Explore Skylight Cave, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

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Skylight Cave is a lava tube cave in the Deschutes National Forest near Sisters, Oregon, known for its natural skylights that create dramatic light shafts. It's located east of Belknap Crater, about nine miles northwest of Sisters. The cave is accessible during the summer months, typically from May through mid-September, due to its use as a bat habitat. The cave is entered via a steel ladder through a collapsed roof section. The most notable features of the cave are its three hornito skylights in the eastern passage, for which the cave is named. During the cave's formation, it may have had more hornitos suggested by the many small cupolas along its passage. The entrance may have been a hornito that collapsed.The eastern passage has mostly original morphology, but the western passage is filled with sand and clay and some piles of breakdown. The western passage is longer and more difficult to navigate. Skylight Cave is closed to visitation from September 15 to April 30 because of hibernating Townsend's big-eared bats. Many years worth of rotted ladders were once strewn around the entrance floor. Directions: Drive from Sisters: Head west on McKenzie Highway (242) for about 7 miles. Turn onto Forest Road 1028: This is a gravel road, and the turnoff is marked by a worn sign. Continue on Road 1028: Stay on this road for about 3.8 miles, passing several side roads. Turn onto Road 260: Look for a sign marking this road (it can be hard to spot). Stay on Road 260: Continue for another 0.7 miles, then turn onto Road 230. Final Approach: The cave entrance is about a tenth of a mile further on the right.

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