Ape Caves has an odd name and it’s an eccentric sort of cavern. Most the spelunking I’ve done over the years has been in caverns carved by water and the odd fracture cave. Ape Caves are lava tubes running from Mount Saint Helens.
In spring of 2018, while still in physical therapy for my bad knee and hip, I went with my two teenagers and some of their friends to hike the over two miles of Ape Caves. It was a blast! There’s an easy(-ish) part that’s relatively flat, and a harder climb that involves scaling rubble piles and climbing walls.
If you’re ever in the area and have a free afternoon this is well worth your time. Pack water, food, a head lamp, gloves (gardening gloves are best), comfortable shoes, and a light jacket (the caves are chill and damp).
It’s a great activity for families but you need to be physically fit and it’s not a great hike for small children or anyone who needs assistance walking. This is a wild cave and it doesn’t have a paved trail anywhere that is wheelchair, walker, or cane friendly.