Derrick Cave, Lava tube in Lake County, Oregon.
Derrick Cave is a lava tube in Lake County, Oregon that stretches roughly 1200 feet underground through solid rock. The passage varies in height and width as you walk deeper, creating an interesting underground landscape of different-sized chambers and corridors.
The cave was formed thousands of years ago when lava flowed from a volcanic region to create this underground passage. In the 1960s during the Cold War, it was prepared as an emergency shelter and stocked with supplies for a large number of people.
The cave received its name from H.E. Derrick, a pioneer rancher who established his homestead three miles southeast of the location.
Bring a powerful flashlight or headlamp since it is pitch dark inside the cave. Wear warmer clothes than you would on the surface, as the temperature stays cool throughout the year regardless of the season.
The cave is named after H.E. Derrick, a pioneer farmer who built his ranch several miles away from this location. This connection between the settler and the cave is part of the area's local heritage that visitors come to explore.
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