1.
Oregon Caves
Take the Oregon Caves National Monument, where an underground world awaits. Located about 50 miles southwest of Grants Pass, Oregon Caves is a marble-encased land of enchantment where the temperature is always 42 degrees, popcorn and moonmilk adorn otherworldly rock formations, and cave “kisses” are frequently bestowed.
The cave, which now sees more than 90,000 visitors every year, was discovered entirely by accident in 1874, when a hunter followed his bear-pursuing dog into a dark opening amid the old-growth coniferous forest that still covers the top of the small mountain today. It didn’t take long for local businessmen to begin guided tours of the marble cave, which features narrow winding passageways that open up into rooms of incredible, hidden beauty.
Today’s half-mile tour takes visitors on an hour-and-a-half-long journey of discovery through an underground landscape formed by the drip, drip, drip of water—the cave “kisses” that still startle the unwary. The water builds the bizarre and sometimes eerie calcite formations the cave is famous for, including the bumpy rock formation known as popcorn, the cottage cheese-like moonmilk growth, and stunning examples of Mother Nature’s stalactite and stalagmite artwork.
The area became a national monument in 1909, after President William Taft visited the cave—reportedly an adventurous undertaking for the portly statesman. In 1922, an automobile road conquered the steep pitch from Cave Junction with a series of dizzying switchbacks, and 12 years later the six-story Chateau was constructed, with the walls of the shaggy Port Orford-sided hotel spanning a ravine.
The monument’s four hiking trails offer routes through the forest for all ages and fitness levels, with the Big Tree Loop climbing past one of the largest Douglas-fir trees in the state to a colorful, flower-filled ridge.
2.
Going Out on a Limb
Just 25 miles southwest of Oregon Caves, in the picturesque little valley of Takilma, there’s adventure in a different direction—up in the air. At the Out ‘n’ About Treehouse Treesort, guests come from all over the world to stay and play in the 10 treehouses that populate the bed-and-breakfast compound.
A family favorite is the Swiss Family Complex, which features an undersized door and built-in bunk bed in the children’s unit, and a swinging bridge to the trapdoor accessing the adult room. Other in-the-air abodes include the Tree Room Schoolhouse Suite, a heated, close-to-the-ground complex, and the Treezebo, an architectural gem perched an adrenaline-inspiring 37 feet above ground. And for those whose appetite for adventure isn’t satisfied by sleeping high in the trees, a pair of challenging rope courses end in gravity-defying slides down zip lines. Horseback riding, rafting and arts and crafts classes round out the roster of activities.
3.
The Wild Rogue
The Grants Pass area is also rich in more earthbound adventures. The fast-flying jetboats that leave from downtown docks offer a guided glimpse of one of the region’s better-known waterways—Hellgate Canyon. This is where John Wayne filmed “Rooster Cogburn,” and where Matt Dillon in “Gunsmoke” plunged into the depths to escape a gang in hot pursuit.
The movie stars won’t be there, but it’s a sure bet that the eagles, osprey, salmon and other denizens of the dramatic river canyon will be present—all of them up close and personal. Once the Hellgate Jetboat Excursion pilots start their hair-raising stops and spins, though, the only thing you’ll be noticing is the racing of your heart.
4.
Wild Rehab
Just 14 miles up the road, near Merlin, is the busy Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center. The center treats animals ranging from baby squirrels and rabbits to bobcats and bears; from hummingbirds and wrens to great blue herons and golden eagles. About 80 percent of the animals that survive their initial injuries are returned to the wild.
Wildlife Image’s clinic, interpretive center and animal-holding facilities are housed on 24 acres of land adjacent to the wild and scenic section of Oregon’s Rogue River. Anytime is a good time to visit, but spring—when volunteers care for several hundred babies of many species—holds its own delights, and is a warm and furry way to round out a Southern Oregon adventure.– Megan Monson