bear gulch caves

We had a really nice hike to Bear Gulch Caves this Valentines Day. It didn't matter that it was partial closed due to the bats mating season, we thought it was well worth the hike anyway. Would highly recommend anyone to go there! The trail is partly shady but the sun can get really hot in between, so bring sunblock and/or a hat!

We hiked down to Bear Gulch Caves and loved it. It's different than your usual cave, and inside provides a nice break from the heat of the sun. You need a flashlight and some sturdy shoes.

And slippery with lots of stairs...this makes them very exciting. Make sure you take a flashlight or a smartphone with a fllashlight app. The caves are open ended...when you go through them, you come upon the exquisite park resevoir..

These are not your traditional underground caves. More like passages through large rock piles. Relatively easy path although you will have to scrunch down and do some simple climbing. Nice place to cool down on a hot day. Only takes about 10-15 minutes to get through it. Bring a flashlight - I used my iPhone flash app which worked just fine.

Bear Gulch Caves adds some interest to Pinnacles National Park but as far as caves go this one is more of a tunnel. There are no noteworthy features other than a little running water. If it's closed because of the bats don't worry about it. You won't be missing much. However, do go to the reservoir for it's scenic value.

This is one of the two Talus caves inside the park you can hike at your own pace and explore. Balconies cave on the west side is the other one. These are not solution caves, where you need to take a guided (paid) tour due to the fact that the stalecites and stalagmites need supervision to avoid tampering by ill-informed tourists/vandals. Talus caves are formed by rocks (west side visitor center has a very good demo you can try) and are meant to be touched, felt and explored!The Bear Gulch cave is home to a sensitive colony of Big-Eared Bats and has a constant temperature. The bats use the cave as a maternal sanctuary in the summer and as a place to hibernate in the winter. There is a reservoir you can relax at the cave exit as well.

Bear Gulch Caves are within the Pinnacles National Park. There is an entrance fee for the park. Enter through the EAST PARK ENTRANCE, Worth the hike, the caves are spectacular. Bring your own water, food, drinks and of course flashlights - you are going inside the caves when you get there, aren't you? Don't expect a light switch!Totally awesome views along the way.

These are large, easy to traverse caves. There are waterfalls inside as well. Make sure that you bring a flashlight and check before going -- sometimes closed for bats roosting.

The Bear Gulch trail pass through the cave was interesting. Along the trail, there are huge rocks and you can see rock climbers here and there. The trail through the cave was narrow and dark. You need a flash light. It was fun since you pass through some narrow gaps and steps along a stream/small waterfall.

This is a must see when you visiting Pinnacles National Park. Adjacent to this is a reservoir. The hike here is about an hour walk & pleasant. You need a flashlight. Sometimes, you have to move through narrow crevices between rocks. I understand that the cave is closed when bats are present.

You have to go see the caves! Bring a flashlight. They are not too bad for people who don't like enclosed spaces. The reservoir is nearby which is an excellent place to enjoy a picnic lunch after exploring the caves. This is a pretty easy hike that can be done by kids as well as adults.

When I went only half of the cave was open due to the bats occupying the other half of the cave. I had gone through the cave 15 years ago and it is very different than it was in the past. If you have never hiked through a cave, then it is still a great experience, but if you go on the weekends don't expect to be alone. This trail gets extremely crowded in the afternoons. The length of the hike to the lake is a perfect length for a family going on a picnic.

The reservoir was a treat. It's a good introductory hike if you plan to hike over multiple days. There is not as much wild flowers to look at on this side of the park.

Fun to visit - especially since these aren't your normal caves (formed by rocks falling and covering canyons, not carved out by water).See my review of the Pinnacles for more details.

Not realizing I was going hiking that day, it was fortunate that I always carry a flashlight in my pocket. You don't need a million candlepower spotlight, my little 7 LED light was adequate.