Cave Junction, Oregon

Cave Junction is the gateway to Oregon Caves National Monument and the starting point for the Oregon Caves Highway Scenic Drive. It is surrounded by three wilderness areas, a wild and scenic river corridor, botanical areas, and Siskiyou National Forest.

Things to see and do in the Cave Junction area in the heart of the Siskiyou Mountains, Highway 199, southwest Oregon

History Loop Road Guide

This is a fourteen mile loop drive through the gold rush, logging, and winery country of Illinois Valley. The first six miles of the drive follow the same route as the Oregon Caves Road Guide before turning on Holland Loop Drive to return to Cave Junction.

Oregon Caves Highway Road Guide
This road guide is for the 20 mile drive to Oregon Caves National Monument. Along the way you pass a wheelchair accessible trail, campgrounds, and historic sites. After visiting Oregon Caves, you can return to Cave Junction following Holland Loop Road and the History Loop Road Guide.

Oregon Caves National Monument
Cave tours, hiking trails, children activities, and Ranger programs during summer months make this a great addition to a family vacation adventure. The Oregon Caves Lodge is a National Historic Landmark and one of the great lodges of the west. Visitors are welcome. The Bigelow Lakes Loop Trail is near the monument and is one of the most scenic trails in the southwest Oregon region.

Wild and Scenic Illinois River Road Guide

This scenic drive follows a paved road into the Wild and Scenic Illinois River. The road guide covers the first eleven miles of the paved road. At this point, the pavement ends and becomes a gravel surfaced road that continues for another ten miles to the boundary of the Kalmiopsis wilderness near York Butte Botanical Area. The road guide points out hiking trails and discusses fire ecology, geology and historic sites.

TJ Howell Botanical Drive Road Guide
This is a scenic drive that climbs into the mountains through one of the most botanically diverse regions in the nation. Salmon can be seen swimming up river during migration in the section of the drive that goes through the Wild and Scenic River corridor where the first gold strike in Oregon was made. At the beginning of the drive, the wheelchair accessible Eight Dollar Mountain Trail takes you on a short walk to a colony of Darlingtonia, an insectivorous pitcher plant. Other trails include the Little Falls Trail, Mikes Gulch Overlook Trail, Babyfoot Lake Loop Trail, and Whetstone Butte Trail in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.

Black Butte Road Guide

This route climbs to the Black Butte Trail and the boundary of the Siskiyou Wilderness. The Black Butte Trail connects with other Siskiyou Wilderness trails to include the Clear Creek National Recreation Trail, Twin Valley Trail, Youngs Valley, Raspberry Lake Trail, Devil's Punchbowl Trail and others.

McGrew Trail

This popular 4x4 and ATV route follows the 1857 Turnpike and Puncheon Road, the first road constructed between the port town of Crescent City and the gold mining camps in southern Oregon during the Oregon gold rush. This page follows the historic route from Illinois Valley, Oregon to Crescent City, California.

Historic Siskiyou Smokejumper Base

This is the first smokejumper base in Oregon history and one of the first four smokejumper bases established in American history. It is the last of the first four smokejumper bases that is still standing in its original condition and includes the oldest smokejumper parachute loft in the nation. A shaded park with picnic tables and restrooms make this a nice stop. A self guided tour of the base is available.

Jefferson State Byway

This route climbs to the crest of the Siskiyou Mountains with hiking trails, lakes, and access to the Siskiyou wilderness and Red Buttes wilderness. Displays at Page Mountain parking area tell the Jefferson State story. The road is closed during winter months.

Rough and Ready Forest State Park

This is an unusual landscape perhaps the only place of its kind in North America, where an unusual geologic setting creates a desert-like landscape in a place that receives more than 50 inches of rain annually.

Forks of the Illinois State Park

This park is located at the confluence of the east and west forks of the Illinois River. Located immediately south of Cave Junction. Shaded picnic sites and river access. The larger part of the park is located on the other side of the river. At the time of this update (23 January 2009), an equestrian and foot trail is currently under construction in this part of the park.

Eight Dollar Mountain State Park

This is a new state park located near the top of Eight Dollar Mountain. The primary access to the park boundary is a road to the top of the mountain. The road is closed and you will need to hike to the top. From the top of the mountain, there is no clear trail into the park area. The road to Eight Dollar Mountain begins at the Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Trail, located on Eight Dollar Mountain Road (the TJ Howell Botanical Drive), 0.9 miles from Highway 199. There are future plans to establish a trail from the Southern Oregon University Siskiyou Field Institute on the road to the Wild and Scenic Illinois River.

Great Cats World Park
This is a prominent educational organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of all species of cats including lions, tigers, civet, lynx, ocelots and more. Located on Highway 199, one mile south of Cave Junction. Tours of the facility are offered daily.

Kerbyville Museum

The museum has displays about the local history, a log school house, miners cabin, and replica of a Native American house. It is located in the historic town of Kerbyville, one of the first towns established in Oregon history, but is unique because of the three furniture makers that use wood from the local forest to create distinctly different styles of furniture that might be described as home-style rustic, precision heirloom, and creative abstract.

Selma, Oregon

This small residential community is located near Kerby Peak trail, the historic McMullin House and Lake Selmac County Park, a popular camping and fishing destination

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Disclaimer: All information in Highway199.org is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, conditions in outdoor settings can change dramatically after storms or fires. For this reason, travelers are advised to check current road conditions before traveling through the area, drive responsibly and take measures to understand safety issues in the region. When participating in outdoor activities, always plan and prepare for safe hiking, swimming or any other activities mentioned in the Highway 199 website. More on disclaimer and copyright...