We managed to get out to the Devil's Punch Bowl State Natural Park twice while we were in the area. We stopped off very briefly on our way back from Depoe Bay, but we immediately knew we had to go back and explore the huge and cavernous Punch Bowl.

We arrived on a warm, Spring day and Kim and Ollie headed to the overlook, so they could look out and into the Punch Bowl. There were signs saying there was some kind of dangerous algae in the tide pools that could possibly poison pets who made it down to the beach. We didn't want to risk it. 

Naturally carved out of rock creating a huge craggy bowl that fills through a series of caves and tunnels at high tide with violently churning ocean water, swirling, foaming and frothing, a Devil's brew, the Punch Bowl is a powerful and raging expression of nature. When full, it's scary to see. When empty, the rock pools in the basin appear deceptively calm and forgiving. 

Henry and I set off to the beach to find a way across the tide pools at low tide as we wanted to make it all the way in to the Punch Bowl. The rocks were slippery with bright green, almost moss-like, seaweed and tiny barnacles that had been battered and smoothed over time, but we managed to chart our way forwards. Henry was checking for those pesky sneaker waves the whole time. He always has my back.

Once we made it into the bowl, we could see the beautiful colors inside; the deep reds, browns and greens. It was dark and echoey and the sound of the waves lapping at the entrances was amplified. It would be easy to outstay our welcome and get caught in the incoming tide, to be mercilessly tossed around like playthings in a baby's bath.  

We waved up at Kim and Ollie who were up at the rim of the Bowl, then took our time to explore the geology of the huge cave. We clambered from one rock to another, taking our sweet time to explore the rock pools. It would have made a terrific concert venue as the acoustics were marvelous.

Still nervous about the time and the tides, Henry prompted me to retreat so that we could join Kim and Ollie at the top of the headland. Once we reached them, we took a short walk heading southeast to get a view over Otter Rock and the beaches that stretched out towards Newport.

​Breathtaking.

From the boat we plodded up a very steep slipway in the rain towards a rickety old bus. We boarded and drove up a very narrow road that was cut into the side of the cliff, maneuvering around tight corners, a hair's breadth from toppling down the cliff and crashing into the lake about 70 feet below. I could not look and held my breath the whole way up! Kim and Henry said the view of Lake Shasta and the surrounding mountains was spectacular.

Thankfully, it was a short journey up the hill to the entrance to the caverns. 

Made of an unusual local limestone in which we could see embedded and preserved fossils of marine flora and fauna, telling the history of the area being underwater 270 million years ago, the entrance to the caverns was through a nondescript doorway that led into an ancient passage way fit for Indiana Jones. The cavernous adventures had begun!

We were immediately struck by the otherworldly beauty of the limestone formations. Huge stalagmites and stalactites, flow stones, snowballs, formations that looked like streaky bacon, sprawling natural sculptures forged over thousands of years, underground lake mirrors created a mystical experience. Considering it felt like an Indiana Jones adventure, we were relieved there were no snakes, however we did see a lot of tiny bats and heard the scraping noises of blind salamanders.

Formed by the movement of tectonic plates pushing the limestone up out of the earth over 200 million years ago, we moved from one  cavernous room to another. The caves were known to the local Winto Native American tribe who used them for sacred rituals and ceremonies, most probably involving music as the acoustics were incredible. The cathedral-like caverns were over 120 feet tall. 

Our oohs and ahhs echoed around the chambers.

It was a breathtaking experience to be in the "Lost Kingdom" of the Lake Shasta Caverns.