Catlow Cave is located in the Burns District near the southern end of Catlow Valley, at the base of the basalt rim forming the valley's eastern margin. The cave measures about 130 feet across the front, 60 feet from front to rear, and about 50 feet high. At least four rock ringed pits, interpreted as house features, have been found along the rear wall of the cave. The number of pits is approximate; there is at least one small rock ring inside a larger one, and one large ring may have been partitioned.

Catlow Cave represents the earliest two periods: Paleo-Indian (12,000 to 8,000 years ago) and Early Archaic (8,000 to 6,000 years ago).