Ashland & Southern Oregon - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 659

THE UNIQUE KALMIOPSIS WILDERNESS
One of Oregon's largest wilderness areas, the remote Kalmiopsis Wilderness is
famous for its rare plant life and the state's oldest peaks, the Klamath Mountains.
About 150 million years ago, offshore sedimentary beds buckled up into mountains
separated from North America by a wide gulf. Vegetation evolved on its own, so by
the time the mountains fused to the continent the plant life was very different from
that of the mainland. The area also has the country's largest exposed serpentine
rock formations.
Unusual and unique plant species are showcased on the steep 0.8-mile hike to
Babyfoot Lake . The pink-floweredKalmiopsis leachianaand rare Port Orford cedar
are found almost nowhere else on earth. Watch meadows for the carnivorousDar-
lingtonia(also called the pitcher plant or cobra lily) that traps insects for nourish-
ment. To get to the trailhead, turn onto Eight Dollar Mountain Rd and follow the
signs for 17 winding miles (this road is impassable in winter). There are many other
hikes in the area.
Another section of the Kalmiopsis is accessible from the coastal town of Brook-
ings. For more information and hiking trails, enquire at the ranger stations in Cave
Junction ( Click here ) andGold Beach ( Click here ) .
TOP OF CHAPTER
Oregon Caves National Monument
This popular tourist destination lies 19 miles (and a winding 40-minute drive) east of
Cave Junction on Hwy 46. The Oregon Caves began as seafloor limestone deposits that
were eventually hoisted into the Siskiyou Mountains. Molten rock forced its way into
rock faults to form marble, and acidified groundwater seeped through cracks to carve un-
derground channels. Surface erosion eventually created an opening for air to enter, caus-
ing water to mineralize and create myriad formations, such as cave popcorn, pearls,
moonmilk, classic pipe organs, columns and stalactites.
Sights & Activities
Oregon Caves CAVE
( 541-592-2100; www.nps.gov/orca ; 19000 Caves Hwy; tours adult/child $8.50/6; tours
9am-6pm Jun-Sep, varies rest of year) The cave - there's only one - contains about 3 miles
of passages, explored via 90-minute walking tours that expose visitors to dripping cham-