We stopped by here on our way back to Seattle from a Portland trip because we wanted to do a hike but the weather was awful. It is about an hour east of I-5 and it got right up to the snow line so I am glad we went when we did so the snow was minimal. If you don't have a Northwest Forest Pass make sure to bring a pen and $5 cash to fill out the form and pay. Being lazy we decided to do the lower part of the cave which is the easy part. The three of us who went all wore head lamps which I think was an awesome way to do the cave. While I am sure it was actually cold down there (signs said 42 degrees was the average) it didn't really feel that cold. Overall the lower part of the cave is really easy. I haven't hiked since I was in boy scouts and wore tennis shoes and didn't have any issues. We even saw two families while we were down there. The end of the cave kinda sneaks up on you but it was cool to turn off all the lights and see what that was like. Never been somewhere so dark and so quiet. Not quiet worth a day trip all the way from Seattle but if you are in the area or coming back from Portland I'd check it out. Definitely one of the more unique experiences I've done in the northwest. 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

I have a special place in my heart for these caves considering it was one of the first date spots my boyfriend took me on initially. :) the caves are so neat inside, big long tubes, completely dark and when you stand still all you hear is drip, drip, drip from the moisture. In parts of the cave you are walking on relatively stable sandy ground but then there are sections where the ground is very bumpy and the tunnels get narrow and low as well. You'll be scrambling over big rocks (boulders really) and at one point using a rope to climb up a ten foot wall. There are a few footholds and the rope has a loop so it's not as hard as it sounds but you should be with someone to either boost you or fab your hand (if your upper body strength isn't that great OR if you're short like me). Definitely wear headlamps. It doesn't hurt to bring a lantern or flashlight as well. Wear good hiking shoes because it really is a scramble at times and uneven terrain. Ankle support is helpful. It can be cool down there so grab a light jacket. Recommend getting there earlier so avoid the crowds. We left around 12:30pm and the parking lot and surrounding roads had filled up as well. It took us about an hour but my boyfriend is like a billy goat. If you stop to smell the roses along the way or just take a leisurely pace you're looking at 1.5 hours. Have fun! read more

Ape Cave - Hiking Near Me

Best place to cool off from the warm weather of Portland, Oregon. Beautiful drive with spectacular views along the way. Definitely a good day trip just an hour and a half drive from PDX. Buy a day pass from a sporting goods store, or you can pay 5 bucks there. Extra batterie, flashlights and bring a jacket just in case. read more

