Limited Entry Prohibition CAVE TOUR

Explore the Lava Caves near Bend, Oregon!

AVAILABLE: May 1st - September 14th, 2026

Limited Entry Prohibition Cave tours are capped at 7 guests per tour. If you have a larger group or don’t see availability for your desired date, please call our office at (541) 389-8359 or book our additional caving option here!

Please Note: Due to Forest Service closures, our Prohibition Cave Tour will be open from May 1st - September 30th, 2026. The cave will then be closed until May 1st, 2027, after which it will re-open fully.

Please Note: This tour does not visit Lava River Cave (operated by the Deschutes National Forest)

About

Adventure: Wanderlust Tours is the premier destination for cave tours in Bend, Oregon! Join us on this epic subterranean tour on Bend’s ponderosa pine-studded high desert. Our renowned naturalist guides will highlight sweet bits of these cool caverns that might not initially meet the eye. 

Naturalist Guided Experience: In 1916, Oregon reinstated Prohibition, (4 years prior to the National Prohibition). But just like today, Oregonians loved their alcohol and had a passion for producing. We will start the tour by exploring a cave in a system known to have been used to distill spirits (illegally)! Scattered around the sage-covered High Desert lie ancient caves, buried by the volcanic upheavals in centuries known to past peoples.

Caves: We’ll discover the hidden underground world of these large cool caverns in a way that’s safe and fascinating! Leading small groups with headlamps for all, our guides will provide in-depth interpretation on the formation of the lava tubes, the wildlife habitat inside the caves and the many uses of the caves over time from Native American dwellings to cold storage for early Bend residents. Central Oregon’s caves are delicate ecosystems that few have experienced in this way.

Distillery: After caving, we’ll head to a local distillery. Guests will learn both the history and process of distilling (legally). We’ll enjoy local libations and from your most favored spirit we’ve included a happy hour cocktail of your choosing.

Cave Difficulty: Mother Nature has created a wonderfully diverse array of caves that offer a variety of experiences. All of the caves we visit are wild, meaning other than the staircase to enter them there are no man made improvements put into the caves (walkways or lights).

In our estimation, this cave presents an easier degree of difficulty. The walking surface is mostly level and sandy with occasional rocky sections. There are still fun opportunities towards the back of the cave for some scrambling and crawling for those interested. To enter this private cave, guests will need to step through a gate to gain access.

On all our cave tours, our guides are attentive to keeping the pace suitable to all members of the group so that everyone can move at a comfortable speed.

PLEASE READ: WHITE NOSE SYNDROME IN NORTH AMERICA

In March 2026, WNS was found for the first time in Oregon. WNS effects bats by disturbing their very delicate hibernation process - the fungus causes skin irritation, leading bats to wake up frequently, depleting them of vital energy stores needed to make it through hibernation. Wanderlust Tours is committed to cooperating with state and federal agencies, as well as conservation groups, to provide information to the public on the value of bats and the threat posed by WNS. When venturing into caves and areas where bats may hibernate, it is critical that you wear clean, disinfected clothing (including footwear) that has not been in other caves where bats are present.

WNS does not affect humans in any way. Learn more about WNS in the United State here.

CARE TO MAKE YOUR TOUR PRIVATE?

Any group tour of 10 or more people (or price equivalent) can be made private and customized to your needs. Learn more >>