Lower Ape Cave, Kalama Falls Trail and Lunch

Join us for a fun adventure exploring Ape caves and Kalama falls!

Drive: Takes about 1hr 30min. (without traffic) to reach trailhead for Ape Caves.

Meet at Sunset Transit Center (10470 SW Barnes Rd, Portland, OR 97225) at 7:30am near the bike racks. We will wait 10min and then carpool to trailhead parking lot (Ape Cave Interpretative site, Cougar, WA).

If you are driving separately, please meet at trailhead parking lot, at about 9:15am.

Lower Ape Cave: Total hike will be 1.5 miles total, rated as easy, and will be about 1 hr. It’s a stroll/walk through a big/wide underground tunnel (no crawling, no scrambling). Ape Caves (https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/ape-cave): Explore the third longest lava tube cave in the country! Descend with us for an exciting beginner caving experience—perfect for escaping the summer heat!

• Entry/Access to Ape Caves: Each Car/vehicle (not person) requires a $2 access fee, which you can reserve for the time slot of 9:00-9:30am (https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086990). A limited number of vehicles will be permitted per 2-hour window. If you are planning on carpooling (which you are driving) or driving by yourself, you can go ahead purchase (asap) the access fee.

• Parking Fee: A Northwest Forest Pass (https://www.wta.org/go-outside/passes), America the Beautiful Pass or Parking Day Pass ($5) are required to park at Ape Cave. All passes are sold online (https://www.discovernw.org/recreation-passes.html).

• **No food, pets, smoking, or rock collecting. Do not touch the walls, which harbor cave “slime”, a food source in the cave’s delicate ecosystem. Bring 2 or 3 light sources and spare batteries. Be prepared for chilly temperatures as the cave stays ~40 degrees (F°) year-round, leading to a unique summer outdoor experience. Bring warm layers! (beanie, gloves, warm socks, rugged boots/hiking shoes, sweatshirt/base layer, rain jacket, etc.)

Kalama Falls Trail (34 min. drive to trailhead)

• Easy hike, about .8 mi hike round trip. Details here for
  Kamala Falls Trail (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/kalama-falls-trail)
  (it’s listed as 3.9 mi, but we can park closer to do the .8)

Drive 1 hr 15min to
Heathen Brewing Feral Public House (http://heathenbrewing.com/feral-public-house/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=vancouver)
for late lunch.

Hope you can make it!