Aug 28

Exploring The Ape Cave

KCTS9 writes “We’ll explore the third longest lava tube in the nation. Red hot lava built this cave during a massive explosion on Mt St Helens 2000 years ago.” Explore a chilly, pitch-black lava tube over two miles long. A short, paved, accessible trail beneath towering trees leads to a stairwell into the cave.

 

The ¾ mile, one-way lower cave route is relatively easy and family friendly. For the more adventurous, the 1.5 mile upper cave route leads to a climb up an eight foot rock wall and scramble over rock piles, then an exit and a 1.5 mile above ground hike back to the parking lot.

Ape Cave is the third longest lava tube (2.5 miles long) in North America and cave temperature is 42 degrees F/5.6 degrees C year-round. Make sure to bring two sources of light per person (a cell phone light is not bright enough), sturdy shoes, warm clothing, even in warm weather. In summer, Ape Headquarters, a small information station, offers lantern rentals, information and sales items to ticket holders.

6 Responses to “Exploring The Ape Cave”

  1. David H

    Ben there a few years ago and me and my daughter went down the cave but mom said ” Hell No” ha! Ha!
    I asked them about Sasquatch sightings at the visitor center there and they just chuckled. But at the store
    there in Cougar we had lunch and I talked with a couple of others and they made no bones about it they are all over.
    If you are in the area it is worth stopping and checking out. But I drought you would see Bigfoot there, to many tourist.
    Ha!

  2. Colleen B

    There’s a lava tube just outside of Sister Oregon I’ve been to a few times. It’s cool but when it gets down to crawling on your hands and knees, no thanks. I did it once and that was enough.

  3. Stephen W

    Pahoehoe.Haven’t heard that word in a long, long time.I’m a rock hound and been this way since I was a boy. Pa-hoe-hoe lava Hawaians have a name for evey thing. Now I don’t know why this is so surprising, the Pacific plate is made of basalt and goes under the contiental plate.That is if I remember correctly.If the lava had a high iron content like andesite then a big boom!!!! Thanks Wes for this.

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