See all

First of all, I have anxieties. I started to dread the car ride two weeks prior to our trip. My mind was kept busy with all the "what-if" scenarios and it made me pack extra crap I probably didn't need, but..."what-if" I did. Better safe, than sorry. It was just my sister and me. You need a parking pass and it's sold there until 5pm (at least in summer, I'm not sure about winter but I read somewhere there's a different fee) There are bathrooms but...PLEASE CLOSE THE LID when you're done! It stinks pretty fricken bad if the lid is left open :( Pack a meal in the car. You are not supposed to take food or drink (other than water) into the caves. The nearest food area is a drive back down and hiking can/will take a lot out of you. DO NOT bring your dog or other pets. There were a few left in kennels and cars that day :( LOWER CAVE We started with the Lower Cave and I surprisingly was fine. This cave is great for young and younger :P. No real climbing and most of the ground is pretty flat. There were a few areas that we needed to watch our step or high step over rumble but it's an easy stroll otherwise. You don't actually need tons of gear. There were many people with just a cell phone for light. I would probably carry one extra light just in case, but no headlamp is needed for this cave. It is cool in there, but doable with a sweater and some light footwear. UPPER CAVE - (Under the stairs) I wouldn't suggest doing this one solo. You will need more adequate gear for this cave. As many others have mentioned, a headlamp is a must! I suggest at least 100 lumens. You'll need your hands to climb and to stabilize yourself. I would also suggest bringing an extra and keeping it in easy reach IF (here's more of those "what-ifs") it falls off of your head or gets bumped off from a low ceiling or jutting rock that you didn't see because you're looking at your feet! (I did see hair on some rocks...so more than one person has hit their head!!) You may not be able to retrieve your first light if it falls between rocks. Rocks are sharp and jagged, bring some gloves. We brought gardening gloves with rubber for grip. Jeans would probably be best to keep down cuts and scrapes. It did seem cooler in this cave, but I did shed a sweater and a thermal shirt back at the car after the Lower Cave (and unpacked some other "what-if" crap, too). We got a workout and I was sweating, but sweat + chill can equal bad. I still had a shirt and a jacket on. Proper shoes with decent treads are a must. You don't want your foot slipping between rocks. Sometimes there's nothing below to catch you. I wore snow boots because it was the closest thing I had to hiking boots. While it supported my ankles and gave me good traction, it was a little bulky and my foot got caught a few times. Reviews I read mentioned a "breakdown" (rubble of fallen ceiling/walls) at the beginning. It's a LOT more than I had anticipated. As high as a house. Take your time. Be careful! Go straight even though it seems like there's no way out. It WILL reveal an opening. There were a lot more of these than just at the beginning. None as large as the first, but several more piles to climb. Watch your step through the whole cave. It's not mostly sand like the Lowers. If you want to look around, STOP walking first! LAVA FALL - WALL There is no rope. I asked the ranger if I could leave one. They don't want one there because over time the sharp jagged rocks can spell disaster for someone down the way. You can bring and use one, but don't leave it. This wall takes some strength to get up. There is one notch in the wall for your foot not quite 1/2 way up, the rest is up to you. Someone had to be rescued out and airlifted after falling (Google it), and the lady at the front desk at the motel we stayed at, told me she fell and she was about 6'3". My sister and I are about 5'3. I'm not physically fit. A lot of climbing, some tight squeezes, a good workout, great experience! I was determined to get through this even with my anxieties. I'm glad that we did it. I'm proud of myself :D We plan on going again with a larger group and taking more time to explore. Sad to see that there was so much graffiti, broken bottles, and other trash around. Saw signs that people used the bathroom in there, too. A-holes! BTW...the ranger station closes at 5pm (again, Summer..not sure about winter) that doesn't mean that you have to rush through to leave by 5pm (like we were trying to). They don't close a gate and lock you in :P read more

Nice place for those who are not claustrophobic :) Make sure you have a decent flash light with you and another one as an extra.

Awesome cave hiking. Make sure to bring a headlamp if you tackle the advanced section. A flashlight doesn't cut it. If you do bring a flashlight, make sure its a super bright LED so you can see and enjoy the intricacies of the cave, rocks, and occasional lifeforms. Its pretty cool once you're underground - I went with jeans and a tshirt through the difficult tunnel. Coming up the ladder at the end, the outside the HOT. If I did this hike again, I'd wear a set of pants which unzips into shorts for the hike back to the parking lot. I wouldn't wear shorts through the actual tunnel, as a lot of climbing and crawling may have resulted in scraped shins and knees. For advanced hikers: When you reach the hole with light coming down, know you're almost at the end, but not quite there. This is truly advanced and I wouldn't recommend bringing kids on this section, or tackling it if you're not strong enough to pull yourself up a rope. It took me about 90 minutes to get through the underground section, but I move on the faster side. read more

See all

I would like to start by saying I am not in the least bit scared of the dark, frightened of "creepy" things, or normally claustrophobic... I have been wanting to do this hike for a long time. I had never hiked in a cave and it sounded really cool. All of that being said I wasn't prepared for the completeness of the dark inside. When you get to the top of the cave entrance you have to walk down stairs into the mouth of the cave. Once you are down the stairs looking onward to the cave it swallows any and all light and it's the darkest dark I've ever seen. I had a moment of panic where I almost turned around and did not go in. I came to my senses though and went inside. Number 1 tip is that bringing proper lighting is essential. Not all lights are created equal. I was hiking with my husband and stepdaughter. We had two headlamps that I had gotten at Fred Meyer ... pretty much the cheapest ones I found. I figured a light is a light. That is not true when you are in a cave with no reach at all of outside light a cheap dim headlamp isn't very adequate. We just hike to the end of the lower cave (which I don't know what I had thought it would be but it pretty much just gets shorter and shorter and dead ends) and back to the entrance. It is slow going because of the dark you have to be careful not to trip as the ground is uneven and rocky. We came across one spot where someone had apparently recently fallen down and there was a lot of fresh blood on the rocks and ground. Second tip is make sure you wear a jacket it is pretty cold down there even though it was hot outside. It was pretty cool hiking in the long lava tube and after awhile the dark didn't make me feel panicked anymore. If you are prone to being scared of the dark or claustrophobic however I'm not sure this hike is for you. We didn't do the upper cave hike since our lighting was so inadequate... I can now check this off of my bucket list and I am glad I at least hiked the lower cave. I did however determine that cave hiking is not for me (at least this type of cave) and I most likely will never go back to do the upper cave. I'm giving it 5 stars however because like I said it was a cool experience. read more

