Horse Lava Tube System
Encyclopedia
The Horse Lava Tube System (or Horse system) is a series of lava tubes within Deschutes County
, Oregon
, of the United States
. The system starts within the Deschutes National Forest
on the northern flank of Newberry Volcano
and heads north into and near the city of Bend
. The system continues north again to Redmond
at the Redmond Caves
and into the Redmond Canyon, where the last known segment is known to exist; however, the basalt
flow that created the system goes beyond to Crooked River Ranch
and terminates just short of the Crooked River Gorge
. The lava flow that created the Horse system is also referred to as the Horse Cave lobe and it filled the ancient channel of the Deschutes River which at that time flowed around the east side of Pilot Butte. The Horse Cave lobe is a part of the basalt of Lava Top Butte which also consists of the Arnold Lava Tube System
, the Badlands
rootless shield, and the Lava Top butte basalt. All have a geologic age around 80,000 years old.
who named it during his study of lava tubes for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
. He based it on the first well known cave in the system: Horse Cave. Horse Cave was discovered by Americans
in the early 1900s by a group of cowboys who, while tracking down some of their lost cattle, discovered the cave. In the process, the cowboys spooked a few horses who were taking shelter just inside the cave entrance. However, the first known caves in the area may have actually been the Redmond Caves
. During the 1870s an old stage road passed by their area. Undoubtedly, though, many of the caves in the system were already known to prehistoric native Americans
, as attributed by archeological artifacts
found therein.
In modern times, the caves of the system have been affected in different ways. Some caves are privately held, while others are under the jurisdiction of the city of Bend. The city of Bend holds 7 caves on their property, one of which was the Oregon Moonbase. The Oregon Moonbase was a lunar base analogue site and took place in Youngs Cave circa 1990. The Department of State Lands
holds 8 caves within their management duties. In Redmond, the Bureau of Land Management
, in conjunction with the city of Redmond, manages 5 caves. The Deschutes National Forest holds the spatter cone caves, though any formal management plan does not make these caves a priority. With so many land owners, the caves see different impacts. Some examples would be: some have been filled in and paved over, a couple have been incorporated into parts of private homes, still others are seeing increased amounts of vandalism
and defacement
.
envelopes the caves. Once in the hands of private developers, the caves continued presence cannot be guaranteed.
In an effort to work with private owners and state regulators, the Oregon High Desert Grotto
has worked to help ensure their survival. In 1995, the grotto participated in a cave restoration project of the Horse Caves. They removed garbage from the caves only to learn that two years later an equal amount of garbage had been redeposited back into the caves. So, in 1997 the grotto did two additional cleanups in conjunction with Z21 News, Off the Map Caving Society, Youth Challenge Program
of the Oregon National Guard, students from Bend and Mountain View
high schools, and the owner of the cave. The collaboration was able to achieve the removal of garbage and the scrubbing of graffiti from the walls.
Recently, in 2006 to 2007 members of the grotto worked in conjunction with the Department of State Lands. The grotto surveyed and drafted maps of the 8 caves on the State's land. They also consulted in the management of the caves as well as the bats known to use the sites. In 2008, the grotto received a participation award from State leaders for their volunteer work with the state.
. Over time, the popularity of the caves wax and wane, but a few seem to always remain in the awareness of the public. These include: The Horse Caves, The Redmond Caves, Stevens Cave, Lewis Farm Cave no. 1, and Youngs Cave.
Deschutes County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Deschutes National Forest * Newberry National Volcanic Monument-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 115,367 people, 45,595 households, and 31,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 54,583...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The system starts within the Deschutes National Forest
Deschutes National Forest
The Deschutes National Forest is a United States National Forest located in parts of Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, and Jefferson counties in central Oregon. It comprises 1.8 million acres along the east side of the Cascade mountains. In 1908, the Deschutes National Forest was established from parts...
on the northern flank of Newberry Volcano
Newberry Volcano
Newberry Volcano is a large potentially active shield volcano located east of the Cascade Range and about southeast of Bend, Oregon. It is not a typical shield volcano. In addition to erupting basaltic lavas, it also has erupted andesitic and even rhyolitic lava.The volcano is in diameter and...
