What a great adventure! Worth the twisting turning road that is not clearly marked coming from the east. With some exploration of roads we found it and had a blast! Make sure to reserve your parking ahead of arrival with State of Washington Parks to an assigned time slot of two hours prior to arrival. Bring head lamps and flashlights! read more

Such a fun cave to explore. We went prepared with water, coats, and two flashlights each with extra batteries. The small shop rents flashlights and sells sweatshirts if you forgot yours. We opted for the longer section of the cave, and it was a challenge! My young kids did well, but were asking where the end was after a while. They were not happy with the hike back to the car afterwards, although they did enjoy going. Make sure to reserve your spot online, I'm guessing it fills up on the weekends, we went on a weekday morning and it was getting more busy as we were leaving. If you turn right out of the parking lot and drive about a half mile or so there is a good viewpoint of Mt. Saint Helens. There isn't much around so be prepared with snacks or a picnic lunch. No food is allowed in the cave though. read more

Ape Cave - Upper cave - Hiking Near Me

My husband and I walked the family friendly trail (1.5 miles round trip). that takes about one hour. This trail is not difficult, but the walk consists of very uneven surfaces, and because touching the walls is prohibited, it really works your balance. Headlamps or flashlights are a must, as are sturdy shoes, pants and a jacket - it's very cold in the cave. I had a severe allergic reaction to the cave, so next time I'll take allergy medicine. I definitely recommend taking your time to look around at the incredible cave ceilings and walls (But Don't Touch). Lastly, our Northwest Forest Pass covered all cost, but I've read reservations may be needed during busier times. So definitely due your homework and be prepared. Enjoy!! read more

See all

The lava tube is at a constant 42°F or 6°C...so dress accordingly. Bring at least 2 light source. If you are soloing, I suggest a headlamp as your primary... you might need your hands free. Please make sure your children know not to shine their light at oncoming hikers. The floor is uneven and you will need to scramble over some larger rocks. Sturdy shoes are recommended. The entrance is awe inspiring. Especially when look up and out the way you came in with lighting. When you reach the bottom of the metal stairs it will almost be total darkness. You have 2 paths select from.... under the stairs takes you 1.5 miles one way (I did not take that route) the other route is .75 miles one way. I an not going to dishonor the amazing trek but trying to describe what you will see. But it's pretty cool. I attached some pictures. read more

See all

You must buy tickets in advance! It also opens at a specific time and is not open to the public without tickets. You cannot tour the caves on your own. I did not actually get to see the caves because they were booked out several days read more

First things first, there are 2 ways to go. An easy way and an extremely hard way. People, pay attention. Cell phone flashlights will NOT work for the "difficult walking" way, nor the easy way, unless you like to trip. As for the "difficult walking" way, expect scrambling 10-25 foot high rock falls. Oh in pitch black unless you have a good headlamp, don't attempt to do it with a Gas lamp, yeah don't be that idiot, or cell phone lights, or cheap dollar store led flashlights. Oh and don't eat food, vape, or think your inshape to do the "difficult walking" there is a good 8 foot pull yourself up a rope section that's not easy in the bit. Oh and take your time, no rush but do be mindful of others going through cause your not being in shape or misunderstanding what kind of "hike" this is going to be ain't other people's faults. This is a truly amazing experience if you are ready, but please just stick to the easy out and back end not the 1 way 1.75 mile over massive rock falls, and technically climbing if you are not ready. read more

See all

Such a fun activity to do with your family or even go solo! It's a breathtaking drive to get there and even more beautiful when you arrive. You'll have to pack a flashlight, but if you don't have one, the visitors center lets you rent one. Note, the flashlight on your phone is not enough; it will was still pitch black inside the caves. You can choose upper or lower caves based on your physical ability. Make sure to be careful, as the floor can be uneven at times and you have to climb. Overall, this was an amazing time and totally recommended! read more

