The Bear Gulch Cave at Pinnacles National Monument will be
completely open for the month of March, according to an
announcement from Pinnacles.
The Bear Gulch Cave at Pinnacles National Monument will be completely open for the month of March, according to an announcement from Pinnacles.
According to the announcement:
After March 31, only the lower half of the cave will remain open for the remainder of the spring. The cave is open each March and October for at least one and up to four weeks, depending on the presence of a colony of Townsend’s Big-eared bats. The bats, which are listed by the state of California as a species of special concern, raise their young (pups) and hibernate in the cave. The entire cave will be closed from May 15th through July 15th to allow the bats to raise their young. After July 15, the lower half of the cave will reopen.
These dates are tentative depending on the activity of the bats. When visiting the cave, please remember that it is the home of a sensitive species. To avoid disturbing the bats, please keep voices down. If you happen to see a bat in either of the park’s caves, please do not disturb it or shine your light directly on it.
The Bear Gulch Cave (closer to the east entrance of the park) and the Balconies Cave (closer to the west entrance) both offer the opportunity to explore a talus cave. Please remember to bring flashlights and wear sturdy shoes. Seasonal streams run through both caves, and the rocks can be slippery when the stream is flowing.
For more information please contact the Pinnacles Visitor Center at (831) 389-4485 or visit the web pages at: www.nps.gov/pinn.
When visiting Pinnacles National Monument, please be aware that no gas stations are available in the park.