and heads north into and near the city of Bend
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
. The system continues north again to Redmond
Redmond, Oregon
Redmond is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated on July 6, 1910, the city is located on the eastern side of Oregon's Cascade Range, in the High Desert, and is considered the geographical heart of Central Oregon...
at the Redmond Caves
Redmond Caves
The Redmond Caves are a group of five lava tubes in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. The caves are located in the city of Redmond and are jointly managed by the city and the Bureau of Land Management . They are part of the Redmond Caves Park and have been well known locally for many years...
and into the Redmond Canyon, where the last known segment is known to exist; however, the basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
flow that created the system goes beyond to Crooked River Ranch
Crooked River Ranch, Oregon
Crooked River Ranch is an unincorporated private resort community in southern Jefferson County, Oregon, United States. A small portion of the ranch is also in north Deschutes County. It is located between the Deschutes River and the Crooked River near the south end of Lake Billy Chinook. It is west...
and terminates just short of the Crooked River Gorge
Crooked River Gorge
Crooked River Gorge is a gorge located around Warm Springs and Smith Rock State Park, Central Oregon, United States. The gorge is surrounded by cliffs filled with a variety of wildlife....
. The lava flow that created the Horse system is also referred to as the Horse Cave lobe and it filled the ancient channel of the Deschutes River which at that time flowed around the east side of Pilot Butte. The Horse Cave lobe is a part of the basalt of Lava Top Butte which also consists of the Arnold Lava Tube System
Arnold Lava Tube System
The Arnold Lava Tube System is series of lava tubes within Deschutes County, Oregon, of the United States. It is located several miles southeast of the city of Bend. The system starts within the Deschutes National Forest on the northern flank of Newberry Volcano, heads northeast onto BLM land...
, the Badlands
Oregon Badlands Wilderness
Oregon Badlands Wilderness is a wilderness area located east of Bend in Deschutes and Crook counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was created by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2009.The wilderness is situated on...
rootless shield, and the Lava Top butte basalt. All have a geologic age around 80,000 years old.
History
The system got its name from Ronald Greeley of NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
who named it during his study of lava tubes for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries is the agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for collecting, maintaining and disseminating geologic information, and regulation of industries which exploit the state's geological resources, including gas, oil, and...
. He based it on the first well known cave in the system: Horse Cave. Horse Cave was discovered by Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the early 1900s by a group of cowboys who, while tracking down some of their lost cattle, discovered the cave. In the process, the cowboys spooked a few horses who were taking shelter just inside the cave entrance. However, the first known caves in the area may have actually been the Redmond Caves
Redmond Caves
The Redmond Caves are a group of five lava tubes in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. The caves are located in the city of Redmond and are jointly managed by the city and the Bureau of Land Management . They are part of the Redmond Caves Park and have been well known locally for many years...
. During the 1870s an old stage road passed by their area. Undoubtedly, though, many of the caves in the system were already known to prehistoric native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, as attributed by archeological artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
found therein.
In modern times, the caves of the system have been affected in different ways. Some caves are privately held, while others are under the jurisdiction of the city of Bend. The city of Bend holds 7 caves on their property, one of which was the Oregon Moonbase. The Oregon Moonbase was a lunar base analogue site and took place in Youngs Cave circa 1990. The Department of State Lands
Oregon Department of State Lands
The Department of State Lands , one of the oldest agencies of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is principally responsible for the management of lands under state ownership, as its name implies. Unlike most other department-level state agencies, it is not headed by a sole elected official,...
holds 8 caves within their management duties. In Redmond, the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
, in conjunction with the city of Redmond, manages 5 caves. The Deschutes National Forest holds the spatter cone caves, though any formal management plan does not make these caves a priority. With so many land owners, the caves see different impacts. Some examples would be: some have been filled in and paved over, a couple have been incorporated into parts of private homes, still others are seeing increased amounts of vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
and defacement
Defacement (vandalism)
In common usage, to deface something refers to marking or removing the part of an object designed to hold the viewers' attention. Example acts of defacement could include scoring a book cover with a blade, splashing paint over a painting in a gallery, or smashing the nose of a sculpted bust...
.
