Oregon’s Skylight Cave is absolutely mesmerizing. When I first stumbled upon a photo of three light beams piercing their way into this dark lava tube, I knew I had to experience this phenomenon for myself. It’s epic, magical, and takes some careful navigating to find. One wrong turn and your car will be sporting some new stripy tats thanks to the desert’s unforgiving bushes and trees. In this post, I’m sharing everything you'll need to experience the Skylight Cave safely and sustainably, and when to visit to catch a glimpse of those crazy light rays! Let’s get after it!

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Where is the Skylight Cave?

Great question, I’m glad you asked.

The Skylight Cave is in Deschutes National Forest about an hour from Bend, Oregon, or 30 minutes from Sisters Oregon. If you’re coming from Bend and plug the Skylight Cave into your GPS (the map pin is correct), it WILL take you the wrong way. Don’t be like our friend who braved a tight, sketchy forest road, got stuck, and never made it to the caves. Sad.

Here are step-by-step instructions to find the cave safely (AWD or four wheel drive vehicles recommended but not required).

Skylight Cave GPS coordinates: 44°20'55.3”N 121°42'55.9”W

Pro Tip: Cell service is limited. I’d recommend downloading your map ahead of time. You can either pre-route your Google Maps, or I also like to use maps.me for interactive offline maps!

(The map above shows the correct route.)

Follow Highway 126/20 north out of Sisters, Oregon, until you reach McAllister Road. Take a left.
After 1/4 mile, take a right onto NF-2061.
You’ll want to follow this for about 5 miles (it’ll switch between being called 400, 800, and NF-2061). When you arrive at the fork, take a left onto 1028.
After 1/2 a mile, take a left onto McAllister Road.
You’ll find the Skylight Cave parking area on the right after about 1 mile.

How to Visit the Skylight Cave in Oregon

Caves have super fragile ecosystems and require a little extra care and consideration by us visitors! There’s a rampant disease called “White Nose Syndrome” affecting bats that can be spread by humans or anything going from cave to cave. Here’s what to do when visiting any cave:

Wipe down your boots before and after entering the cave, especially if you visited a different cave in the same shoes.
Change your clothes between cave visits.
Wash your hands after visiting.
The Skylight Cave is home to a bat population! How cool, right! Limit your visit to summertime–we don’t want to wake them from their hibernation in the winter!

Light beam at the Skylight Cave in Oregon

Caving Safety and Sustainability Tips

Caving can be a thrilling experience, but it also comes with inherent risks. Prioritize your safety and the preservation of these precious natural wonders with the following tips:

Inform Others: Let friends or family know about your caving plans, including your route and expected return time. Check-in with them once you're back safely.
Stay Hydrated: Drink water regularly, especially in caves with elevated temperatures or humidity.
Watch Your Step: The cave floor can be uneven and slippery. Pay attention to your footing to prevent accidents.
Mind Your Head: Caves often have low ceilings and narrow passages. Wear your helmet and be cautious of potential head hazards.
Avoid Touching Formations: Refrain from touching or leaning on cave formations, as the oils and dirt from your skin can damage them over time.
Follow Leave No Trace Principles: Respect the caves and their ecosystems by not leaving any trace of your visit.
Bat Conservation: If you encounter bats, maintain a respectful distance to avoid disturbing them. Some caves may have bat populations, and it's essential not to disturb their habitats

When to Visit the Skylight Cave to See those Crazy Light Beams

What time is the Skylight Cave poppin’ off? The Skylight Cave is open May through September. If you visit the Skylight Cave outside of its seasonal dates, the ladder might be missing all together, and you won’t be able to access the cave at all. And you shouldn’t! Because those bats are getting their beauty sleep and we wouldn’t want to disturb them.

But the beams aren’t visible at just any time–you’ll need to visit between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on a clear, sunny day to see the magic happen.

The sun needs to be in a specific place in the sky to hit the three holes in the roof of the lava tube just right–then the natural moisture in the cave (and a little dirt kicked up by footprints or from above) make those beams come to life.

We visited on May 29 at 10 a.m. The light rays were pretty dull by 11 a.m.

Entering the Skylight Cave

After signing the trail log, descend down a 10-ish-foot metal ladder into the lava tube. It’s such a cool feeling, walking down into a dark hole in the forest floor. The temperature immediately drops. To the right, there’s about 900’ of cave you can explore, but to the left is where you’ll find those three legendary light beams if you’re there at the right time of day! The cave dead ends just behind the last beam.

There are a lot of rocks, so don’t pull a me, get mesmerized by the light, run to see them, and forget you’re on uneven ground, ha!

Tips for Photographing the Skylight Cave’s Light Rays

If you’re at the Skylight Cave on a weekend, you’re most definitely going to run into other adventurers, and probably a few photographers too. One big part of the Leave No Trace principles is respecting other’s experiences. We all took turns walking into the light and experiencing the space.

Bring a tripod! I forgot mine in the car and hand-shot the entire thing, which worked fine, but meant I had to use a higher ISO, which added more noise in each image.

Bring a remote if you have one. If you’re using a tripod, using a remote lets you keep your shot super steady by not even touching your camera! Some cameras have wifi capabilities that let you use your phone as a remote.

Shoot in RAW. This is something I do for every single shoot because it gives me more flexibility in post, but it’s extra important in low light scenarios. It lets me shoot dark to capture the details in the light rays, and raise the shadows in Lighroom in post.

Camera settings: ISO: 1600; F-stop: 2.8; Shutter: 1/60

Bring a lens cloth. It’s dusty when everyone’s walking around! Bring a lens cloth to get clear shots.

Try bracketing. Bracketing takes 3-5 photos of the same view at different exposures to capture both the highlights and shadows. Then, you can layer them in Lightroom in post for a well-exposed image! This only works if you have a tripod.

What to Pack for the Skylight Cave:

Apparel: Dress in moisture-wicking, quick-drying clothing suitable for hiking and caving. Layering is important! Even if it’s a toasty 90ºF outside, caves can be in the 40º’s!!! I wore leggings, a long sleeve, and my Stio puffer.
Footwear: Go with sturdy, closed-toe hiking boots or approach shoes with good grip. It’s gonna be dark and rocky. Don’t put your naked toes through that. I wore my Danner Mountain 600s.
Headlamp: It’s dark down there–keep your hands free with a headlamp like this Black Diamond one. Does it have enough battery?
Navigation Tools: Bring a map, compass, or GPS device to avoid getting lost.
First Aid Kit: Pack a basic first aid kit with essentials like bandages, antiseptic, pain relievers, and any personal medications.
Water and Snacks: It’s a small cave, but I recommend never going anywhere without water or snacks. Pack out what you pack in!!
Cave Conservation Gear: Include garbage bags to pack out any trash, as it's crucial to leave no trace and protect the delicate cave ecosystem.
Camera + tripod: The Skylight Cave is super photogenic. Bring along your camera or smartphone to capture its beauty! I’ll touch on photo tips for capturing the light beams below! I brought my Sony a7r III and an 18-28mm lens.
Lastly, a backpack to stuff it all in. I brought my Wandrd Prvke backpack today.