• Photo of the vast drapery formations inside Oregon Caves National Monument.

    Oregon Caves

    National Monument Oregon

Environmental Factors

The cave at Oregon Caves National Monument is a solution cave formed in a marble outcrop located in Siskiyou mountain range of Southwest Oregon.

The marble formed as a consequence of tectonic activity. Limestone of the Juan de Fuca oceanic plate subducted under the North American continental plate and was metamorphosed (recrystallized) into marble. The intense faulting and folding incurred by the marble resulted in a geosynclinic karst system. The predominant rectilinear branchwork passages are a result of the steep upper profile of the bedding planes.

The surrounding forest, watershed, and temperature can influence the cave. To learn how read more!

Did You Know?

a volunteer takes measures of the faults inside of Oregon Caves

One of the largest cave restoration projects in the nation occurred at Oregon Caves during the 1980s and 1990s.  Furthermore, most of the work was done by volunteers!  Volunteers still make an important contribution to the park.  Learn more about current volunteer opportunities at Oregon Caves. More...