Pinnacles National Park’s Balconies Caves remain shut because of vandalism and may not reopen in time for Thursday’s free admission day.
The closure has been extended at least until noon Wednesday, Nov. 10, the park said. Initially, it was thought the clean-up could be completed last week.
“Graffiti that took a couple of minutes to spray will take well over 100 personnel hours and 500 pounds of equipment to remove,” the announcement said.
The Balconies Caves, on a 1.2-mile loop, are one of the most popular attractions of the 26,600-acre park near Soledad.
In addition, the upper chamber of the other main cave system, Bear Gulch Caves, was closed last week for the rest of the season because of the return of a colony of Townsend’s big-eared bats.
The lower portion of the Bear Gulch Caves remains open and can be reached from trails on the park’s east side. Visitors are reminded to bring a flashlight or headlamp.
Pinnacles’ usual entrance fees will be waived Thursday, Nov. 11, for all visitors as part of the National Park System’s free admission day.
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