2 Pinnacles caves closed due to severe weather concerns

KSBW ^ | Ricardo Tovar

[nickcarraway]

Pinnacles National Park announced the closure of two caves due to poor weather concerns.

Both Bear Gulch and Balconies caves will be closed starting Tuesday. A high wind advisory and flood watch were issued for the park, prompting the closures.

Advertisement Visitors are asked to be cautious when visiting the park as harsh weather can increase the chance of downed trees and other unsafe conditions. Visitors are also asked to prepare for any potential risks.

There was no indication on how long the closures would last. Guests can check cave status by calling at 831-389-4485 or online.

[crusty old prospector]

I didn’t know there was a Pinnacles National Park.

[Zathras]

Its an ancient exploded volcano sitting right on the San Andres Fault.
Very interesting place to hike but really hot in the summer.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

Formerly a National Monument.

I went there with my kids a few years ago. It’s actually half, not the whole, of an old volcano, right on the San Andreas fault, south of Hollister about 20 miles. The other half of the volcano is on the other side of the fault, but because the western side of the fault has been moving north for millions of years, the other half is 200 miles south, called the Neenach Volcanic Formation.

Pinnacles has some very interesting rock formations. We went there in October. It was 80-85 degrees during the day, 37 degrees at night.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

It is a really magnificent park. Out of the way so it doesn't get many visitors. There's a beautiful lake there you get to by going through a cave!

It was a state park for a long time and had even fewer visitors. I've hiked there many times the first being in the summer of '74 and it was BLAZING hot.

There are lots of bats Pinnacles which find refuge in the caves, cliffs, and trees. There is currently a colony of Townsend's Big-eared Bats in the Bear Gulch Cave and a colony of the Western Mastiff bat in the Balconies cave area.

Out of the 23 species of bats in California, 14 species are known to occur within Pinnacles National Park. All of the 14 species at Pinnacles and 41 of the 44 North American bats eat insects, spiders, and their kin. Three species eat fruit or nectar. There are only three species of vampire bats—they live in South America and feed on birds and mammals.

It's well worth a visit. The best areas are a good hike away from the parking lots, though.

[sasquatch]

Too bad DC doesn’t shut down due to weather.

[GSWarrior]

Which side of Pinnacles is recommend for first time visitors? I want to explore tight places and do some light hiking.

[Fiji Hill]

I didn’t know there was a Pinnacles National Park.

I didn't either. It must have been mad a national park only recently.

It is located east of King City, Calif., which is halfway between Paso Robles and Salinas, in Monterey County.

[sasquatch]

Go here:
https://www.nps.gov/orca/index.htm
It’s a long drive (from the Bay Area) but worth it.

[sasquatch]

Or here:
https://visitmurphys.com/moaning-caverns/

[norcal joe]

They also have California Condors there, flying near the cliffs. It’s kind of a prehistoric-pterodactyl vibe.

[Beowulf9]

I didn’t know there were any volcanoes on the San Andreas fault. Reminds me of Krakatoa.

[Beowulf9]

Do they get storms like this up there on occasion? I’ve read it’s going to be hurricane wind speeds.

[steve86]

She has nice teeth, I mean the lady.

[irishjuggler]

As a kid, I hiked the trails of Pinnacles with my family once. Honestly, the place freaked me out because, at least the day I was there, the sounds of rattlesnakes was practically deafening, everywhere, all the time.

[sasquatch]

Weather gets hyped a lot. There’s an expression about news.
If it bleeds, it leads.(the news cycle)

[GSWarrior]

Thank you 🙂