Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

It’s like a scene out of “Indiana Jones” or “Aladdin” – three beams of light, streaming into a remote underground cave, making magical golden spotlights as a faint mist evaporates into the air.

It looks fantastical, but it’s just one of Oregon’s most incredible natural phenomena: the seasonal illumination of Skylight Cave.

The cave is found within a maze of winding Deschutes National Forest roads, roughly 30 minutes northwest of Sisters. It’s only open May through September – to protect the sensitive bat population that hibernates there – but that time frame perfectly lines up with the schedule of the sun, which is key to witnessing the magic of Skylight Cave.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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The small cave is actually a lava tube created during the eruption of nearby Sixmile Butte, according to forest officials. The three skylights formed naturally, when the lava cooled and thin areas in the roof collapsed. Outside the cave, the volcanic legacy is clear, with views of Mount Washington, Three Fingered Jack and Black Butte all around.

When I prepared for my trip last week, I had to rely upon a scant collection of online resources – mostly hiking forums and a few Oregon travel blogs – which said the ideal time to visit the cave is early June, between the hours of 8 and 11 a.m. I arrived at the cave at 9 on the sunny morning of June 5, and was treated to a phenomenon in full effect.

Following Google Maps to a set of coordinates I found online (44°20'55.3"N 121°42'55.9"W, see the map below) I arrived at a small pull-out, beside which was a wooden sign and a ladder leading down into a hole in the ground. At the bottom, I turned left (behind the ladder) and using a headlamp, navigated the rough and bumpy cave floor to an open cavern where one beam of light streamed through the central skylight in the ceiling.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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I set up my tripod and bided my time, circling around beneath the other skylights to watch the slow, but steady progress of the light beams streaming in. The sun actually moves fast enough that you can watch the irregularly-shaped spotlights as they move, inch by inch, thin wisps of mist evaporating from the damp cave floor into the light.

My patience paid off. By 9:30 the back beam was coming through, and by 10 all three were going strong. It didn’t take any trick photography to see the sunbeams – I could see them all with the naked eye, as the light reflected off dust and particulates in the air. It was an incredible experience, but I can by no means guarantee success for anyone else. The effect depends largely upon weather, timing and that all-important position of the sun.

I reached out to the Deschutes National Forest for more information, but officials were hesitant to give much out. They wouldn’t confirm the timing of the phenomenon, only saying that it’s best when the sun is high in the sky. The sun is the highest on the summer solstice, they noted, which always occurs between June 20 and 22.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Forest officials also stressed the importance of protecting the bats. White-nose syndrome, a fungus that kills North American bats by the millions, is a big concern in Oregon caves. Some researchers believe that the fungus can be transmitted by humans on clothes, shoes and equipment that have been exposed to other caves.



As a result, forest officials ask that visitors headed to Skylight Cave – as well as other Oregon caves – follow some basic decontamination steps:

-Don't wear the same clothes into different caves without washing them.

-Remove dirt from your shoes after leaving the cave.

-Clean your hands and exposed skin before getting back into the car.



It’s also crucial to bring a flashlight or a headlamp, and you should definitely wear a good pair of shoes, as the cave floor is sharp and very uneven. Warm layers are important as well, as it gets pretty cold down there. And if you’re taking photos in the cave (you might as well), bring a tripod, because while the light beams bring a lot of illumination, this is still a very dark place.

It’s all a relatively minor hassle to get to witness one of the best natural phenomena Oregon has to offer. There are great shows of light and incredible caves elsewhere, but no others combine the two into the magic show that is Skylight Cave. Even Indy would be impressed.

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

A week in Olympic: There's so much to do in Olympic National Park, but we pack it in to a five-day adventure.

Newberry Volcano: See Oregon's explosive volcanic legacy at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

Summer road trips: Hit the road this summer and see all the attractions and sights Oregon has to offer.

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