Skylight Cave Oregon

Caving in the Bend Oregon area. When I was married my Ex-use to say that I was a goat because of the way I could climb around on rocks. After my cancer surgery my goat days are gone because I don't have the sense of balance I use to have, but I did have a lot of fun in the caves even though it was limited. NOTE on caving. It's cold in caves and the temperature is in the 40's Fahrenheit. Just because it's 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared. If at all possible, wear a Head Light and this will free up both hands because you will need them for balance and feel. YOUR CELL PHONE flashlight WILL NOT give off enough light. Wear something on your head and a helmet would be best. Gloves are also a good thing.

The Google marking is of the actual cave (not parking) and is correct, but once you’re walking towards the cave, you’ll really need to use your eyes. Eventually, you’ll spot the sign on the right telling you a bit about the cave. The entrance to Skylight Cave is just behind the sign.

The entrance to Skylight Cace is down this ladder.

Skylight Cave is actually a lava tube, a hollow tube that was formed by lava flowing through a cooled fissure on the outside. The lava flowed out, leaving the outer shell.

Skylight Cave is the result of that outer shell collapsing inwards creating a sky-lit cavern to explore.

There was only one couple here when I got here, and he was teaching her how to rappel from the top down into the cave.

Those beams aren’t a permanent display, so you’ll need to time your visit to Skylight Cave to get the stunning effect.

I went in June at around 10:00 am and left around 11 am. I was photographing and having too much fun, plus waiting for the right conditions. I was scared I would miss my window because the light wasn’t the greatest at first, but it got better around 10:30 am and I was able to capture the beams.

If you go right, you can explore the cave for around 900 feet until it dead ends.

If you go left, you’ll walk about 300 feet towards a small light. As you get closer, you’ll look up and see three holes in the top of the cave.

If you’re here at the right time of day (more info on this below!), you’ll be rewarded with an extraordinary display of sunshine blasting through the “skylights” of the cave ceiling!

Skylight Cave was my first stop and also my favorite. The hardest part about getting to Skylight Cave is the drive. It's about a 6 mile drive down a dirt road and I would recommend four-wheel drive because of all of the deep potholes and large rocks. The cave is closed from September 15 through April 30 due to bats that hibernate here. The cave is entered via a steel ladder through a collapsed roof section. The most notable features of the cave are its three skylights in the eastern passage, for which the cave is named.