Conservation
The major threat to the caves of the Horse system is development. The expanding city of Bend threatens their existence as the city's Urban Growth BoundaryUrban growth boundary
An urban growth boundary, or UGB, is a regional boundary, set in an attempt to control urban sprawl by mandating that the area inside the boundary be used for higher density urban development and the area outside be used for lower density development.An urban growth boundary circumscribes an...
envelopes the caves. Once in the hands of private developers, the caves continued presence cannot be guaranteed.
In an effort to work with private owners and state regulators, the Oregon High Desert Grotto
Oregon High Desert Grotto
The Oregon High Desert Grotto is a caving club, known as a Grotto.OHDG is involved with caving and conservation efforts in central Oregon and beyond, including the Oregon Caves National Monument, the Lava Beds National Monument in northern California, and caves in western Idaho...
has worked to help ensure their survival. In 1995, the grotto participated in a cave restoration project of the Horse Caves. They removed garbage from the caves only to learn that two years later an equal amount of garbage had been redeposited back into the caves. So, in 1997 the grotto did two additional cleanups in conjunction with Z21 News, Off the Map Caving Society, Youth Challenge Program
Youth Challenge Program
The Youth Challenge Program is a program run by the National Guard of the United States whose stated mission is "to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults." The program...
of the Oregon National Guard, students from Bend and Mountain View
Mountain View High School (Bend, Oregon)
Mountain View High School is a public high school located in Bend, Oregon, United States.-History:Mountain View High School opened in 1979 as the second high school in the greater Bend, Oregon, area...
high schools, and the owner of the cave. The collaboration was able to achieve the removal of garbage and the scrubbing of graffiti from the walls.
Recently, in 2006 to 2007 members of the grotto worked in conjunction with the Department of State Lands. The grotto surveyed and drafted maps of the 8 caves on the State's land. They also consulted in the management of the caves as well as the bats known to use the sites. In 2008, the grotto received a participation award from State leaders for their volunteer work with the state.
Caves of the Horse Lava Tube System
There are over one-hundred caves in the system, varying from the very small spatter cone caves, to the very large and multi-lateral lava tubes. Generally, only a few caves within the system are known to the public because the majority lie on private propertyPrivate property
Private property is the right of persons and firms to obtain, own, control, employ, dispose of, and bequeath land, capital, and other forms of property. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which refers to assets owned by a state, community or government rather than by...
. Over time, the popularity of the caves wax and wane, but a few seem to always remain in the awareness of the public. These include: The Horse Caves, The Redmond Caves, Stevens Cave, Lewis Farm Cave no. 1, and Youngs Cave.
Spatter Cone Caves
The spatter cone caves are located at the vent for the Horse system. Characterized by small and short surface tubes or blister cavities. Most of the spatter cone caves are within a foot or two of the surface, and lie in or adjacent to the spatter cones of the vent area. There are roughly 40 of these small spatter cone caves in the vent area.Rootless Vent Caves
A small collection of caves similar to the spatter cone caves exist just north of the spatter cone area. They are called rootless vent caves only because they are not sitting directly on the vent, like the spatter cones are. The rootless vent caves are also separated from the spatter cone caves by a younger lava flow associated with Klawhop Butte. There are about 16 rootless vent caves in the Horse system.Lava Tube Caves
The major caves of the Horse system are lava tubes. About 59 lava tubes are presently known. Some are really short at about 20 feet in length, while the longest has three paralleling passages and totals almost 4,000 feet in length. More probably exist as some may not have natural entrances, and some may have had entrances that have been filled in over the last one-hundred years.Miscellaneous Caves
A few other caves exist in the system. These are mostly surface tubes, though a couple are shelters or talus caves.External links
- Oregon High Desert Grotto (Caving club affiliated with the National Speleological SocietyNational Speleological SocietyThe National Speleological Society is an organization formed in 1941 to advance the exploration, conservation, study, and understanding of caves in the United States. Originally located in Washington D.C., its current offices are in Huntsville, Alabama...
) - Horse Cave access at Oregon High Desert GrottoOregon High Desert GrottoThe Oregon High Desert Grotto is a caving club, known as a Grotto.OHDG is involved with caving and conservation efforts in central Oregon and beyond, including the Oregon Caves National Monument, the Lava Beds National Monument in northern California, and caves in western Idaho...
- Horse Lava Tube System at Oregon High Desert Grotto