Bronson Caves

Bronson Canyon, or Bronson Caves, is a section of Griffith Park in Los Angeles that has become famous as a filming location, especially known for the "bat cave" scenes in the Batman TV series of the 1960s. It's an easy, off-leash, kid friendly hike with much more strenuous extensions available. In 1903, the Union Rock Company founded a quarry, originally named Brush Canyon, for excavation of crushed rock used in the construction of city streets. The quarry ceased operation in the late 1920s, leaving the caves behind. The caves became known as the Bronson Caves after a nearby street, giving the area its more popular name of Bronson Canyon (the same street indirectly provided the stage name for actor Charles Bronson, who chose the name of the Bronson Gate at Hollywood's Paramount Studios, which in turn derived its name from Bronson Street). The hike itself is really more of a walk up to the caves/tunnels; however, three blazed trails abound from the cavern site. None are marked, but they are easily recognizable from the cavern site: 1. Connect into the Brush Canyon trail (heading North) following a parallel path with Canyon Drive (NOTE: Steep and dangerous grade) 2. Connect to Hollywood and/or Western Canyon roads via a 1 1/4 mile route called the Griffitite Serpentine (NOTE: Steep and dangerous grade) 3. Continue south on trail from canyon to an area known for it's quartzite beach pebbles (a favorite for kids)