Hello everyone! This is a friendly reminder that any of these fun places we may visit, we are a guest at. Please treat both businesses and trails with the utmost respect. We here at Hidden California follow the 'Leave no Trace' mantra, meaning whatever you bring with you comes back with you. If you see trash on a trail, please do your part to help remove it. Remember, we are not picking up trash from another person but instead cleaning up for Mother Nature. Happy adventures!
2960 Canyon Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90068
34.121517, -118.314359
Hike: .25 miles Level: moderately easy
Dog-Friendly: Yes Kid-Friendly: Yes
Make sure to check out our list of all hidden gems in Los Angeles County!
About the Bronson Caves
The Bronson Caves sit in a section of Griffith Park that has become known as a filming location for many movies and TV shows, especially westerns and science fiction, from the early days of motion pictures to the present.
The Bronson Caves are remote-looking setting, but easily accessible location, has made it a prime choice for filmmakers, particularly of low-budget films, who want to place scenes in a lonely wilderness.
Bronson Canyon is located in the southwest section of Griffith Park, thus is easily accessible from Hollywood. 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 Ave.
Scenes of the main cave entrance are normally filmed in a manner that shows the entrance at an angle because the cave is actually a very short tunnel through the hill, with the rear opening easily visible in a direct shot.
The most well-known appearance of the tunnel entrance is likely as the entrance to the Batcave in the Batman television series of the 1960s.
While you’re in the area, make sure to check out the Old L.A. Zoo!
Some notable movies, shows and games filmed here are: Army of Darkness, Star Trek, Twin Peaks, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Batman, Beauty & the Geek, Litte House on the Prairie, The Dukes of Hazard, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Wonder Woman, Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland and SO much more!
Personal Experience
This is a pretty quick hike up a hill to these famous caves. Although a quick trip, I think it’s a fun spot to visit. This is a stone’s throw away from the Old L.A. Zoo in Griffith Park which is also extremely easy to get to.
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