Pinnacles National Park guide · 1 min read
Bear Gulch and Balconies Talus Caves
Bear Gulch Cave and Balconies Cave are the two main talus caves in Pinnacles National Park.
They took shape when boulders lodged across narrow canyons and roofed the passages beneath. Walking through them feels like moving through a tunnel of rock, with stone pressing in overhead and on both sides.
Bear Gulch Cave has a lower main chamber and a smaller chamber near the top. The main chamber can be crossed on its own, whatever the condition of the upper section. Expect to scramble over rocks, duck under low ceilings, and follow narrow, twisting passages with uneven footing. Some stretches may mean wading through water.
Bring a flashlight to both caves, since they are dark and a light is mandatory inside. Townsend's big-eared bats shelter in these caves, and the park protects them, so parts of the caves can close to safeguard the animals. Flooding after storms can also shut access, so check with the park before you set out. Keep noise low and watch your head.
Bear Gulch Reservoir is one of the park's most photographed spots and a short, scenic hike away. You can reach it through Bear Gulch Cave or along the Moses Spring Trail. For a longer outing, the Balconies Cliffs-Balconies Cave Loop covers 2.4 miles in one to one and a half hours, with about 100 feet of elevation gain. It is rated easy to moderate and passes through Balconies Cave, where you may need to scramble over talus passages.