What a unique experience! This was a surprisingly difficult and treacherous adventure. Luckily we were well equipped with warm gloves and diver flashlights. I HIGHLY recommend a hands-free light source. Divers lights with wrist straps are ideal. The group ahead of us was struggling and I had an extra flashlight I let them borrow which helped them out. Get ready for crawling and jumping and squeezing! read more

See all

Soooo much fun! We'd wanted to visit since we'd moved to the PNW, finnnnally got there last weekend. We got tickets for the first time frame, 9am, and by the amount of cars there with us at that time we assumed we'd be touring in one big line. But thankfully we were pleasantly surprised, as we were only occasionally near any other people while inside. We wanted to do the upper and lower, so we decided to go with the more challenging upper first. Wise choice...granted we are middle aged, but the upper was a good workout!! Wayyyy more bouldering and crawling around on all fours than I had assumed. DEFINITELY bring your gloves, in my opinion they were essential. And I'd recommend shoes with ankle support as being of way more importance than waterproof shoes. I had on waterproof low-tops, and while they were barely damp on the toes my ankles were spent! And for my fellow shorties out there, I wouldn't have made it by myself. Granted, I don't have the greatest grip strength or arm muscles, but my hubby had to boost me 2 times...2 spots I don't think I would've been able to traverse without use of his butt push and his thigh step. After you emerge through the teensie exit hole from the upper tube it's a mile walk back through the pretty forest to the entrance to start the lower tube. Sweaty and fairly exhausted, yet oddly energized from the adventure, we re-entered and began the lower tube. It's a simple, dark, down and back walk compared to the upper. With many more people able and willing to walk the lower, the experience is quite different in that you're really never alone or in complete darkness here. No real work in the lower, it's good for anyone...although like the upper you still must watch your step at all times. For us, after completing the upper first, the lower actually seemed boring! We finished it though...and don't get me wrong, by itself the lower would be a VERY fun adventure...it just felt desperately mild right after completing the much more involved upper. If you're going for the upper, bring gloves, long pants (my knees are bruised up) and 2 light sources...if you lose your light you'll definitely be waiting to piggyback a fellow spelunker in order to get out. In either tube you need good shoes and light sources. Just a fabulous good time...I highly recommend!! read more

See all

First of all, the gift shop was amazing! And very reasonably priced. Loved it. Food the short section of the cave towards the "meatball". Had a great time. read more

See all

Two words: GO HERE. I've done a lot of hiking in Washington and this is by far one of the coolest spots I've ever been to. It was definitely a workout but worth the journey! My group opted for the upper caves and were equipped with headlamps. If possible, get some! Scrambling over rocks for 1.5 hours would have much more arduous if we didn't have both of our hands free. The lower caves would probably be fine with just a flashlight, however. read more

