Going to the Batcave!
| Los Angeles is home to many movie
and television show filming locations. One of my favorite
ones to visit is Bronson Caves. Bronson Caves played the
role of “the Batcave” in the 1960’s movie and the television
series, Batman. I remember the thrill of discovering the caves for the first time. My friends and I parked in a small parking lot at the far north end of Canyon Drive, inside Griffith Park in Hollywood. We walked south on Canyon Drive until we saw a gated road to the left. We slipped past the gate and walked up a dusty, dirt incline. Less than half a mile later, we entered a large clearing. As we approached the rocky hill toward the center, we spotted a small opening in the base. We had found the Batcave! |
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| The entrance to the Batcave was instantly recognizable, but
instead of looking into a dark cave, we found ourselves
looking straight through the “cave” and out the other side,
because the Batcave is actually a tunnel! Entering the cave/tunnel instantly transported me millions of miles from Los Angeles. The rocky walls and dirt floor strewn with rubble enveloped me. I ducked inside one of the small tunnels branching away from the large main tunnel and climbed back out into the bright Southern California sunshine. There, I was treated to a great view of the Hollywood Sign in the distance to the northwest. |
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| Over the years, I’ve returned to Bronson Caves many times.
Occasionally, I've found the area around them filled with
trucks and a crew filming a movie, commercial or television
show. During one visit, my friends and I watched the filming
of a scene for the television show, Private Practice. Even when there’s nothing filming at Bronson Caves, it is always fun for a quick visit. I also like to hike all the way from the Batcave to the Hollywood Sign. Note that, in the summer, this shade-free hike can be brutal. |
I did this most recently in 2017 in Hollywood, California, USA. |
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jen is also known as J.W. Lynne, a best selling author of eleven novels. Click on any of the titles below to see the book on Amazon! THE UNKNOWN: Eight kids learn the shocking reason why they were kidnapped. ABOVE THE SKY: A girl lives in a world where touching her soulmate is forbidden. THE DARKNESS OUTSIDE: A teen is locked in a bunker to take a simulated trip to the moon. KID DOCS: An experimental program turns kids into doctors. WILD ANIMAL SCHOOL: A girl falls in love with a boy at an exotic animal ranch. WHAT HE DIDN'T TELL ME: A traumatized girl meets a boy with a horrible secret. IF I TELL: A teen wonders if her father is a serial killer. Besides reading books and dreaming up stories to write, Jen's favorite activities are singing along to musical theater soundtracks and hiking in California's beautiful parks. **Jen's books are available on Kindle Unlimited.** |
Find Jen's list of bucket-list-worthy things to do in the Los Angeles area here. |
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Bronson Caves "Batcave" Hike map: |
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This hike generally takes me about 30 minutes round trip
when I walk at a relaxed pace and only spend a few minutes
at the caves. I would estimate that the hike is about 1 mile
round trip. Driving directions to trailhead: From the intersection of Hollywood Blvd and North Bronson Drive, head north on North Bronson Drive. Continue on North Bronson Drive until it becomes Canyon Drive. Enter Griffith Park and park in one of the parking lots just before the gate at the end of Canyon Drive. |