Area Attractions

The Oregon Caves region is earmarked by unique botany, geology and pristine rivers. Several National Parks, Wilderness Areas and State Parks are located within a short drive of the Monument.

Note: time given next to each site below marks the approximate driving time from Oregon Caves.

Places to visit near the Oregon Caves

• National Parks and Monuments
• Wilderness Areas
• River Access
• Activities on the Coast
• High Peaks and Rolling Hills: Mountains
• Miscellaneous

National Parks and Monuments

Crater Lake National Park

Travel Time: about 3 ½ hours

The clearest lake in the world and the deepest in the nation has many trails to explore. Boat tours take you around the lake during the summer months. The lake has a large population of rainbow trout and kokanee salmon and there is no license necessary to fish for them. Most people intent upon fishing take the first tour to Wizard Island and catch a later tour to return to the dock and their vehicle. There are a number of hiking trails around the lake, and motorists can take the Rim Drive (closed in winter) to see wonderful views of the crystal clear lake.

John Day Fossil National Monument

Travel Time: about 6 hours

Eastern Oregon holds many unexpected elements: pine-forested mountains, glades preserving tall native grasses and wildflowers, deep canyons, trout streams, and small coves of pinnacled badlands. Explore sedimentary rocks that preserve a 40 million-year-record of plant and animal life. Follow trails into the badlands and examine fossils displayed at the visitor center.

Lava Beds National Monument

Travel Time: about 4 hours

The Monument occupies over 46,000 acres on the northeast corner of Medicine Lake volcano. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano created an incredibly rugged landscape punctuated by cinder cones, lava flows, spatter cones, lava tube caves and pit craters. These lava tube caves, of which there are more than 500 in the Monument, are a favorite underground destination for visitors to explore.

The Lava Beds National Monument encompasses the main battlefields of the Modoc War of 1872-73, the only Indian war fought in California.

The Monument offers nearly a dozen different trails through the high desert environment, and when skies are clear, which is often, there is a 150 mile view.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Travel Time: about 5 hours

Before the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens in Washington, Lessen Peak was the most recent volcanic outburst in the contiguous 48 states. Lassen Peak erupted in May 1914. The recovery of the park after the eruption has been studied for over 70 years.

The Lassen area was a meeting point for four Native American groups: Atsugewi, Yana, Yahi, and Maidu. Native Americans camped here during warmer months for hunting and gathering.

Redwood National Park

Travel Time: about 2 hours

Take a hike in the Redwood forest. The sixth tallest tree in the world is in Stout Grove, one of the most dramatic stands of redwood trees in this region. This is accessed by Howland Hill Drive, an unpaved road that meanders through trees as tall as a football field is long. Several trails can be found here including the Nickerson Ranch loop that follows Mill Creek through the forest. From here, it takes another hour of driving on the coast highway to reach the southern end of Redwood National Park.

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Wilderness Areas

Kalmiopsis Wilderness

Travel Time: about 1 ½ hours

This 180,000 acre Kalmiopsis Wilderness is characterized by deep rough canyons, sharp rock ridges, and clear rushing streams and rivers. An outstanding botanical and geologic region can be accessed by a 20 mile gravel road that takes you to the Babyfoot Lake trail head. Most of the trails drop into the Upper Chetco River drainage. Another follows the ridges to the Pearsoll Peak fire tower. It is noteworthy that the Forest Service is now renting this tower to hikers who want to stay over night.

Siskiyou Wilderness: Devil's Punchbowl

Travel Time: about 2 hours

Devil's Punchbowl, a lake in the granite peaks of the Siskiyou Wilderness is located in California just over the Oregon border. It is accessed by graded gravel roads. Here, a cluster of granite peaks cradle several lakes that are destinations for hikers.

Red Buttes Wilderness

Travel Time: about 1 ½ hours

This botanical area contains several lakes and is accessed by paved and unpaved roads. The wilderness is also close enough to Oregon Caves for a day hike, and overnight hikes are also allowed.

Wild Rogue Wilderness

Travel Time: about 2 hours

Located in the Parts of the Rogue Valley, Oregon, the Wild and Scenic Rogue River is one of the most dramatic rivers in the United States. Since it is protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of Congress, whitewater enthusiasts are guaranteed a pristine environment restricted from the encroachment of civilization.

Marble Mountain Wilderness

Travel Time: about 3 hours

Marble Mountain is located in Klamath National Forest in California. Marble outcrops contain 15 miles of mapped caves. Backpack or ride horseback into the remote trout fishing lakes of the Marble Mountain Wilderness.

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River Access

Smith River National Recreation Area

Travel Time: 1 ½ hours

If you go to Redwood National Park you will drive through this recently designated recreation area that has one of the most beautiful rivers you may ever see. There is excellent swimming in the summer! The scenery is breathtaking as the river flows through the Redwood Forest at Jedediah Smith Campground. Many hiking trails run through the area which makes for great day-hikes.

