Hiking Ape Cave trail

Ape Cave and Ape Cave Trail #239

Length:2.95 One Way

Season of Use:year-round

Elevation:2115 to 2115 feet above sea level

Visitor Use:High

Location:Apes Headquarters, Forest Road 8303

Trail Talk:

Explore the longest intact lava tube in the continental United States. Ape Cave was discovered in 1951 by Lawrence Johnson and first explored by Harry Reese and his sons. The Reeses were members of an outdoor club called Mount St. Helens Apes. Hence the name, Ape Cave, a bit disappointing for those envisioning Bigfoot's den. Learn from the interpretive signs about the formation, unique features and the fragile life within a lava tube. There are two different routes of exploration inside the cave, plus an above-ground trail connecting the main and upper entrances. The lower cave is the easier and more popular route with its fairly level, mudflow-covered floor and unique features such as the "lava ball" wedged in the ceiling. The upper cave is for the more adventurous. This challenging hike climbs over large rock piles, scales an 8-foot lava fall and requires good balance and sturdy shoes.

Trail Facts:Length: lower cave: 3/4 mile (one way); upper cave: 1 1/5 miles (one way); Ape Cave Trail: 1 mile (one way).Use: lower cave: high; upper cave: lowLower cave is 3/4 miles long. Allow 1 1/4 hours to complete a round trip. Upper cave is 1 1/4 mile long, but you need to allow 2 1/2 hours for its exploration. The above-ground Ape Cave Trail (1 mile) will take you back to the main entrance. It's an easy level hike through the forest and also crosses some recent mudflows.Surface Trail, 1.25 miles-More DifficultUpper Passage 1.25 miles-Most DifficultLower Passage 1.25 miles-More Difficult

Considerations:Come prepared. Bring two sources of light, sturdy shoes, and warm clothing (even during summer, temperatures are 42 degrees.) Lantern rentals and guided interpretive walks are available during the summer.

Connections:

No direct connection, although the nearby Trail of Two Forests (1 mile south) reveals more of the area's unique geology.

Map:Mt. Mitchell quadrangle.

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