Welcome to Ape Cave!
Ape Cave is a lava tube, formed approximately 2,000 years ago during a basaltic lava flow from an eruption of Mount St. Helens. Explore the most famous feature of this cave with this Virtual Cache - The Meatball!
Logging Requirements:
You must enter Ape Cave and hike through the Lower Passage.
- Take a photo of yourself or a personal item with the feature called "the Meatball."
- Send me the number of the USFS silver marker on the left side of the wall just after the Meatball as you continue down the cave (see photo below).
Important logistics to know before you go:
- Timed reservations are required to visit Ape Cave during the open season: May 18 Cave through October 31. Choose a two-hour time slot for your desired day on recreation.gov ($2 admin fee).
- A $5/vehicle/day or valid Recreation Pass is required to park at Ape Cave.
- There is no electricity or lighting in the cave: you must bring at least two light sources with you.
- Stay up to date on requirements or closures with the Forest Service.
About the Cave
Ape Cave is the third-longest lava tube in North America - but it was the longest known when it was first mapped in 1958. The cave got its name from a local caver and a group of local boy scouts who did much of the early exploration in the early 1950s.
Skamania County is filled with lore about Sasquatch, dating back to the early 1900s. In 1970, the National Wildlife Federation published articles about sightings in the area, and many readers came to the conclusion Ape Cave was home to bigfoots.
The Lower Passage of Ape Cave has a sandy floor in many areas: a result of other previous eruptions from Mount St Helens (the active volcano right next door!). This is a major difference between this and the Upper Passage, and one of the reasons the Lower Passage is less strenuous than the Upper.
The Meatball is a block of cooled lava which fell from the ceiling while lava was still flowing through the tube. The block floated to the surface and flowed 'downstream' until it became lodged. It now appears suspended 4m above the cave floor. It is about 750m from the metal stairs. Look up, and you'll see it!
Silver USFS markers can be seen inside Ape Cave along the walls marking distance. For the logging requirement, you're looking for this marker. Send me a message of the three digit number that is missing in the photo.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.