Oregon Caves National Monument

Built in 1924, this visitor center is adjacent to the Chateau and offers exhibits about the cave and items for sale. Cave tour reservations must be made at the desk, and cave tours start from the visitor center.

The center provides information about the area, including up to the moment cave tour information at the Oregon Caves National Monument. Same day tickets for cave tours are available at the center Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Afternoon wait times can be long in the summer. Buying tickets before driving to the park can save a lot of time and hassle. (Reservations can be bought up to one day in advance of the day of visit on Recreation.gov.)

This 90-minute tour traverses a half mile (1 km) of the cave and is moderately strenuous. The cave is well-developed, but visitors will need to climb 500 stairs and stoop in some areas. Sights on the tour include numerous decorated caverns, an underground river, and items of historical interest.

Offered on Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30PM from Memorial Day through Labor Day, this tour covers the same route as the general cave tour but the cave lights are turned off and each visitor carries a lantern in order to experience the cave in the same way as early visitors saw it. In addition to the height restriction, participants must be age 12 or over.

Off-trail tours are only offered between June and September and must be reserved in advance, with space limited to 8 per tour. See the Oregon Caves information page to make a reservation. The three-hour off-trail tour provides an introduction to caving and visits areas not seen on the general cave tour. Visitors will have to scramble over boulders, squeeze through tight spaces, and will have only a headlamp for illumination. All equipment is provided by the park service.

Only offered around Halloween, these special candlelight tours focus on some of the creepier local history of the caves. Cameras are not allowed, but costumes may be worn as long as there is no danger of fabric or other materials being left behind in the cave.

(1 mile, 1.6 km loop) This trail starts at the visitor center and leads up to a view of the Illinois Valley, gaining 371 feet (113 m) of elevation in the process. For those who take the cave tour, the exit trail from the cave provides the opportunity to hike a portion of this trail that includes the best views.

(1.3 mile, 2.1 km loop) This trail leads from the lower parking lot along No Name Creek and Cave Creek, through the forest and up to the visitor center - consider asking a ranger for directions to the nearest trail access point as there are several ways to get to this trail. The "dead end" paths along the trail lead to small waterfalls. The total elevation change during the trail is 268 feet (82 m).