See all

So much fun!!! The first time we came we only had our phone lights.....BAD IDEA!!! The next time we came we were prepared!! It was amazing! What a gift from God!!! read more

See all

Ape Cave is a lava tube with 2 routes. the short one, which I didn't do and the one that is over a mile and a half of getting over challenging rocks and climbs. It was so much fun! I recommend proper hiking shoes and headlamps. So cool!!! read more

Ape Cave - Half way through the lava tube. Some light! - Hiking Near Me

See all

Ape Cave is a natural underground lava flow. I have only done the upper section, so this review is for upper section only. If you are planning on do the upper section make sure you have a good head lamp, boots, gloves, long pants and a flashlight. You will be climbing over large rock piles. If you didn't come prepared you will regret it. It can be dangers and you can get yourself in hurt if you don't know what you are doing. If you are planning on taking pictures make sure you have a external flash for your camera. It only cost $5.00 for parking. Don't rent a lantern for the upper section; you will need your hands free. Also you must climb a 8ft wall, there is a rope. You can do it by yourself but it doesn't hurt to have another person with you. Lastly it can get busy on the weekends. It's an awesome place to go and I can't wait to go back. read more

Ape Cave - Hiking Near Me

See all

This really is something great people should see at least once. Third time there, hiked the upper path with a friends 6 year old and 10 year old in tow. Have some ankle support, and bring a backup flashlight with your flashlight. The previous reviews sum up the experience pretty good. The upper path is doable if you are in even mediocre shape. If you are very out of shape, injured, or have someone under 6 years old, you may want to stick with the lower path. Id like to say 5 stars but upon returning I have a few issues with it.. I was last there about 10 years ago. Now it appears to have a lot more traffic. A LOT. which is great more people are enjoying it but... Inside the lava tube I saw multiple places where people just went and took a crap in the middle of the cave, and left the paper towels there too. Graffiti in one area (someone attempted to remove it).. Several used water bottles.. Another spot I found a bloody tampon next to an applicator device. Talk about trashy and rude, who the hell does this kind of stuff?? Way to keep it classy, taking a dump on a high traffic hiking area. ugh. There are at least 4 bathrooms at the beginning of the trail and it isn't *that* long. Way to turn a nice park into a toilet. So yeah, its great. Go see it at least once, if you have kids bring them too, highly recommended. Just don't leave nasty biological waste in the cave please read more

The Ape Caves are fantastic! These are old, extinct lava tubes from Mount Saint Helens you can go in from one side of them and go a considerable distance underneath and come out at the other end. You definitely need flashlights or you won't be going very far at all. In addition to that you will need to bring a warm jacket and a hat. Yes, even during the summer time. It doesn't matter if it is hot and humid as you go down the stairs to the cave. Once you are in the cave it gets chilly VERY fast. What is really cool about this cave is that it is relatively smooth on the sides and at the top....probably because it is actually a tube and is much more round in shape. On the floor though it takes on a more typical manner of a cave as there are lots of lava rocks to step over and the progress is slow. Don't hurry or you will wipe out...it's very dark down there so take your time and enjoy. Steve and I and a friend actually did not go all that far in the cave before we decided to turn back because we grossly underestimated how cold it would get down there when the day we headed here was sweltering otherwise. The Ape Caves while are a part of Mount Saint Helens are managed by a different entity than the National Park Service the Ape Caves are in an area managed by the Forest Service so you will need to pay an entry fee for the south end of Mount Saint Helens and another fee up north with the National Park service. It does seem like you may be getting nickle and dimed but the sites are worth those fees. read more

