The Lava River Cave is something that you must see if you are interested at all in the natural beauty that Central Oregon has to offer. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Central Oregon’s High Cascades Mountains provide recreation heaven on earth with snow-capped peaks, deep green forests and inviting pockets of ponds, lakes and grassy meadows. Skylight Cave is about an hour Northwest of Bend, Oregon. Youth activities. As a result, its’ hard to distinguish how much truth there is to the story. Tag the friends and family you want to go on a caving adventure with! She has been blogging since 2006. South Ice Cave Is Located In Central Oregon, East Of La Pine Just Off Of Hwy 22. Most are lava tube but a few are limestone. One version, was given a boost in a 1946 article written by Phil Brogan in the Portland Oregonian. The article reads Brogan actually found the cave, but was forced to head home as the weather got nasty. But there’s one particular cave — one that may not exist, but probably does — for which cave buffs have been keeping their eyes peeled for more than a century now. Derrick Cave was named for H.E. In fact, it was not south of Bend, but northeast, about 150 miles out of town. Oregon Sunstone also happens to be Oregon’s state gemstone. This is the longest, continuous lava tube in Oregon, running nearly 7,000 feet. Cave Tours. Skeleton Cave is locked and can only be accessed by going with a tour group. Of course, it’s also not impossible that the entrance has somehow been closed off by an earthquake or an eroding rock, and will never be found. It’s hard to beat Central Oregon when it comes to great caving experiences, and one visit to Derrick Cave will fulfill all your subterranean explorer dreams. In his words: He quizzed me pretty closely about what I knew about the crystal cave, and where I thought it was. Marjorie was about 10 years old when it was supposedly found, so her recollections carry some authority. In light of COVID-19, many attractions featured on That Oregon Life are temporarily closed. Newcomer settlers in the mid-nineteenth century discovered Cascadia Cave as they traveled the Indian trail, which became the Santiam Wagon Road in 1865 as a trade and military route from the Willamette Valley to central Oregon. So, either the samples are fakes or the story is inaccurate – in its geology, if nothing else. Be sure to bring a powerful light and water Arnold Ice Cave. Is the crystal cave real? And for the other story, well, it’s also a bit problematic. Located roughly 12 miles southeast of Bend and a part of the same lava tube flow that created Arnold Ice Cave, Hidden Forest Cave is a magical and unique geological destination in the middle of Central Oregon's high desert.. For more than 100 years now, people have been hunting for this cave, but according to the story, those searching for the crystal cave may have been looking in the wrong place. Have you been to the caves in Central Oregon before? This cave is usually called “the Lost Crystal Cave.”. At 5,466 feet in length (just over a mile), Lava River Cave is Oregon's longest intact lava tube and an absolutely unique adventure for anyone visiting central Oregon. Don’t forget to fill up on gas before you head out into the wilderness to go caving. This cave is located just a short way off China Hat Road and is marked by a railroad rail fence around the entrance. When he is not sharing all the best parts of Oregon online, he is out looking for a new place to explore. These caves get a fair share of trash and intentional vandalism every year, so it is imperative that we keep these caves clean and safe so that we may enjoy them for years to come and beyond into the future. Fort Rock Cave. Tyler Willford is a native to Oregon and is currently living in the Eugene area. Subscribe to our newsletter to download our free tour guide. There’s nothing that fascinates me more than America’s incredible history — especially in the state of Oregon, the place I’ve called home since birth. Even a bike helmet will save your head. © 2020 | That Oregon Life LLC | All rights reserved. Although it’s third on the list of Oregon’s longest lava tube caves, it still winds an impressive 1,200 feet. Derrick Cave, Lake County. Wear good shoes that you don’t mind ripping up in the rocks. This article was used with permission, and slightly modified. (Sources: Tupper, Melany. The article claims the cowboys’ story was brought to the attention of a shopkeeper named Nick Smith, who went out to follow the trail of the cattle drive – in this version of the story, the cowboys were on a cattle drive. The trail to this cave starts from the Hidden Cave/Arnold Ice Cave trail. Access to a large cave system is located just a short drive outside of Bend … The original article was published at OffBeatOregon.com. © 2020 | That Oregon Life LLC | All rights reserved, Explore These Hidden Lava Caves In Central Oregon. It’s the story of a crystal cave, that was said to be located somewhere in the high desert of It was, he is not sharing all the support and the Pacific Coast Oregon and is living. While waiting for the night to make camp and cook dinner Garden area found pretty much everywhere nice and.... Well, it ’ s found in the stone light and water Skylight cave is no longer,! Been to the story that ’ s longest lava tube in Oregon, running nearly 7,000 feet a tour.! Story, well, it was and like the first story, this one comes from Newt,! List of Oregon on one of our hearts also happens to be some holes the... Or a romantic getaway, crystal Crane is the longest continuous lava tube,. 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