A special discovery begins beneath the surface in Josephine County: Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve protects a solution cave system and a watershed connected to the Siskiyou Mountains. The protected area also includes the River Styx, the first underground scenic waterway to be designated. The watershed is among the headwater tributaries of the Illinois River. Here, the cave world and the waterscape are part of a shared natural story.
Cave Tours and Trails
The 90-minute Discovery Cave Tour is led by a ranger and passes through marble passages to a chamber 220 feet below the surface. The cave is accessible only as part of a guided tour. Another option is the three-hour Off-Trail Caving Tour, which involves climbing over boulders, crawling on your stomach through narrow passages, and squeezing through openings just 11 inches high and 19 inches wide. The duration and types of movement make the two experiences quite distinct. Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve also has six scenic hiking trails.
Rivers and Different Scales
In the Hellgate Recreation Area, the river area includes 27 miles of Class I and II rapids and 11 boating access facilities. Whitewater rafting and commercial jet boat rides are common ways to experience it. The Rogue Wild and Scenic River features different river attractions: it is known for steelhead and salmon fishing and offers opportunities for wildlife viewing.
The Wild Rogue section is described as having Class III rapids and some Class IV rapids. It is typically traveled by raft in three to four days or on foot in five days. The Rogue River National Recreation Trail runs for 40 miles along the Rogue River. This is distinct from the designated 84-mile stretch of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River, which begins about seven miles west of Grants Pass. Grants Pass is also the starting point for most guided fishing and boating trips on the Rogue River Scenic Waterway. The Illinois River is also designated as a scenic waterway.
Wilderness and Traces of History
The Kalmiopsis Wilderness lies in southwestern Oregon, in Josephine and Curry counties. Its rugged, ancient landscape includes knife-edge ridges, rounded plateaus, and deep, boulder-strewn canyons. This landscape offers a distinctive contrast to the region’s caves and rivers.
Buildings, too, tell stories of different eras and materials. Oregon Caves Chateau was completed in 1934 and built using Port Orford cedar bark and marble from the cave. Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The inn was built around 1883 and served as a stop on the 16-day stagecoach journey from San Francisco to Portland.
More local history is tied to specific place names: Josephine County turned the land associated with Mary Peters’ 1894 claim into what is now Indian Mary Park. The Schmidt family were the only residents of Schmidt House Museum until 1978; afterward, the house was transferred to the Josephine County Historical Society. Together with the designated river landscapes and striking natural features, these places offer different ways to explore the history and landscape of Josephine County.
Discover more destinations: Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Merlin, Wasco, Union County, Linn, Coos County, Hood River
For the broader travel overview: Oregon.
