Oregon Caves National Monument
Driving solo the Redwood Highway along the northern California border is an experience in itself. The road winds through towering trees and dense forest. This is the kind of drive where discovery is around every bend.
As I made my way towards the Oregon state line, I turned inland toward Oregon Caves National Monument. Here are marble caves tucked high in the Siskiyou Mountains.
The monument sits just north of the California border, in southwestern Oregon, surrounded by forested ridges and cool mountain air. It was designated a National Monument in 1909 by President William Howard Taft, protecting a cave system that is unusual for its formation in marble rather than limestone.
The drive up from the highway climbs steadily into the mountains. The forest thickens and the sense of isolation deepens. It is easy to realize why these caves remain hidden until the late 19th century when they were rediscovered by a hunter.
The drive itself was memorable: the Redwood Highway winding through California, crossing into Oregon and climbing into the Siskiyous.
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