See all

Remember when Mt. St. Helen erupted in 1980? I was 1,050 miles to the south and we were covered in its ash for days. Now I live in a place where I can see the flat cone of the volcano on clear days, and the thought of standing in my yard and watching it erupt makes me shudder. Were you here? What was that like? Volcanos have always fascinated me, having grown up along the Pacific rim. The opportunity to explore a lava tube, the longest one in the continental U.S., is just to enticing to pass up. Summary: don't miss this opportunity. There are two lava tube trails, a short manageable one good for small kids and folks who can't climb and scramble, and a much longer, harder one that will challenge your up and over skills. They limit the number of people and you'll need to go online and get a $2 ticket for your car. Load as many people as you want in it, the ticket is for the vehicle. They check and they can't be sweet talked if you pull up without a ticket, so just do it. You also need either the nw forest pass or the Washington discover pass. You can get those at various retailers, on line, even at a gas station down the road from the park. Please also take precautions to protect the bats who live in the caves. There is a fungus in the U.S. that is spreading to bat populations. We can stop it by making sure our shoes and boots are clean. I scrubbed my boot soles with soap and water, and washed my gloves at home. Then I didn't put them on until I got there. You don't have to do all that, but if everyone did it would help. There are boot scraping stations where you can scrape off schmootz before descending. Okay. The lava tubes. I'm really surprised they don't have to rescue people every other day. It was not an easy walk. We took the longer, harder route. We had headlamps and back up flashlights, as well as spare batteries. A couple of times we turned off our lights and stood in the dripping pitch black. My eyes desperately tried to find anything, and it reminded me of a camera lenses that clicks back and forth when it can't find the focus. The other people got on my nerves. Kids, the chattering monkey sound is funny *once*. And there was a couple that simply would not stop talking. We were able to let them pass and get some space between us. It was good to be able to hear the water dripping, and the wind moving through. It's mostly clean, but the graffiti and discarded trash made me sad. People really suck. We had to scale several places where the rock wall was taller than we are. The surface of the tube is grooved and uneven, and throughout there are piles of stones and boulders that have to be carefully passed. Several times I had to hunch over and get through narrow passages. No guide ropes, no marked paths, you just keep going and find your way. It was great!! 2.5 miles later we emerged through a small opening a mile and a half from the visitor center. We sat up at the top and watch other people emerge. Smiles all around, pleased at having done the entire tube. The trail back down was typically gorgeous Pacific northwest rain forest. This was a great time and I'll probably go again. Remember your lights! read more

Ape Cave - 2.5 miles later we arrived at the exit, a small opening up a narrow ladder. - Hiking Near Me

Had a good time. Wish the parking slots were long enough to do both halves of the tube. read more

See all

The trails are not very well marked. As you go down into the metal stairs you can go straight into the lower section which is almost the same look the whole way through until the end it gets smaller and then you can't go anymore. It you go behind the stairs that is where you can get to the upper caves where there are obstacles to climb over and around and then at the very end you exit the cave and hike back on the dirt trail. They need signs explaining this. Everyone at the beginning had no idea where to go. A good 600+lumens headlamp is good and around a 1500 lumens one would be ideal. read more

Ape Cave - Lower ape cave section - Hiking Near Me

Very fun hike! Definitely chilly inside the cave but once you're moving you'll get hot. I recommended a headlamp and possibly gloves since I was using my hands quite a bit making sure I didn't slip while climbing on the rocks. There is one spot that was very tough to get up, I needed some help (a rope used to be there but know it's gone). The trail afterwards was very pretty too. Overall a very fun hike! read more

Ape Cave - Towards the end of the cave, there's a cool light spot that shines inside the cave. - Hiking Near Me

Mt. St. Helen's National Park isn't only about the volcano, though that is way cool too. Ape Cave is a lava tube located about a 2 hour drive away from the volcano observatory. Driving time-wise, its actually close to Vancouver, WA, then the volcano. There are nominal national park fees to visit (or use an annual pass), but the trip is worthwhile. Ape cave is the 3rd longest lava tube in North America. We walked the shorter lower cave which was just shy of 1 mile long. The upper cave, which we did not explore, is longer and more strenuous, requiring clambering over rocks. Both caves are pitch black with rough floors so flashlights (and a spare), and preferably hiking boots are a must. As the cave stays a comfortable 45 to 50 degrees, dress accordingly. There is a parking lot near the cave trailhead that could contain roughly 80 cars. During summer weekends, parking could be limited and the cave and trails could be busy (not an ideal nature experience). We went during a weekday so we experienced the tranquillity of nature and the undeveloped cave. The surface trail from the cave entrance north towards Mt. St. Helen's offered a beautiful view of the mountain and some lava flows; don't miss this walk. While this cave is not spectacular with stalagmites, etc., (e.g., Mammoth Cave), it is a unique site to see. read more

Ape Cave - Surface trail through lava flows towards Mt. St. Helen's. - Hiking Near Me