I had no idea this place existed. My dad said I take him places he would never go on his own. I'm glad for that. We are always up for an adventure. I wasn't sure if dad would be up to it. He is 73 after all, but still in good shape. I also left all my lights at home and had no idea if we would find a place to rent some. I didn't think so, but dad said how could a place like this exist without a place near by to rent some lights? I couldn't answer that question. Turns out he was right. There is the Ape's Headquarters where we were able to rent a flashlight and a lantern. Good stuff. There are 2 cave hikes here. An easy one which should take most people about an hour. Half hour in, half hour back out. There is also a more difficult hike that could take between 3 to 4 hours. We did the easy one. I will definitely be back with friends to do the more difficult one. It was 42 degrees down there and damp. Dark as all get out too. I wasn't cold even with shorts on. Keep in mind I wear shorts biking around Portland year round. Legs don't get cold. I was wearing a light jacket and that was fine. Next time I will bring a pair of gloves as my hands got a bit frosty. This is not a place for everyone. It can get pretty slippery and some of it is a bit rocky. Dad slipped a few times, but I'm happy to say he didn't fall. There are also all kinds of people down there. We got stuck near a group that found it important to sing Phantom of the Opera tunes very loudly. Got annoying after a bit, but what are you going to do? Only an hour to an hour and 15 minutes from Portland. If you are into such things, check this out. read more

This hike makes for a unique and awesome experience! We did the Upper Loop. It is completely dark in the cave and it is a cool 42 degrees. It gets VERY cold in here, but if you're moving around, you should feel comfortably cold. Dress in layers. You will be navigating through rocky areas, the hike inside the cave is not all flat. And there is a beautiful skylight for a picture opportunity. Here are some things to remember when you come here: 1. Make sure you have $5 for parking. 2. Bring water because the Upper Hike took us about 2 hours in the cave and 1 hour above ground to hike back to the parking lot. 3. Bring a head lamp (and extra batteries). It would not be fun to be stuck in the middle of a pitch dark cave without lights. This is necessary. 4. There is an 8 feet wall. Depending on which end you start at, this will be a drop off or a climb up. 5. Gloves! It was so helpful to keep my hands warm in the 42 degrees cold cave and to help grip as you climb through some rocks and it especially helps to keep that slimy wet dirt feeling off your hands. Most of the hike is moist so this is highly recommended. 6. Pack in and pack out. Please be kind to Mother Nature and don't leave your trash there. Have fun!! read more

Weird and fun experience. There are 2 levels to the cave - the upper and lower - we did the lower - it went on for 3/4 of a mile. Sounds short but seemed quite long in the dark, walking over uneven ground with crappy flashlights (as Jay suggested, a headlamp would have been better). I kept expecting Gollum to jump out, but the only life I saw in there was a field mouse. The walls are slimy and water drips on your head from above. I was expecting it to be a lot colder, so I was way overdressed. I had a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, and a coat but that was much too warm once we got walking. Gloves would have been a good idea, because if you have to touch the wall to gain your balance from time to time, you wont get slimed. read more

The ape caves are definitely a must go to for an adventurous day. Plan on having most of your day gone with the traveling and the actual exploration. Make sure to dress fairly warm and bring flashlights and snacks/food. Parking can also get very hectic during peak times and you will need to get a parking pass. There is the lower and upper caves. First our group took the easier lower caves. It was a quick 30 minutes to the end. It was a dead end so had to turn back around. The path was fairly flat and not too many rocks or bumps. Then we took a break. The upper caves is a lot harder and took about 2 hours to get to the other side. There is a lot of uphill and rocks to get over. It was actually very fun and a little challenging. At the end there is an opening to get out then you just take a path from the outside trough the forest to get back to the entrance. This is definitely a fun place to go with friends, date, or exercise. There are also other attractions nearby so your day can be filled with all the surrounding adventures! read more

