Explore talus cave on Bear Gulch trail

Bear Gulch Cave. Photo courtesy of Pinnacles NPS

Bear Gulch Cave Trail map. Map courtesy of Pinnacles NPS.

Hikers can go spelunking on the Bear Gulch Cave Trail at California’s Pinnacles National Park.

The 1.5-mile round trip includes a walk through a scenic canyon and to a pretty reservoir. You’ll gain about 275 feet in elevation, but most elementary school kids can handle the route.

To reach the trailhead, use the park’s east entrance on Calif. Hwy. 146 (aka Chalone Creek Road). Turn left/southwest on the road leading to the Bear Gulch Day Use Area. Park in the lot at the end of the road. The trailhead is at the stone wall just before the lot.

You’ll initially take the Moses Spring Trail, which ascends up a hillside along a dirt path. Lush and shaded, there’s plenty of slanted and twisted trees as well as moss-covered boulders, creating the feel of an enchanted forest.

In 0.2 miles, the trail splits; go right/south onto riparian trail with ferns in the understory. Pause and listen to the canyon sounds.

Incredibly large boulders abound in this stretch, and by late morning so do rock climbers; they’re efforts can make for quite a sight. Two small caves also are along this portion of the route.

At 0.5 miles, the trail splits gain. Turn right/south, which brings you to the Bear Gulch Cave Trail proper.

Bear Gulch Cave
Within short order, you’ll reach Bear Gulch Cave. This talus cave technically is not a cave at all. It formed when running water cut deep fissures and chasms into the rock, causing chunks to fall off; due to the tight canyon spaces, not all fully hit the ground. Over thousands of years, they piled atop one another, creating the feel of a cave.

Within a couple of steps of passing through the cave’s narrow entrance, you’ll need a flashlight, so be sure to bring one for each member of your party. While some shafts of light break through the ceiling, parts of the caves are pitch black.

As squeezing between narrow rocks, you’ll be serenaded by Bear Gulch Creek, which runs through the cave. The sound of water tricking over the rocks is delightful, and along the way you’ll have to step across some of those stones to reach the other end. Following a rainfall, the cave floor can be wet, but the tiny waterfalls that the heavier runoff brings will quickly make you forget about that. Railing and steps, placed there by the CCC during the 1930s, also help make the going easy.

A colony of Townsend’s big-eared bats sometimes roosts in the cave. Found throughout the western United States and Mexico, Townsend’s bats have extremely long, flexible ears, and thanks to a large wing area compared to their body mass, they are able to hover in flight. They feed almost exclusively on moths but have been seen eating flies, dung beetles, and other small insects.

Upon leaving the cave, head through the boulders and take stone steps up to sparkling Bear Gulch Reservoir, about 0.15 miles away. The reservoir collects runoff from Santa Cruz Mountain and can hold up to 166 million gallons. The shores of a reflecting pool marks a great spot for a picnic lunch or snack.

Gorge rim
The trail loops back by taking Moses Spring Trail south. This singletrack heads along the gorge rim, and some spots have steep drop-offs. Still, the views of the gorge from above are impressive, and wildflowers usually line the trail in spring and summer. The route passes its namesake, Moses Spring, along the way.

When you reach the beginning of the loop, go straight/east, staying on Moses Spring Trail. At the next trail junction, go right/northeast back to parking lot.

Be forewarned: Sometimes rangers close the trail because of storms, high water, or to ensure the safety of the bats roosting there. The cave usually is closed mid-May to mid-July while the bats raise their newborns. Always check ahead with rangers or online to see if the Cave Trail portion of this hike is open.

Also, some days – especially weekends and during the peak season in summer – the trail can get quite busy, leaving no parking spaces. Arrive early or alternately park at the visitor center and take a shuttle to the Bear Gulch Day Use Area (which is not at the end of the road, so this will add a little distance to your hike).

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks series.

Trail heads to Pinnacles Natl. Park's heart

Vista from High Peaks Trail. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

High Peaks Trail
winds through
ancient pinnacles

Topo map of High Peaks Trail.

Day hikers can explore an otherworldly landscape of pinnacles, spires and monoliths on the High Peaks Trail at one of America’s newest national parks.

The route loops about 5.15 miles when combined with other trails in California’s Pinnacles National Park. Formerly known as Pinnacles National Monument, the wilderness area became a national park in 2013.