Really fun and a great experience. Very easy drive up during summer months, currently requires a reservation and they do check tickets prior to entry. The tickets do sell out, so make sure you get one early. You will also need a NW forest pass for parking. The parking lot is pretty full, but still easy to find a spot. It is pretty cool in the cave, so bring a light jacket. It is pitch black in the cave, which is really cool, but make sure to bring a reliable light source. I did try to use the flashlight on my phone and you can sort of see what's immediately in front of you, but would not recommend. Alternates between stretches of jagged and rough landscape and then flat and easy to traverse. A six year old can easily do it. read more

Please support our beautiful natural resources! The Ape caves were exciting and worth the windy drive to Cougar. If it's a hot day, just mozy on down here to 46 degF temperatures underground and learn about how the lava tubes were created. Shine a flashlight on the most eerie caverns in southern Washington. Cheap date, too! read more

Ape Cave - Hiking Near Me

SO. MUCH. FUN. I have been wanting to check out the Ape Caves for such a long time and I'm glad that we finally had the opportunity to do so! First things first: right now, you can only visit by reservation which costs $2 and can be taken care of at recreation.gov. If you are planning a trip, book early because those spots can go fast, especially on popular weekends. The reservation system is nice because it doesn't get too crowded. I can't imagine how bad parking must have been before that. On to the fun! We explored the lower cave on this visit, and it was pretty cool. We heard there were bats in the caves so we were half hopeful and terrified that we could come across them, but I guess they stay in the upper cave because we didn't see a single bat. The cave is cool, temperature wise, so make sure that you bring a sweatshirt or similar to keep you warm. Hiking boots are a plus as the floor is rough in spots and you will want that ankle support. We brought headlamps which were great for lighting the pathway. Definitely bring a light source because it is, as one would expect, totally dark down there. If you forget to bring one you can rent one at the little store in the parking lot. Your cell phone will NOT provide enough light, so don't rely on that. We did not explore the upper cave. We had heard about having to scale an 8-foot wall and crawl through bat guano and that pretty much put paid on that for us. The people that did go up top seemed to enjoy it and think it was good fun. read more

See all

Looking for a little family adventure? Then head to the south side of Mt St Helens to visit Upper Ape Cave entrance. In the summer be sure to bring flashlights/lanterns (some for rent limited hours near entrance) coats (it's cold in there!), and good hiking shoes. This good for kids age 7-9 on up as there are steep stairs and uneven ground. You can hike all the way down to the end where the lava tube is stopped up. Be sure to stop at the Trail of Two forest on your way there/back, awesome viewing of what a lava flow can do. Take gloves & knee pads to climb through the tree formed lava tunnel! read more

Great experience. Would have been better if there weren't selfish nitwits smoking pot at the end. WTH is wrong with people?? No regard at all for how their actions impact others. Anyway, we went in early October. Musts: reliable and bright flashlights, a walking stick if you are at all wobbly, waterproof shoes, and waterproof jacket. The easy walk is definitely not flat as advertised. But a great experience overall. read more

See all

Really like an adventure. My kid said it's like Steve digging the gold in the tunnel. We made both lower and upper tubes as 2.8 miles with around 3 hours. Two sources lights suggested for each person, otherwise you will fall in dark totally. Wear a hoodie is enough. Don't go there too late to avoid stuck in the tube, some places can only be passed by one person. You'll love it. read more

See all

This place is 'open' year round, the question is, do I want to do APE Cave in the winter when there are feet of snow on the surface? For me the answer was yes. I went to APE Cave on Dec. 10 this one year. I stopped into one of the gas stations in Cougar to let them know my intent to stop by after I was done as there is no one up there except you and your companions, if you have any. Well, call me dumb or call me adventurous, I made my way to the parking area at the Trail of Two Forests which is about 1/2 from the APE Cave parking lot. The gate up to the cave was closed and the road was under 3+ feet of snow. I had my flashlights (3 to be sure) and some rations with me so off I headed up to the APE Cave. It was at this point that I entered what I later discovered is considered the lower section of the cave. I was in there for a couple of hours - dark, cool, interesting terrain to traverse and thoroughly mesmerizing. Such a unique world, the lava tubes. APE Cave is over 2000 yrs old and was just discovered in the latter part of the 20th century. It is a huge subway tunnel of a cave and has many interesting features which will pique your interest, especially if you love to explore caves. Don't forget your flashlight(s). read more