Ape Cave - Hiking Near Me

See all

An impressing hike in the caves. Well worth the trip up the mountain. Parking will cost you $5 for the day. Bring a jacket; you will be cold. And don't be that guy with flip-flops on making your way through the tube! read more

Ape Cave - Hiking Near Me

This place is a BLAST...just don't do it alone. Bring high powered head lamps if doing the upper cave and be careful and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. You will not be disappointed... this is a special place. read more

Awesome hike. It's not everyday that you get to hike a cave without a guide. Make sure to bring a flashlight and be prepared to get a little wet and dirty. You can't really get lost but if your lights go out you'll definitely want a back up flashlight. read more

Ape Cave - Hiking Near Me

We recently did the upper and lower Ape Caves. It was our first time in a real cave, and we didn't know what we were in for. First of all, it was rough...really rough. Rigorous is an understatement. Bring a BRIGHT headlamp, and wear some hard-soled hiking shoes. There are a bunch of rock piles (some are 12-15 ft. high) that have to be climbed, carefully, along the 1.5-mile tube. Rocks are loose, the path is uneven, and more than a few times we had to jump - either across or down - to keep moving. It was exhausting, and one member of our party actually suffered a sprained ankle. With that being said, it was one of the most invigorating experiences I've ever had. It truly is an adventure. The lower cave is a shorter, and much easier, hike, but the upper cave is where the fun is. You can't help but walk with a little more swagger in your step once you've survived this trek. It truly was a day to remember! read more

What a great mini adventure. I've gone 3 times and every time is just as much fun. Don't forget to dress warm and bring your headlamps with EXTRA BATTERIES. It's fun for the whole family. One path is safe for all ages the 2nd path is much more challenging. Climbing on boulders in the dark makes it difficult for youngsters. Though, my 4 year old did accomplish it. However, it makes the trek much longer. read more

I did the 2 mile upper cave loop with my 13 year old son. Lots of hopping from rock to rock and exploring (many boulder piles to climb over, not for the risk adverse). I'm surprised there weren't more injuries, though the upper trail was pretty sparsely populated. It was 95º outside; I would guess upper 50s inside. It says on the website that it's 42º year round, which didn't seem true. We walked it in shorts + Tshirts. But don't underestimate the caves. Here are some words of advice... Bring: 1) A flashlight for every person. A head-lamp would be even better, allowing both hands free. 2) Long pants (helps to prevent scrapes when you slip on the rocks) 3) A hoodie (helps keep you warm and prevent scrapes) 4) Gloves. the lava rocks are rough, and after touching them for 2+ miles, at the very least your hands are dried out, and at worse they are scraped up. 5) Band Aids (to cover the wounds) 6) Water (to wash off the wounds). There is no water at the bathrooms outside the caves. 7) Hand lotion, to moisturize after the hike. Don't wear flip flops. Don't smoke in the freakin' cave. Don't badger your spouse to hurry up. Don't brink kids under 7 (perhaps you can do the lower cave with them) It's over 4 miles of walking in total for the upper cave. Make sure you are up for that, as it's all uphill (either within the caves, or on the trail to the cave, if you go that way first). PS: The onion rings at Lone Fir Resort & Cafe in Cougar are really good. Stop in for a snack after leaving the caves! : ) read more

Omg it's so cool! I would hike before heading into the cave. You'll find the smallest opening you'll believe is nothing but It's the way inside. Bring jackets! It's cold inside and DARK there no way you can do this without a head lamp. It's an amazing experience read more

