Oregon Caves – Bigelow Lakes

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Rough and Ready Creek Botanical Wayside

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Cave Junction

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Illinois River Forks State Park

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Seasons

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Location

From Cave Junction, simply follow Hwy 46 to the end at Oregon Caves National Monument, 24 miles away, climbing 2700 ft. to the parking lot and Chateau at 4000 ft. elevation. Oregon Caves Website.

Bigelow Lakes (42.088521, -123.371570). Just as you enter the Oregon Caves National Monument parking lot, take a left onto fire road 960. The road starts out paved but becomes dirt after 100 yards. After 1.5 to 2 miles, take a right at a “T” intersection. Continue less than mile to a “Y” intersection and take a right. The trailhead is on the side of the road. Maps can be found at the Oregon Caves.  Bigelow Lakes eBird Hotspot Checklist

Directions

Habitat and Birds

Birds here might include Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, Pileated Woodpecker, Steller’s Jay, Dusky Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Winter Wren, Varied Thrush, Townsend’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Dark-eyed Junco, Lincoln’s and White-crowned Sparrow. This is one of the few places in Josephine County where Gray Jays can easily be found. Northern Goshawk, Calliope Hummingbird, White-headed Woodpecker, Gray Flycatcher, and Rock Wren have also been located here. The Oregon Caves area probably has the greatest diversity of owl species in Josephine County with Long-eared, Great Horned, Barred, Spotted, Western Screech, Flammulated, Northern Pygmy and Northern Saw-whet Owls present.

 

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