Can you think of any better way to spend your holiday weekend than crawling over boulders, stumbling through the dark, and rolling around in the muck with bats? Yah I can`t either, hence we spent our memorial day checking out everything this cave had to offer. Ape Cave was created by natural lava flow and is the longest continuous lava tube in the US and third longest in the Americas. There are two trails, an upper and a lower. The upper trail is longer and more strenuous, make sure you come prepared if you want to do this section. This trail is 1.5 miles long and was like one of the longest 1.5 miles of my dramatic life. While 1.5 miles seems like nothing, in the dark and with the obstacles, it can easily take a couple hours or more to complete. You'll want hiking boots because the flat parts are very uneven due to the lava tube topography and I tots don't want to be the one that has to drag my buddy out with a sprained ankle. A head lamp is a must because you'll need your paws to pull your carcass up the boulder piles not to mention the 8 foot wall you have to scale. A good flashlight would also be handy for checking out the beauty of the cave and also to search for bats to scare your friends, I'm all about setting the mood guys. I also just want to make a note that truthfully this side of the cave can be a bit treacherous. Really large piles of unstable rocks + darkness could be no bueno if you arent prepared. Plan ahead and definetly dont attempt this solo. After reaching the exit, there's a nice trail through the forest that leads back to the main entrance. Here we dropped back down to tackle the much easier lower cave that's .75 miles long, but with no exit so save enough batteries and trail songs to loop back around. At the end of this section, you get to ooo and aww over the famous lava rock wedged in the ceiling named meatball, which naturally just made me crave spaghetti. Then to reach the end you have to be small enough and part cat to weasel your way into the claustrophobic tube. It starts innocent enough with just bending down, next thing you know you're army crawling through the muck with the ceiling just barely overhead and the walls at your sides making you feel like you may have been an earthworm in a previous life. It opens up to a tiny room that is the official end. To sum up the experience - dark, dirty, and oh my buttery biscuits I'm sore today. Also still craving spaghetti and definetly happy to have had such a unique experience with the pals this weekend. You know you're close when you roll in bat muck together. Nuff said. read more

It's kind of hard to find a place nowadays that you can just go underground and get lost. My friend had a bucket list of things to get done before leaving Washington state and this was one of them. We got here around 11 and the main lot was getting full but still plenty of places to park. We threw our Northwest Forest Pass in the window and headed out. Otherwise it's $5 to park. As many have mentioned, the trail to the opening to the lower cave is only about a mile then you descend the steps into the dark abyss. Actually it's not an abyss since the cave ends after about 3/4 of a mile in the lower cave. Honestly, even though the lower cave is less than a mile long, it still felt like the walk was much longer than a mile one way. It may have been because we walked slower than normal as the ground is wet, slick, and very uneven in places. Plus, you stop to shine your flashlights all over the walls of the cave to see everything since it's really an awesome experience the recognize that you're walking in a tube that once held lava that may have burst out of Mt. St. Helens on that fateful day several years ago. It's amazing to see how the lava and the heat molded the cave and carved the walls and roof. This goes without saying but since you'll be underground where there is no light, bring several strong flashlights with a few sets of extra batteries just in case. We noticed that the regular incandescent flashlights that you might use in your house don't really work as well down there as the light is kind of dim and normally isn't focused like a LED or Xenon light. We actually saw several people struggling with regular flashlights as they just aren't bright....the flashlights....not the people! We brought two LED hand lanterns and had two head lamps for ourselves which worked perfect. It's around 60-66 degrees so you may need a windbreaker or jacket too. This really was an adventure and I wish there were more caves to explore in western Washington. I will be going back to do the upper cave. They say that one is more strenuous and you have to climb over lava walls, watch out for sharp rocks, and scale boulders. Maybe I'll see a Sasquatch next time. read more

See all

If you are a cave junky like us. Must add to your list. Bring a flashlight, warm sweater. Also sturdy shoes, not a flip flop kinda place.