For the most part, the trail is narrow and steep with about a 1,300-feet change in elevation. The payoff is a number of great panoramic views and a walk through a geological wonderland.

To reach the trailhead, from King City, Calif., drive northeast on Country Road G13 then go left on Calif. Hwy. 25. From there, turn left onto Calif. Hwy. 146/Chalone Creek Road then left/west onto the park road for the Bear Gulch Day Use Area. Park at the day use area lot, which sits at about 1260 feet elevation.

You can make the hike a full loop by taking Bear Gulch Trail in the day use area east through Bear Gulch. The trail parallels an intermittent creek and the park road until reaching Bench Trail in about 0.75 miles.

Born east of L.A.
Head north on Bench Trail alongside an arroyo, crossing the park road to the day use area. After 0.6 miles, you’ll reach the junction for the High Peaks Trail.

Turn left/west onto the High Peaks Trail. You’ll quickly gain elevation, eventually passing a knob that tops out at about 2380 feet. After about 1.3 miles, the trail intersects with the Condor Gulch Trail. Continue going straight/east.

The trail soon curves south around Hawkins Peak, which tops out at 2720 feet to the southeast, then enters the Pinnacle Rocks. In about 0.4 miles is a junction with Tunnel Trail; continue on the High Peaks Trail, heading south.

You’re now on the backbone of the Pinnacles, weirdly shaped monoliths and spire rock formations, all the eroded remnants of volcanic action that occurred 23 million years ago along the San Andreas Fault, which runs through the range. At that time, this part of the world was about 195 miles to the south, near what is now Lancaster, Calif., where matching rock has been found on the opposite side of the San Andreas.

Condor country
As gazing up at the pinnacles, you may spot giant birds flying about. They probably are the rare California condor, which has a wingspan of up to 9-1/2 feet. Decades ago when efforts were made to repopulate the West with the endangered bird, many were released here.

Spotting a condor will be easiest on this stretch, which includes the trail’s high point of about 2570 feet elevation.

After about 0.6 miles, the route passes the intersection with a connector to the Tunnel Trail. Continuing on the High Peaks Trail, you’ll begin the descent out of the Pinnacle Rocks through chaparral-covered slopes back to Bear Gulch. Along the way you’ll pass Scout Peak, whose summit is at 2605 feet to the southwest.

From there, the trail veers east. In 1.1 miles, it passes junctions for side trails leading to Bear Gulch Reservoir, the Monolith rock formation, and Moses Spring.

The last leg of the trail curves northeast and in about 0.4 miles ends at the Bear Gulch Day Use Area.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Best trails for seeing Pinnacle NP’s wonders

Spires at Pinnacles National Park. Photo courtesy of Pinnacles NPS.

Among the best ways to see Pinnacles National Park’s top sights is via a day hike. Just a few short trails will allow you to enjoy each of the California park’s highlights – breathtaking spires, endangered condors, talus caves, rare chaparral, and wildflowers galore.

Ancient spires
The spire rock formations are the eroded remnants of volcanic action that occurred 23 million years ago along the San Andreas Fault, which runs through Pinnacles. To see and walk through the spires, take the 5.3-mile High Peaks Trail on the park’s east side; the terrain is rugged with significant elevation changes.

Endangered condors
More than 25 of North America’s largest bird – the endangered California condor – reside in the national park. The best place to spot one is by extending the High Peaks Trail with a walk on the Condor Gulch Trail for a 6-mile hike with a 1,325-foot elevation change from peak to valley floor. The condors are most active either early morning or at dusk.

Talus caves
The largest maternity colony of Townsend’s big-eared bats between San Francisco and Mexico resides in Bear Gulch Cave, the lower half of which can be explored from about mid-July to about mid-May. The 1.5-mile Bear Gulch Trail heads through the talus cave, formed when boulders formed passageways on the mountain slope.

Rare chaparral
Several varieties of chaparral – one of California’s dominant plants – cover the slopes northwest of the Bear Gulch Visitor Center. You can head through them by taking the Condor Gulch Trail about 2-miles round trip from the visitor center to the overlook.

Wildflowers
Each spring, wildflowers – including California poppies, bush lupine, and mariposa lilies – blossom across the park. To see a variety of them at different elevations and from a number of vistas, take the High Peaks Trail to Bear Gulch Trail for a 6.7-mile round trip with a 1,425-foot elevation change.

Learn about other great America national park sights in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Park guidebook.