Midway along Oregon’s spectacular coast is the world’s largest sea cave and home to the wild Stellar sea lion. Sea Lion Caves is open year round and offers visitors an intimate glimpse of these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.  Located just 11 miles north of Florence on Highway 101, Sea Lion Caves has been compared, by many, to the Blue Grotto in the Mediterranean Sea. 

   Formation of the cavern began about 25 million years ago when the ocean began gradually to erode the basalt rock that was created by lava flow from volcanic eruptions colliding with the cold ocean waters. Today the cave soars to the height of a 12-story building and stretches the length of a football field. Tours begin at the main building and gift shop where visitors must descend a flight of stairs to an inclined scenic pathway that leads to an elevator. Once in the elevator, visitors descend approximately 208 feet down into the vast cavern below, which is known as the hauling area for the sea lions. 
   Here, amid the raucous roar of the sea lions mixed with the sounds of wind and surf, visitors are greeted with unusual rock formations and an almost ethereal light that takes on different hues throughout the day. In most animal exhibits, the animals are put behind fences, but at Sea Lion caves it is just the opposite. Visitors are the ones fenced in, while the sea lions go about their daily lives, seemingly oblivious to the crowds who come to view them.

   Great care is taken to avoid disturbing the natural life sequence of the sea lions. No flash cameras are allowed in the cave and photos can only be taken with a time exposure or fast film. The distance between the observation points and the wildlife is designed to provide visitors with a reasonably close view without endangering or disrupting the animals. At the north end of the cave there is a lookout point from which visitors can view the famous Heceta Head Lighthouse or look down on the rookery below. An attendant is always on duty inside the cave to answer any questions that visitors may have. 

   Sea lions gather in the cave during the fall and winter to escape rough weather and cold days. The herd usually numbers around 200, but will vary from season to season and year to year. The Stellar sea lion is a warm-blooded mammal, meaning it gives birth, nurses its young and breathes air. In the spring and summer, they breed and bear their young on the rock ledges just outside the cave.  In addition to the sea lions, wild sea birds abound and nest in the area of the cave, as well. Although the killer whale is the only natural enemy of the sea lion, man has probably been the greatest threat to sea lion safety throughout the years. The sea lion is protected by Oregon law and cannot be legally hunted for sport or for trophy. 
   For spectacular scenery, whale-watching, fascinating wild birds and a close-up view of seal lions at home and at play, add Sea Lion Caves to your coastal itinerary. 

Text and Heceta Head photo © 2002 Ruth Flanagan  Reprinted by permission 
All other graphics are source links for more  information about the critter shown..