Welcome to the Oregon Grotto Web Site!

The Oregon Grotto is a Portland/Vancouver area grotto with members from all over Oregon and Southwestern Washington. The Oregon Grotto is a chapter of the National Speleological Society, and a Federally chartered non-profit organization (501-C3).

Grotto Meetings

We welcome anyone who is interested in caving to attend meetings which are held at 8:00 P.M. on the third Friday of every month at Round Table Pizza (Salmon Creek, 13009 NE Highway 99 Vancouver WA).

Upcoming Events

Hells Canyon

November 7 @ 8:00 am - November 11 @ 5:00 pm

Exploring small limestone caves in Hells Canyon Idaho. Meet at the Big Bar campground. Near Allison Creek trail head. If you get there before others , you can hike the Allison Creek trail head and see a few small caves. Or wild hike up Dry Creek for more little caves.

National Cave & Karst Management Symposium

October 6, 2025 @ 8:00 am - October 10, 2025 @ 5:00 pm

In Ely Nevada - home of Leman Caves.

Charlie and Jo Larson

Charlie Larson

This site is dedicated to Charlie Larson’s life work to cavers, this site, family and friends. 50 years with the Oregon Grotto. Great caver and wonderful person who gave so much of his life to the cavers. Passed away June 11th, 2015. Thanks for all you did Charlie – we will miss you.

Grotto Officers

Chairman Ahrlin Bauman
Vice Chair Garry Petrie
Library Historian Charlie Larson, Died June 11th 2015
Vertical Tom Peterson
Cave Store Kim Luper
Website Matthew Farnell, Kim Luper, Ahrlin Bauman
Library Kim Luper
Conservation Ahrlin Bauman