Lava Tubes are pretty darn cool. Think about it: Molten lava poured out of a volcano, and the exposed shell cooled and turned to solid rock, leaving a hollow tube so big you can walk through it. Come on, that’s just wild!
Lava tubes can be found worldwide…and even on Mars and the moon. I’ve sought them out in Iceland, Hawaii, and New Zealand, and they always amaze me. Be that as it may, I’ve never found them to be photogenic.
Until now.
Compared to other lava caves, Skylight Cave in Central Oregon shouldn’t really stand out. It’s not particularly big and doesn’t have lava pillars, lavacicles, or multiple levels. But it has something I’ve never seen anywhere else: Three perfectly placed hornitos (skylights) that pierce the ceiling, creating beams of light that dramatically illuminate the interior.
If you’re a landscape photographer, and this scene doesn’t give your heart palpitations, then you might be in need of a medical professional.
Deja vu?
The sunbeams immediately made me think of Antelope Canyon. Those shafts of light have made Antelope world-famous. Well, sure, Antelope also has that sensuous red sandstone, and Skylight’s lava is a bit monochrome in comparison, but the visual impact of three light beams is stunning just the same.
The cause of the sunbeams is also similar: light reflecting off tiny particles in the air. The difference is that at Antelope, the sole source of those particles is dust, but at Skylight, water vapor in the air can create the same effect.
- Tip: Although you can’t control the humidity, you can impact the amount of dust in the air. Some folks might be sorely tempted to toss a handful of dust into the light beams to intensify the effect. Not me, of course, but just saying…
Phasers on Stun!
Skylight has one feature that I’ve never seen at Antelope or anywhere else. Sometimes, the spots on the floor where the light beams hit appear to start smoking! Seriously, it looks like phasers starting to vaporize a target.
The actual cause is less imaginative: Since the temperature in the lava tube is a constant 40°F (4°C), heat from the light beams can sometimes create ‘steam’ if the floor is moist. Despite the mundane explanation, the effect is visually dramatic. Count yourself lucky if you capture it on camera.
Rock Art…not
If you read my blogs, you know I love native American Rock Art. So, you can imagine my excitement when I noticed a section of the wall with handprints! Unfortunately, a closer look revealed that although they were colorful and attractive, they were also modern. Bummer…
Photography Guide:
Perspectives:
When I checked out photos of Skylight Cave on the internet, they all seemed to be taken from the front left side at an angle.
Turns out, there is a reason for that.
The ‘chamber’ with the skylights is about 25 feet tall by maybe 50′ wide. I figured with that much space, a photographer with my incredible skill set would be able to find another good shot here. So, I spent 30 minutes looking for new and different perspectives: I shot from the front and back, I got down low, I shot from eye-level, but I kept coming back to that angled shot from the front side.
The bottom line is that either my confidence is misplaced, or Skylight Cave is a one-trick pony (but hey, don’t get me wrong, it is a great trick!)
With that said, Instagrammers like to photograph people standing in the light beam since it looks like someone getting beamed up. I’m sure there are some other creative shots to be had here…I just haven’t come up with it yet.
Lens Choice:
I found that a 16mm lens on a full frame camera was wide enough to take in the whole scene
Tripod:
Even with the skylights, it is pretty dark in here. Bring a tripod so you can shoot longer exposures with a low ISO and reduce noise in your shot.
Headlamp:
The cave floor is uneven, so you will want to keep your hands free. Bring your headlamp, your phone’s flashlight app won’t cut it.
F-Stop Settings:
I was able to shoot at f/8 and keep the entire depth of field in focus. You may want to also try f/22 and see if you can coax a sunstar out of the skylights. Sometimes you can also get halos and other neat effects if you play around a bit with the light.
Bracketing:
Since the dynamic range is huge, exposure bracketing is the way to go here. I took bracketed series of 5 shots with a 2-stop difference (-6 to +6) and combined them in Photoshop.
- Tip I Learned the hard way: The areas where the light hits the floor will likely be blown out, even if you are bracketing. To work around that, each time I took a bracketed series of shots, I also took some shots at 1/100th – 1/20th of a second. Those exposures were nearly completely black, but they did show detail in those spots where the light hit the floor. After I got home, I’d pick the best of those shots and blend it with my HDR image in Photoshop. The shot below is a good idea of the kind of detail you can capture with this technique.
PS: There is more room on the left side of the ‘chamber,’ which is why those shots are the typical choice. However, as you can see here, there is a shot to be made from the right. It is tight, and you need a wide-angle lens, but it can be done.
Clothing:
The 40 ° F (4°C) temperature would have given my old Florida bones a chill if I hadn’t brought a warm jacket. Also, some of the surfaces on the floor and walls can be painfully sharp. They will slice you up if you fall. Wear good boots and leave those sneakers and flip-flops in the car.
When to Go?
Time of year: Skylight Cave is only open May through September. Those dates are not set in stone, so you might want to contact the Sisters Ranger Station at (541) 549-7700 to be sure it is open before driving out to the Cave. The Forest Service closes the cave after September to give the resident bat population some privacy during their hibernation and mating season.
Time of day: The lightbeams are only visible in the morning (usually before 10 am) and ONLY when not obstructed by clouds (so check your forecast). I’ve only visited in late May, so the timing of the light beams might be different later in the year.
Time of week: Skylight can be popular with photographers and tourists on the weekend. If you have a bunch of folks crammed in the main chamber, it might be difficult to get the shot you want, especially with the limited amount of time the light beams are visible.
On the other hand, during the week, you will often find yourself alone there. Schedule a weekday visit if you can.
Where is it?
Skylight is located in Central Oregon within the Deschutes National Forest. It’s about an hour from Bend, Oregon, or 30 minutes from Sisters. All but the last 4 miles are paved. Those last miles can be a bit rough, but if you take it slow and easy, you don’t need 4WD (unless it has recently rained). I wouldn’t try a Prius, but a vehicle with average clearance should be fine.
I was able to find the trailhead with both Google and Waze, but if you want detailed directions, try this website.
- Tip: When I was last there in May 2025, there was an obvious parking area. However, there was no “Skylight Cave” sign or trailhead marker, so you might wonder if you are in the right place. Look for a row of cut-down trees (see photo above).
On the other side of the felled trees, there is a cleared path heading east that goes to the mouth of the cave (about a 5-minute stroll). When you come to a big hole in the ground with a ladder going down into it, you are there!
Once you get to the bottom of the ladder, go to the right (as you face the ladder). It is about a couple of hundred feet to the photo spot (you can’t miss it).
The cave also continues to the left of the ladder, but there isn’t anything photogenic there.
Final thoughts
Skylight Cave is fascinating, unique, and photogenic. Even my wife said she enjoyed it, and trust me, she has no inhibitions expressing her displeasure when she is bored during one of my little ‘photo stops.
So if you are considering a photo trip to central Oregon and can squeeze in a visit to Skylight Cave, I’d suggest taking a tip from Captain Picard and just “make it so!”
Cheers!
Jeff
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