Rogue River

Travel Time: 1 ½ hours

Recreational opportunities abound on the river and surrounding forest, from white water rafting to wilderness camping, from lake and stream fishing to winter snowmobiling.

Illinois River

Travel Time: less than 1 hour

The Wild Section of the Illinois River runs for 29 miles through forests and steep canyons. It runs from the southeast portion of the Forest, across the Coast Range in a northwestern direction to its confluence with the Rogue River close to the Pacific Ocean.

Other River Access

Campgrounds in the area are located along Caves Creek, Sucker Creek, the Illinois River and the Rogue River. For more information about camping near the monument go to Travel & Facilities page.

Lakes

There are dozens of lakes in the Cascades where camping, fishing and boating are available. Among these are Diamond Lake, a resort area with boat rentals, Timpanogas a beautiful remote site north of Crater Lake and Summit Lake, located adjacent to Timpanogas.

Waterfalls

Umpqua River road between Roseburg and Crater Lake has several waterfalls including Watsons Falls, one of the largest in Oregon.

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Activities on the Coast

Travel Time: about 2 ½ hours

California coast and lighthouse at Crescent City

The nearest beach is in Crescent City, California. An hour's drive to the north or south along the coast will take you to dozens of other beaches. Traveling west from the monument will take you to the coast of Oregon, where there are many state parks and beaches. Gold Beach and Coos Bay are just two of the more common destinations.

Tide pools

Tide pools at beaches in California and Oregon have a wide variety of sea life. Endert's Beach (south) is an excellent tide pool if you go through the tunnel at the south end. Point St. George (south side) is good and usually doesn't have problems with waves.

Agates & Shells

Kellogg Beach is a good place to find agates. For sand dollars, Endert's Beach is usually a good place. North Pebble Beach is good for snail shells and other shelled marine life. Fossil shells and petrified wood can be found in many of the cliffs at Point St. George.

Light Houses

Battery Point at Crescent City has tours and is accessible at low tide only.

Camping on the Coast

Include: Patrick's Point State Park, California (very popular), Gold Beach, Oregon, (lots of elk), Harris Beach State Park, Oregon (very popular).

Wildlife

Sea lions are common in Crescent City harbor and there is a sea lion preserve on Castle Rock north of Crescent City. Puffins and other birds nest on this island too. Lake Earl, near Kellogg Beach is an estuary with many migratory birds.

Scenic Coastal Areas

One of the best places to watch waves crashing on the rocks is at the Brother Jonathan viewpoint in Crescent City. Take your camera! The wheelchair accessible viewing platform at the south end of Endert's Beach has a higher vantage point. The Oregon coast north of Brookings is world famous with many places to pull over and enjoy the view. Several natural arches in this area add a different dimension to the movement in the waves.

Deep Sea Fishing

There are dozens of charter boats in both Crescent City, California and Brookings, Oregon.

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High Peaks and Rolling Hills: Mountains

The Cascades

Travel Time: about 2 hours (also depends where you travel)

Stretching from the Columbia River in the north to the California state line in the south, this mountain range is a natural dividing line between eastern and western Oregon. You can drive to the foot of the Cascade Mountains which are two hours from Oregon Caves.

Throughout these mountains are several wilderness areas including the Mount Hood Wilderness, the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, and the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Mountain Peaks

Travel Time: within 2 ½ hours

Peaks include: Mt. McLoughlin, Oregon (9,495 ft), Mt. Shasta, Northern California (14,161 feet, 4,317 m, seconds highest peak in the Cascades), and Mt. Thielsen, Oregon (9,182 ft).

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Miscellaneous

Travel Time: within 1 to hours

Tourist Attractions

There are a variety of tourist attractions which include: boat rides on the Rogue River, The "Oregon Vortex", the nationally recognized, Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Briggs Music Concerts, Jacksonville Historic Site, Wildlife Safari Animal Park and many history and art museums are found throughout the Illinois and Rogue Valley.

There are two wineries near Oregon Caves, Bridgeview Winery and Foris Winery, as well as several others in the Rogue Valley near Grants Pass.

Berries, Fruits and Vegetables

This region is often referred to as the berry capital of Oregon with blackberries, raspberries and huckleberries at the top of the list. Several fruit stands with locally grown produce can be found in the Caves Junction area throughout most of the summer. Tomatoes, corn and potatoes are among the most common vegetables sold. Apples, pears and cherries are the common fruit.

The region is also gaining a reputation for growing grapes. During the summer and fall, the city of Grants Pass has a Grower's Market with many local farmers selling organic produce and hand-crafted items.

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