Tips for your trip!!!! This is an awesome hiking adventure and you'll be SO happy you did it! But you'll be MUCH better prepared than we were, with the following tips: 1) Wear layers (it's cold down in the cave and there are water droplets that will occasionally fall but you'll get warm as you climb the enormous boulders and hike the entire 2+ miles on the challenging upper half of the trail) 2) Wear GOOD QUALITY, BRIGHT head lamps. Ours cost $8, were from Fred Meyer, were 15 lumen, and totally sucked. It is literally pitch black in the cave and you're completely under the earth. The ONLY light is what you bring with you and flashlights are tricky to hold while you climb. The head lamp is awesome but ours were NOT bright enough. 3) Wear tennis shoes or hiking boots. This is literally rock crawling for the majority of the hike and it's damp lava rock so it's very uneven. Good ankle support and traction is helpful. We all wore tennis shoes and could feel the rocks slightly through our soles. I wouldn't spend extra money on hiking boots but if I had them I'd wear them. 4) Wear some light weight gloves. You'll have to use your hands to climb and to steady yourself and lava rock is very rough and even sharp in some places. Even a simple pair of gardening gloves would've been nice to have. We did the hike with 2 men, 2 women (all about 40 years old) and a 10 year old, 7 year old, 5 year old and 4 year old. 2 girls and 2 boys. It was very challenging and there were some parts of the climb that really took a lot of team work but the kids made it with few tears and just a bit of whining. Definitely recommend it! read more

My 18 yo son and I explored the upper caves yesterday. I had read some reviews to kind of get a feeling of what it's like and what to bring. Headlamps a must! You need both hands at some point to help get through the boulder piles. Also for the 8 ft wall you have to climb. By the way there wasn't a rope to help get up and over. We were right behind another party as well. They also could not find a rope. A couple of footholds on each side and some rocks to grab onto to pull yourself up and over was challenging but doable. An extra layer or light jacket is needed, temp drops quite a bit, enough to see your breath. We had an extra flashlight but didn't need it. If your headlamp goes out it is total darkness, so a backup light is necessary. We stopped and looked around quite often to check out the nooks and crannies and the ceiling. Didn't see any bats nor did the cave smell bad either. A few places along the way were windy and the breeze felt good. Over all a great experience. Just go at a slow pace so you can safely navigate through the boulder piles. read more

I enjoyed my trip to the Ape Caves and will now share some hints for those come after me: There is a bathroom in the parking lot, but it consists of a building and a toilet sitting on top of a large hole where the waste accumulates. It smells terrible and there is no running water. If possible, go to the bathroom at the public restroom in Cougar, WA, which is next to the Mountain Fresh Deli. There is no cellular service anywhere in the caves or even in the parking lot of the caves. Lower Cave: If you live a sedentary lifestyle or are overweight, or have children with you, just stick to the lower cave. A sweatshirt and sweatpants or jeans should keep you warm enough. Bring at least two flashlights/headlamps per person and backup batteries. You start and end this cave in the same spot. It is mostly flat, and it takes between 30 to 60 minutes round trip. Upper Cave: Bring a headlamp, a backup flashlight, and extra batteries, full coverage gloves, some papertowels, water, a small snack, and maybe an ace bandage. 1. The upper cave involves a substantial amount of physical exertion. If you live a sedentary lifestyle or are overweight, you should not go through the Upper Cave. I wouldn't take children under 14 through the Upper Cave. 2. The entrance to the Upper Cave is the same as the entrance to the Lower Cave, but you go North and uphill for the Upper Cave and South and downhill for the Lower. It takes 2-3 hours to complete the Upper Cave. Unlike the Lower Cave, the Upper Cave exits in a different location some distance North and higher in elevation. The exit requires you to climb a tall ladder out a very small hole in the ground. Once you exit, it is 30-40 minute hike back down the hill to the parking lot. About 75% of the hike down is shaded by trees, but you'll get some sunlight, so you may want to bring a hat. 3. The Upper Cave is about 50% walking on level, but uneven ground and about 50% climbing up and over large piles of large rocks. There are at least ten spots where you will be climbing over house-size piles of rocks that fell from the ceiling at some time in the past. Some of the rocks are smooth, but many are rough and will scrape and scratch you. Most of people who came through at the same time as I did (even those not in my group) left the Upper Cave with scrapes and cuts from the sharper rocks. You will be using your hands to climb up and over the rocks (and to steady yourself while walking over the uneven rocks), so you should wear gloves or your hands will get scraped and scuffed up. For the same reason, you'll want to use a headlamp and not a flashlight. There are large dropoffs between some of the rocks where you can fall and become trapped or seriously injured. There are also a few spots where the cave gets very tiny and you can easily hit your head on the ceiling if you're not careful. 4. Although it is cold in the caves (around 42 degrees F consistently), it is relatively humid and the physical exertion required to make it through the Upper Cave left me sweating most of the way even with a cotton T-shirt and sweats. If I had it to do again (and I won't do the Upper Cave again), I would have worn clothing that was very thin and which was designed to prevent abrasions rather than clothing that was designed for warmth. 5. Just after half way up the Upper Cave, you'll come upon an 8-foot lava wall. There is one foothold about 3 feet up, one handhold towards the top, and a small rope towards the top. If you are not able to pull your body weight up using your arms, you will not be able to get up the wall without help. If you are in a group, one person can boost up the other and then the person on top can help pull you up. The starting point to go up the wall is not flat. It is very uneven, and so if you fall or try to descend the wall, you're likely to lose your footing on landing, fall down and injure yourself. The rangers told me that people who attempt to descend the wall are the most common source of broken legs and ankles. Since this is about .8 miles up the cave (after several rockfalls), I imagine it could take many hours to get rescued and carried out of the cave from this position. For the same reason, you don't want to to try to navigate the cave from the top to the bottom, and you should not plan to return after you get over the wall. 6. There is a very good breeze in the cave, and so air quality should not be problem. At least twice while going up, I smelled cigarette smoke, and once I'm pretty sure that I smelled someone smoking marijuana. You may also smell the exhaust from the gas lanterns that the Forest Service will rent out for $5.00. 7. There is quite a bit of trash and debris in the cave. It's not everywhere, but there was a lot of gum in various spots, and I spotted quite a few water bottles stuck in between the rocks. In at least one spot, we saw what looked like human waste (but we couldn't smell anything). read more