We did the lower cave and had a blast. Definitely dress warm as it is cool inside. Bring a lantern/headlamp/flashlight as it is pitch black inside. read more

Ape Cave - Inside Cave - Hiking Near Me

See all

This was one of my favorite hikes. It is very dark and you need a flash light! Do not climb out of the sky light, it is not the exit. read more

Ape Cave - Cave - Hiking Near Me

See all

Best experience of my life. I did the more challenging upper cave alone and in the rain. It was challenging, but once completed felt rewarding. I will definitely be doing it again. It is not for the faint of heart. Fyi! read more

HEADS UP!! if you are planning on visiting this winter season. Make sure you have a snow park pass. Didn't realize your regular year long pass wouldn't work. Stopped and talked to a deputy near the parking lot and he informed me that a snow permit was needed to park in the spots. So I drove back down to cougar to buy a day pass at the gas station in town. Cost $20 for the day. Not sure how much it cost for the season. Heads up for those who don't have one, make sure to stop and purchase one. The deputy told me it would cost about a 100 for the fine. But the ape caves are awesome! Had a blast on this day adventure. There are two sections to the caves. Upper and lower parts to the cave. When you enter the cave and go down the stair case. As soon as you hit the bottom of the stair case, look to your left and you will see the marking for upper and lower. Read the directions and choose which way to go! Took the lower level and it was an easy walk through. Saved the upper level for another trip back. read more

See all

If you're hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime Washington adventure, you've found your match. Recently, this trail was on the list of the state's most underrated site, and I would have to agree. After moving to the Pacific Northwest, and hearing about the Mount Saint Helen's lava tube Ape Caves, I knew I had to take on the challenge. I can now say the challenge was accepted, completed and now checked off my list. The remainder of my family members who hiked the dark, dingy, and yes, moist, caves for 2 hours with me exclaimed, "I'm glad I did it, but never again!" Truthfully, it reminded us of the horror movie The Descent. The Ape Cave is the longest continuous known lava tube in the U.S. and third longest in the Americas. The lower section of the trail is a cave walk (I mean, cake walk... [attempted to be punny]), it does feature the Meatball lava formation before you come to a dead end. For the more adventurous, the upper cave is more strenuous even though it's only 1.5 miles. You'll basically be a earthworm crawling up, over and through uneven rock formations. A few tips for a successful adventure: - You need to purchase a day pass so bring cash to pay there or purchase one ahead of time in town. - Each person should have two light sources (a headlamp and a secondary; cell phones are not bright enough). If you are claustrophobic or afraid of the dark, avoid at all costs. - I cannot stress it enough: Wear waterproof clothing with a hood and hiking shoes with decent tread to avoid slipping. Plus, bring an extra pair of clothes and shoes for after! Layers, layers, layers. You will thank me. - Spray yourself down with bug spray. Everyone BUT me had bites of some kind. We were hoping to not end up with some bizarre infection that has never been seen before by medical specialists. - An expected and common courtesy (yet sadly not always followed), whatever trash you bring in, pack out. No food is allowed inside the caves--that's just gross anyway. - Wash your hands and shoes before AND after entering the caves for the health of the bats and yourself. - Do NOT touch the slimy walls or ceiling because you are destroying a self-sufficient ecosystem. - Be aware of the weather when you're visiting. We didn't expect to hike through several inches of snow back to the parking lot to be more difficult than our cave walk. Also make sure to follow the trail since there are many spots with weak ground that fall back in the underground. - Be safe, smart, and of course, enjoy this natural wonder! read more

