straight through the scenic Illinois Valley on the U.S 199–the Redwood Highway. The Valley’s top attraction is the Oregon Caves National Monument and high mountain lakes, wild rivers, aromatic firs, pines and cedars, and countless hiking trails surround the monument provide additional reasons to make this a “must-see” attraction. The Visitors Center on the Caves Highway (Route 46), near the intersection of Highway 199 can provide complete information on the area.
Wild Rivers & Ancient Forest Recreation Map
The Illinois Valley is home to the Oregon Caves National Monument and the Wild & Scenic Illinois River. Recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities abound in countless local parks, galleries and non-profit centers. The famous Redwood Highway–Highway 199 from Redwoods National Park in Crescent City to Grants Pass–runs right through the Illinois Valley wine country, river swimming holes and other delightful outdoor spots.