On a very hot August day in 2010, my son and I went to the Ape Caves. I've never been here, but have always wanted to go. We only had time to explore the lower cave. But it was totally awesome! You will need a flashlight. A jacket. A good pair of shoes. And $5.00 to buy a parking pass. On a 98 degree day the cool 40 degree lower cave was better than swimming. Both my son and I brought a headlamp, and a flashlight. Once you enter the cave, it becomes instantly dark. The lower cave is about 3/4 mile long. And it would be real bad for you if your flashlight batteries died once you got to the end! Watch your step in here. The ground is natural lava carved, so there is no soft places to land if you fall. The ground is not slippery, but it is not a smooth walk from one end to the next. There are lots of lava rocks, and an uneven floor to deal with.And the inside of the lower cave is damp. Expect to get at least a drop of cold water down the nape of your neck. The insides of the lower cave are beautiful! We were in here for almost 3 hours sightseeing. My cellphone camera was not capable of taking a decent picture. So make sure you bring a camera with a good flash. As you are walking thru the cave, you will notice things are getting smaller, and smaller. Press on, because the cave opens up again. You will know when you get to the end. Best time to go, is in the heat of summer. Bring a lunch, and find a dry rock to sit on. Alcohol is not allowed, but I noticed an empty beer bottle or two. Please pack your garbage out of the cave. read more

The Caves were really interesting, and fun for something a little different. It gets really cold inside the earth so layers would be a must, there is also no lighting in the cave, so you would need to bring flashlights or lanterns. This was my first time going there and was told they usually have a place to rent lanterns, this time they did not so we got lucky that some people gave us their flashlights because there is no where around to get anything. read more

This was awesome! Make sure you have a light, we just had our phone flashlight and we were fine. Its dark, chilly and scary! You just keep walking down a un-leveled ground for a mile, your imagination can run wild, as to what could pop out. You should have decent shoes on, you could fall.But its not that crazy. I seen kids on the trail. read more

