About
Length2.2 mi
ShapeLoop
DifficultyModerate
Elevation gain500 ft up
Typical time1 hr 30 min
TrailheadBear Gulch Day Use Area, east side
SurfaceRock steps, talus cave passages, reservoir dam
Best seasonSpring and autumn. Summer regularly exceeds 100F with no shade; spring wildflowers peak in March and April.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityDifficulty: Moderate Distance: Approx. 2.2 mile loop Trail width: Approx. 2.5 - 4 feet Maximum grade: 500 feet Surface Composition: dirt, rock Exposure: Limited shade, no shade on Rim Trail Flashlight required in cave; Watch for low ceilings, slippery rocks, and uneven footing. Cave is open seasonally; Cave may be closed for short periods in winter due to flooding. *Service animals permitted
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🕳️ Cave or arch

The caves here are talus caves - not solution caves - formed where enormous boulders wedged into a narrow canyon and roofed it over. The trail squeezes between and under them, then climbs to the Bear Gulch Reservoir behind a small dam.

Tips
You need a torch; parts are genuinely pitch dark. The caves close seasonally, sometimes for months, to protect a maternity colony of Townsend's big-eared bats - check the status before you drive out. Upper and lower cave sections have separate closures.
Location

Bear Gulch Day Use Area, east side

Other Hikers
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