Skylight Cave, Lava tube cave in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, US.
Skylight Cave is a lava tube in Deschutes National Forest with three natural ceiling openings. These openings allow sunlight to stream into the cave interior during morning hours, creating illuminated passages.
The cave entrance once had multiple deteriorated wooden ladders until steel access structures were installed in recent times. This upgrade made visitor access safer and more manageable.
The cave closes seasonally to protect hibernating Townsend's big-eared bats in their winter rest. This reflects how the local community values sharing the space with wildlife.
Bring sturdy footwear and a reliable flashlight or headlamp for the rocky terrain. Plan your visit between 8 AM and 10 AM when sunlight streams through the ceiling openings most effectively.
The eastern passage displays numerous small dome-like formations suggesting where the ceiling once had additional openings. These features reveal how the cave has naturally evolved over time.
Location: Deschutes County
GPS coordinates: 44.34833,-121.71583
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:44
Geological forces have carved openings, arches, and caves into rock formations across continents through millions of years of erosion. Water, wind, and weathering have shaped these natural structures from various rock types, creating landmarks that reveal the Earth's ongoing transformation. The formations appear in diverse environments, from coastlines where ocean waves carve passages through limestone cliffs to desert regions where wind erosion creates openings in sandstone walls. This collection spans locations such as Durdle Door along England's Jurassic Coast, where a 200-foot (60-meter) arch rises from layers dating to the Mesozoic era. The Faraglioni Rocks off Capri reach heights of 360 feet (109 meters) and include a natural passage navigable by boat. In landlocked regions, formations like the Eyes of God in Bulgaria's Prohodna Cave display symmetrical ceiling openings where sunlight penetrates the rock. Desert sites such as Las Ventanas in Argentina's Andes showcase wind-carved arches in remote sandstone landscapes. Each location offers direct evidence of erosion processes that continue shaping these geological features, from readily accessible coastal points to isolated areas requiring significant travel to reach.
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