For the casual visitor to the caves of Central Oregon, we’d recommend a visit to Lava River Cave, South Ice Cave, or Boyd Cave once the Cabin Butte closure lifts. South Ice Cave and Boyd Cave are normally open year-round, though snow can complicate access to South Ice Cave. We suggest avoiding South Ice Cave from Sept. 15th – April 30th as there are some bats that hibernate there.

If you encounter bats, please leave the area to avoid disturbing them. Learn more on our Bats of Central Oregon page.

Closed now: the Cabin Butte area

The area around China Hat, southeast of Bend, is closed for the Cabin Butte Area Closure. Crews are thinning the forest, running prescribed burns, and cleaning up hazardous materials, so the Forest Service has closed the area to all public entry, including day use. The closure began May 1, 2026, and is set to end April 30, 2027. It may lift sooner if the work finishes early, so check the closure page for the latest.

Caves inside the closure

Boyd Cave
Hidden Forest Cave
Skeleton Cave
Arnold Ice Cave

Questions about the closure go to the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District at 541-383-5300.

Deschutes National Forest Caves

Lava River Cave

Check the Lava River Cave Interpretive Site page to see whether the cave is open and to get tickets. From May to September 15, visits need a timed reservation ticket from Recreation.gov, and the site page links to them. Parking is $5 per vehicle or a recreation pass.

Closed from September 15 through April 30 (winter closure), or until the beginning of the open season, whichever is later.
Closed between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. from May 1 to September 14, or after the end of open season, whichever is earliest.
The last 300 feet of the west tube (west tube/show cave) is closed.
The gated east tube of the cave is closed year-round.
Climbing or bouldering of any kind is prohibited.

Skeleton Cave

Inside the Cabin Butte Area Closure.
Entering or being in the cave is prohibited year-round.
Climbing or bouldering of any kind inside or outside the gate at the cave entrance from September 15 through April 30 is prohibited.
Visit Wanderlust Tours for access information.

Hidden Forest Cave

Inside the Cabin Butte Area Closure.
Climbing or bouldering of any kind within the cave is prohibited.

Closed year-round

Bat Cave
Charcoal Cave #1
Charlie-the-Cave (both upper and lower chambers)
Deg Cave
Eternity Cave
Infinity Cave
Lavacicle Cave
Skeleton Cave
Wind Cave

Closed from September 15 through April 30 (winter closure)

Arnold Ice Cave (also inside the Cabin Butte Area Closure)
Lee’s Cave
Lower Quartz Mountain Cave
Skylight Cave

Boyd Cave is normally open year-round, but it is inside the Cabin Butte Area Closure until the closure lifts.

China Hat Caves on BLM and Private Land

The area around China Hat is inside the Cabin Butte Area Closure, set to end April 30, 2027 or sooner. Check the closure page before you go.

Pictograph Cave is closed during bat hibernation periods between October 15 and May 1.
Charcoal Cave no. 2 is on private property and access is not allowed. Please respect private property.
Stookey Ranch Cave is on private property and gated. Access is restricted. Please respect private property.

Miscellaneous Cave Schedules

Redmond Caves – Located in southeast Redmond. The park holds 5 caves: Lions Cave, Redmond Cave, Cave Next Door, Insignificant Redmond Cave, and No Account Redmond Cave. They currently have no closure for bats.
Horse Cave – Horse Cave is located on private property near Bend. Please respect private property.
Section 11 Caves – These 8 caves (Davenport, Garbage no. 1, Garbage no. 2, Three Pines, Vulture, Stevens, Williams’, and Braille) are currently on private property and closed to all visitation. Please respect private property.
Malheur Cave – Closed and privately owned. Permission from owner is required to visit. There are open dates each year which can be found by contacting the Burns Masonic Lodge.

For more information, visit the Deschutes National Forest website.

Cave Access