The Skylight Cave in Sisters, Oregon, is a fun and easy cave adventure! You can see a unique light feature in this cave. During the morning, the sunlight produces three beams that shine through the cave’s ceiling and down into the main chamber. This lava tube is often compared to cave scenes from the movies “Lord of the Rings”, “Indiana Jones” and “Aladdin”.
According to forest officials, the little cave is actually a lava tube formed during the eruption of neighboring Sixmile Butte. When the lava cooled and thin portions of the ceiling fell, the three skylights appeared spontaneously. The volcanic legacy is visible outside the cave, with vistas of Mount Washington, Three Fingered Jack, and Black Butte all around.
Where is the Skylight Cave?
The skylight cave is in Deschutes National Forest about 30 minutes from Sisters by car. The roads to get to the cave are National Forest backroads that are rocky and not paved. You can get to the cave without a four-wheel drive vehicle but if it’s been wet then it is recommended you bring an SUV or truck.
When to Visit the Skylight Cave
It’s only open from May to September to protect the endangered bat population that hibernates inside, yet that time range precisely aligns with the sun’s timetable, which is crucial for experiencing Skylight Cave’s charm. If you want to see all three beams of light you should plan to be at the cave between 8:45 am-11 am. Ideally, you would want to visit in June on a clear day. The June solstice is when the sun is highest in the sky and in the best position to create the beams.
The morning is the best time to catch the light at the proper angle to feature all three. If you go later you can still catch one or two but the sun’s position doesn’t allow the light to shine through each of the three skylight holes after 11 am.
What you should know before you go
There are a couple of things you should know before you head out to the cave including:
Parking at the Skylight Cave
There’s a small place to park within a 1/4 mile the Google Maps marker for the Skylight cave. It’s on the right if you take Route 20 > NF-2061 > McAllister Road.
The Parking area is marked with a sign and the cave is located just beyond it going along the dirt road. There’s an opening immediately to the right of the parking area that looks like a trail–this is not the way to go. After you park, you want to follow the NF road until you see the mouth of the cave on the right off the road in a few hundred feet. The google marker is pretty accurate.
How to get into the cave
There is a metal ladder that leads down into the cave. It’s approximately 10 feet long and the mouth is open enough so you can see the surrounding area at the bottom and get your light and/or gear situated.
When you get to the bottom of the ladder you will have two options, left and right. The skylights are found by going to the left. You can go right but the sides don’t connect and there are not skylights in that direction.
What You Need to Bring for the Skylight Cave
- Hoodie/Coat: It’s cold in the cave. The average temperature is below 40 degrees so be prepared that if you want to stay down there for any length of time you should layer up. It’s also a bit dusty so I’d opt for at least a windbreaker.
- Flashlight: So, maybe not surprisingly it is quite dark in the skylight cave. You do need at least 1 flash light to find your way to the skylight chamber. That said, it’s not far from the entrance if you had to rely on your phone’s flashlight but definitely not the recommended option.
- A Map: The cell service in this area is non existent. You likely wont be able to get Google or Apple Maps working when you leave Route 20. For that reason, I’d download the directions or a map of the route before you head out there.
- Tripod / Camera (optional): It’s pretty low light conditions around the main chamber so if you want to get good shots of the beams you’ll likely want a tripod to stabilize your camera or phone to get the best results.
Forest Service Wildlife Health PSA
National Forest officials have emphasized the necessity of bat protection. In Oregon caves, white-nose syndrome, a fungus that kills millions of North American bats, is a major concern. According to some studies, the fungus can be spread by humans through clothing, shoes, and equipment that have been exposed to other caves.
As a result, forest officials recommend that visitors to Skylight Cave, as well as other Oregon caves, take a few simple precautions:
- Avoid wearing the same clothes in multiple caverns without washing them.
- When you leave the cave, clean the dirt off your shoes.
- Before getting back into your vehicle, wash your hands and any exposed skin.
What to do After you visit the Skylight Cave
If you are looking for a great place for lunch then try the Black Butte Ranch Lakeside Bistro. It’s a great spot that has indoor and outdoor (dog-friendly) seating that looks out over a lake and the three sisters mountains as well as mount Jefferson.
They also have coffee, booze, baked goods, and a gift shop if you are looking for souvenirs.
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