Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve is a National Monument & Preserve in Oregon. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Oregon Caves
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Oregon Caves. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Caves (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Oregon Caves the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:40 AM | 8:23 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:07 PM | 242° | 9h 27m |
| February | 7:11 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:08 PM | 5:47 PM | 254° | 10h 36m |
| March | 7:26 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:20 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:55 PM | 284° | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:54 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:28 PM | 297° | 14h 34m |
| June | 5:38 AM | 6:20 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:52 PM | 303° | 15h 14m |
| July | 5:52 AM | 6:33 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:49 PM | 301° | 14h 57m |
| August | 6:22 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:16 PM | 290° | 13h 54m |
| September | 6:55 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:25 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:27 AM | 8:05 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:33 PM | 259° | 11h 06m |
| November | 7:05 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:54 PM | 246° | 9h 49m |
| December | 7:36 AM | 8:21 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:43 PM | 239° | 9h 08m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.1032, -123.4019); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Oregon Caves, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:54 AM – 5:44 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:46 AM – 4:46 AM | 2.0 | 19° |
| May | 12:45 AM – 3:55 AM | 3.2 | 19° |
| June | 11:04 PM – 3:24 AM | 4.3 | 19° |
| July | 10:54 PM – 2:04 AM | 3.2 | 19° |
| August | 10:02 PM – 12:02 AM | 2.0 | 18° |
| September | 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM | 1.0 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
For current weather conditions visit https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.07376224008719&lon=-123.3984375&site=mfr&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text#.YCGJRWhKjIV
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 20% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (74%). August is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $20.00 |
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $20.00 |
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $20.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Take 199 to Cave Junction, Oregon. Turn onto OR-46 (a Chevron gas station is on the corner). Follow OR-46 for 20 miles to the Monument and Preserve.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- RV Camping
- Caving
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Junior Ranger Program
- Swimming
- Freshwater Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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