On a rainy morning in September, my agile pals and I journeyed to Ape cave. We wore our warmest clothes and bright headlamps per the advice of other Yelp reviews. Don't forget to grab a parking pass before you go. We decided to go up the tube, the reportedly more difficult route. This cave definitely involves a lot of scrambling. There are piles of rocks that nearly reach the ceiling of the cave that you need all four limbs to scale. The path alternated between a flat floor with cavernous ceilings to a tight squeeze between giant rock piles. Though the cave is fairly trafficked, it is surprisingly clean, save for a few pieces of litter and a minimal amount of graffiti. We quickly got our heart rates up and had to shed layers- a light jacket and pants should do the trick. Gloves are a must to protect hands from the craggy boulders. The opening at the end of the tunnel is spectacular. Warm, fresh air rushes in and the light illuminates a mossy picture window into the lush forest. Make sure to continue down the path, past the opening, towards the ladder where you can climb up and walk back to the start. Overall, Ape Caves is a great way to explore the underground on a wet, dreary day! read more

Ape Cave - The opening at the end of the upper tunnel - Hiking Near Me

See all

If you are athletically inclined and are the adventurous type and enjoy getting dirty, than go, have fun, but if you arent, DO NOT GO, you will be miserable, dirty, and if your me, almost break something, and if you do go, go with more than 1 person, if you fall there are almost no workers to help you read more

Super fun place to check out and climb around in. I would recommend dressing warm as the inside is pretty chilly. Given enough time and a good flashlight its worth a day of play. The lower caves is a bit easier but both upper and lower are pretty cool to explore. The entire upper and lower took about 2 hours to see and explore. read more

Very cool!!! This is the largest lava tube in North America. We didn't have time to go through the whole thing but we did get to go about half way before we turned back. We took the easy route since I am no hero. It was very eerie, cold and made me feel like a Neanderthal in a rock shelter (I mean that in a good way). Just an all over unique and fun experience. Definitely a win for kids. I would have been fascinated as a little one. read more

Amazing hike through beautiful caves! You do need a flashlight, but that's what makes walking through so fun!

One of my favorite spelunking locations. I take a challenge any time. The short and easy cave does have a very small lava tube in the back that I crawl through, most people don't find it or dare to go into that small of a hole but it snakes back quite a ways if you keep going. I am coming back with knee pads and elbow pads to continue down it as the rock is really rough. I don't enjoy coming here on weekends because of how crowded and noisy it gets, it us ridiculous. No wonder there are very little to no bats that are dying off in large numbers from disease. Seeing the vandalism, pollution, and general destructiom makes me sick. Sad to see people disrespect such a blessing on this earth, making it harder for real explorers to do exploring! Some caves are guided now, I wouldn't even go ever if it was guided and would hike the local mountains with a pickaxe, looking for a new entrance. This is an amazing cave, and I know I will be back to explore more. read more

We didn't arrive in time to go through the entire system, but the lower cave (the less cumbersome path) was well worth the drive! I would say the solid lava rock and weathered sandy grit are easily trekked, but I wouldn't recommend shoes other than those of the hiking variety. We did see several people wearing sandals who struggled tremendously. Be sure to bring at least two sources of light. The gift shop provides cheap head lamps and kerosene lanterns for rent. There isn't much of a chance to get lost, but it is extremely dark and shouldn't be done alone in my opinion. I have heard the upper (more difficult) system is very wet and cold. We did experience very chilly temperatures but not much water in early July. It was overall a fun and carefree adventure into a very unique place! read more

Fun for all ages, we did the lower cave pretty easy walking, dress warm, good shoes and don't forget your flash light and have a back up, would be no fun if you lost your light in there. We went early so were the only people in the cave made it even more fun. read more

Always have a blast definitely the kids. This last time it was a little harder our toddler wasnt warm enough. Even in the summer grab some gloves and a warm hat for them to wear. We had her pretty bundled but no gloves but for the most part she thought it was pretty cool. Glow sticks are awsome to have on the kids it made it easier to spit them read more

This place is no joke. Descending is easy. Ascending is moderate to hard. Completely dark. Don't go without appropriate lighting. Good pair of boots and gloves would go a long way. There are two spots in the "harder" path that require significant upper body strength. If you don't have it, you will need help or be at an impasse. Also be aware that the "hard" path leads deeper into the forest and you will have to walk about 1-1.5 miles back. Path is worn and no real signs other than small blue diamond markers to get you back to the parking lot. read more