Ape Cave - Signage at entrance to cave - Hiking Near Me

See all

Must bring strong headlamp (or flashlight) and proper tennis shoes or hiking boots. It's an underground lave tube so it gets pitch dark and slippery at some points due to the snow and water. It can be a short or long hike. If it's the long route, you will have to climb a tall wall (8 foot or so) using a rope. It's real life CrossFit. Before we went down into the cave, we talked to a couple who gave us the tip to start from the side near the sign to make it back to the parking lot. Basically start from the side with the lodging. Pack snacks and water. This is a definitely a different hiking experience- its the longest lava tube in North America! I went in March where there was lots of snow outside of the tube. It was up to my knees at the end for a 5 foot gal. Be sure to get your snow pass permit because they do ticket. This is not your regular park pass. It's only $5. read more

A very magical experience to know that you are in a lava cave of an active volcano wondering aimless down hill! This is something everyone should experience! The indescribable feeling of being a mile underground in pitch black conditions and no sound was an amazing life experience and I will be back to stand at the rim! read more

Ape Cave - The opening - Hiking Near Me

See all

Climbing volcanoes is one of the great rewards of living in the Pacific Northwest. The Ape Caves, near Mount St. Helens, give you an opportunity to see some of the inner-workings of these magma-spewing piles of pumice. The entry point to the caves is a stair case in the middle of a two mile long lava tube, left from an eruption 2000 years ago. If you head south, on the easier route, you are treated to a sandy floored hike that gives you a look at the geology of the lava tubes and the mountain. Other than some drips and a few scrambles through the boulders, this very easily could be an interpretive walk in along graveled trail, instead of the claustrophobic cave crawl that I've come to expect from spelunking. There are also some cool formations, like boulders that floated along the later lava flows and get suspended above the walk way. The trail goes for just under a mile until the tube tapers down to nothing. Heading north from the entry stairwell takes explorers on a very different type of route. The boulders become ridiculously frequent and the journey quickly turns into a hands-and-feet rock scramble. Be prepared to get dirty and have to work. There are also a few short steep climbs and some spots that get narrow, but still not the bound in feeling that I've experienced in other caverns. The route goes for a mile and a half and ends in a ladder and you hike back along the surface. It's a much harder hike, but well worth it if you're up for it. As with all outdoorsy experiences (or in this case inside) be prepared, with proper gear is key. Bring long pants, close toed shoes, warm clothes that will stay warm when wet and gloves aren't a bad call either. The most important thing is a light source. Every person should have their own, headlamps work best, but flashlights will do in a pinch. I also recommend bringing a backup. With the lights off you'll get disorientated and lose your direction in minutes. I've seen people trying to navigate by the light of their cellphone, don't let this be you. read more

Ape Cave - Hiking Near Me

How did I find these caves? I still don't remember. I saw the words "Ape Caves," thought that they looked cool, and decided to take my mom on an adventure. Big....no, huge fucking mistake. Both of us had decent shoes on and some crappy Costco headlamps, but were obviously unprepared for what we would encounter while walking the upper tube. This place is incredibly freaking dark, so I must have missed the sign that said "upper cave" and "lower cave." At any rate, we walked down this dark corridor for a while, thinking that it was strange people were passing us, heading the other direction...but whatever. Finally, we discovered why: it leads to a dead end. I mean, you can try crawling on your belly, but I doubt you will get anywhere. So, we turned around and headed back the way we came. Upon arriving back at the stairs, I decided that it would be a good idea to try the "upper cave." This is a good time to mention how cold it is in the Ape Caves. I wore a t-shirt and was not a happy camper. I think I kept my hands in my pockets most of the time. Definitely bring a sweatshirt or jacket to wear, because it is cold down there and the tunnel winds make it seem even colder. It didn't take long for us to learn that the upper cave portion primarily consists of evil fucking rocks...everywhere. We had to climb over these assholes for at least 2 hours and when you finally reach flat terrain, you breathe a sigh of relief only to find out that the next fun obstacle are these things called "lava slides." One "slide" in particular is impossible to ascend without the assistance of a rope that is provided by the park rangers (or somebody). The only dilemma is that at this point your hands will be numb, unless you were smarter than me and brought gloves. I went up and down this thing twice, because I was trying to figure out the best way to help my mom. Pulling her up wouldn't have worked, so I had to climb back down and then, basically, put her on my shoulder and push her up. Then I had to force my numb fingers one last time into action and haul myself upward and onward. There are some other tight squeezes and another spot where you have to bend down a little bit, but if you are not claustrophobic then you shouldn't have a problem. If you have small children or elderly, do NOT take them for a hike in the upper cave. Bring flashlights or headlamps and something warm to wear. Other than that, food and water isn't really necessary, because overall it is only about a 2.1 mile hike. Finally, be sure that you use the restroom before you arrive, because the stench emanating from the luxurious outhouses was practically unbearable and having to stare at a mountain of feces while urinating made me want to wretch. Have fun, be safe, and don't smoke in the caves because people have to breathe your nasty second-hand smoke. This is a natural wonder, so take care of it. Don't litter and don't leave graffiti on the walls. read more

