[3][4][5] In 2013, the Grotto was recognized by Region 6 of the United States Forest Service for various volunteer hours working with caves and bats.

[8] In June1995, the OHDG was reactivated by the new founding members Jeff Sims and Ric Carlson, who were at the time an employees of the United States Forest Service.

The Oregon High Desert Grotto has identified 813 caves in Deschutes County, 660 of these are lava tubes.

Of the remaining caves, the majority are also lava-related formations including vertical conduits, fissures, bubbles, and lava molds.

Talus caves are found in cracks and open spaces between boulders along faults and in rock fall areas.

Many require a strenuous hike just to get to the cave; and while underground, dark spaces and tight passages can be dangerous for anyone who is not prepared.

As a result, members of the Oregon High Desert Grotto are careful to bring along the proper equipment for each caving trip.

[19][20] Over the last few years, the Grotto has been involved in the study and mapping of the Sandy Glacier Caves on Mount Hood in Oregon.

[30] On National Public Lands Day in September 2000, the Grotto participated in the gating of Stookey Ranch Cave.

[13][14][15][16] Ken Siegrist, of the Grotto and former employee of the Bureau of Land Management, has worked to protect many caves, including those of eastern and southern Oregon.

[3][39] Additionally, the Grotto along with land management agencies, has helped collect and discover millipedes, campodeans, arachnids, and the Taracus marchingtoni, some new to science.