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On Saturday, May 7, Oregon Caves National Monument will host its annual Community Open House. Free tours of the cave and Chateau lodge as well as nature walks will be offered from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We request only that you bring a can of food to donate. Have you visited Oregon Caves National Monument lately? Explore the caves, bend and squeeze through narrow marble passageways, and imagine what Elijah Davidson and other early cavers discovered. The ranger tour guide will share stories about what modern scientific exploration is revealing about this dark and mysterious place. New this year, visitors should plan ahead not to bring any clothing, footwear, or gear that were used in any cave, mine, or bat hibernation site east of the Rocky Mountains in the past six years, or in Europe ever. All visitors should expect to have their clothing, footwear, and gear screened before entering the cave. The new restriction and screening procedure are in place to limit the spread of white-nose syndrome, a fatal disease in bats. Visit the Oregon Caves' white-nose syndrome web page, https://www.nps.gov/orca/naturescience/white-nose.htm, for more information. Oregon Caves is located about 20 miles from Cave Junction. The last eight miles of the highway are steep and winding – a leisurely drive to the Monument from Cave Junction will take about 45 minutes. Bring a jacket or sweater. The temperature in the cave averages 44 degrees. We strongly recommend good walking shoes, especially if you want to hike on any of the beautiful trails at the monument. Cameras are allowed in the cave, but backpacks and large purses are not permitted. Visitors in wheelchairs can access only the first room of the cave. The cave is unsafe for small children: kids under 42 inches tall are not allowed. The Monument can be busy for the Oregon Caves Community Open House. We recommend arriving early. There is plenty to do, however: Visit the Oregon Caves Chateau, a National Historic Landmark, or earn a Junior Ranger badge – kids can pick up an activity book in the visitor center. Food service is available at the Monument with lunches and dinner available at the Chateau dining hall and coffee shop. |
Last updated: February 28, 2015