See all

Totally awesome!!! Took my parents and siblings this weekend, so much fun! Only $5 to park and no entrance fee. We rented 2 lanterns for $5 each! The lower cave was perfect for us, yet not too easy where it was totally boring. Definitely wear good shoes with support and a jacket! Definitely have to check this place out of you haven't! read more

I am sick with autoimmune disease but I'm not going to let it get me down I wanted to go to the ape caves so I decided that I would just do the easier one and take my time which is what I did and I had an amazing time make sure you look up and the walls. read more

See all

If you ever want a very unique, kinda scary, family oriented, low cost, lots of exercise, awesome trip, then you need to choose the Ape Caves! This cave is over a mile and a half long, very dark, and there are many obstacles during the hike. I was very naive when I first came here. I thought it was just a smaller cave where you walk into, look around, take some pictures, and leave. Boy was I wrong! We took the harder route. As there are two routes, one easier, one harder. I was so exhausted after we were done my body was sore for days afterward. Lol There are many rock piles you have to climb over so be careful. Wear great hiking shoes, or boots, and thicker pants because you will scrape up your knees pretty good (well I did anyways). Bring lots of headlamps or flashlights with extra extra batteries. You don't want to be walking through there with no light because it is pitch black!!! I mean so black you cannot see your hand in front of your own face. It took us about 4 hours to finish but we took our time. Also where a warm jacket because it's at least 20 degrees colder down there. So if your looking for a fun activity type of thing to do with your family, or by yourself, this is the place to visit. Oh and a FYI, if you go the hard route you do have to scale about a 10 to 12 foot wall. They had a rope to help you up but I still needed a boost from my husband. There is also another huge rock about half way through that was so hard to climb over I scraped my knees up pretty bad. Overall COME HERE! You won't regret it I promise! read more

See all

I remember going on a field trip in middle school to ape caves. It was so fun! I decided to go again last summer and it was just as I remembered it. Obviously, you should bring a flashlight. However, should you forget, there are gas lamps for rental at the sight. If you go during the summer, don't be deceived by the warm air outside the cave! It is so much colder underground. I could actually see my breath in the cave! Be careful to take a glance at the ground every few steps because there are rocks on the floor that can trip you! read more

See all

you should definitely come check out one of the longest lava tubes in North America! Make sure and bring hiking shoes, flashlight, long sleeves, long pants, and some water to drink. Most of the hike in the lower portion which is the easy .7 mile Trail down is walking on uneven terrain but the final segment of the tunnel requires you to low crawl through about a 12in high space to reach the last final small chamber. It is surprisingly colder in the cave then it is outside. I normally am very hot natured but I believe the temperature above ground was about 78 degrees and the temperature in the cave was around 49 degrees. So dress accordingly! I wish I could have done the upper route which was 1.5 miles long but I had some serious leg pain and was unable to do it but it looks like a gas! read more