🦇 California Caving & Spelunking UpdateWednesday, September 30, 2026
The biggest development since Monday is the Dome Fire in Yosemite/Mariposa County, which has grown and is producing access and smoke concerns. Pinnacles is also entering its important October Bear Gulch bat-management window tomorrow.
🔴 1. NEW PRIORITY — Dome Fire, Yosemite/Mariposa County
This is now the wildfire I would watch most closely for Sierra caving, mine exploration and CA Gold Diggers outings.
As of 11:54 a.m. today, CAL FIRE reports the Dome Fire at 5,739 acres and 39% contained, north of Wawona Dome in Yosemite National Park. The fire remains active and is under National Park Service jurisdiction. CAL FIRE
Earlier official incident reporting says Chilnualna Falls Trail and areas near the fire are temporarily closed. Smoke has affected Wawona and El Portal, with intermittent impacts possible elsewhere in Yosemite. CAL FIRE
Practical impact:Â I would avoid underground/backcountry exploration anywhere requiring access through the active Dome Fire area. For caves, mines and prospecting sites elsewhere in Mariposa County, verify roads and smoke conditions before leaving.
🦇 2. Pinnacles — watch tomorrow for a possible access change
As of today's NPS posting at Pinnacles National Park:
Lower Bear Gulch — OPENUpper Bear Gulch — CLOSEDBalconies Cave — OPEN. National Park Service
Tomorrow, October 1, begins an interesting management period. NPS says the entire Bear Gulch Cave generally opens sometime during October for at least one week and potentially as long as the full month, depending on the presence of Townsend's big-eared bats. This is not a guaranteed October 1 opening. National Park Service
Practical impact:Â Don't enter the Upper Cave unless NPS changes its official status to OPEN. But this is worth watching closely over the next several days because a limited full-cave opening could occur.
🦇 3. Lava Beds — six caves remain closed
No significant change today at Lava Beds National Monument.
NPS continues to list:
Balcony Cave • Blue Grotto • Natural Bridge • Ovis Cave • Paradise Alleys • Thunderbolt —
CLOSED. National Park Service
A free caving permit remains required before entering any cave. NPS specifically uses the permit process both for cave safety and to reduce the chance of spreading the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome. National Park Service
One useful improvement from earlier this season remains in effect: Schonchin Butte Road, trail and lookout reopened September 1 after emergency repairs, while the campground fire restriction was lifted September 2. National Park Service
đź”´ 4. Eastern Sierra BLM closure STILL ACTIVE
This deserves continued emphasis because a contained wildfire does not mean its public lands have reopened.
The BLM Bishop Field Office still lists public lands affected by the Rock Fire and Cinder Complex near Aberdeen as CLOSEDÂ because of wildfire damage and fire-suppression impacts. The closure continues until BLM determines conditions permit safe public use. Bureau of Land Management
Practical impact:Â Do not use the closed area to reach caves, abandoned mines, prospecting sites or rockhounding locations.
🔥 5. California BLM fire restrictions continue
BLM's current California restrictions continue to prohibit or restrict activities including campfires outside specified facilities, smoking outside permitted locations, welding/open-flame torches, motorized vehicles and combustion-powered equipment off designated roads or trails, and target shooting in affected areas. Bureau of Land Management
For spelunkers, the important point is that the underground destination can be open while the approach activity is prohibited.
This especially matters for grotto outings involving remote vehicle approaches, dispersed camping or abandoned-mine exploration.
🟢 6. Plaskett Fire — much improved, but Timber Fire remains active
The Central Coast picture is substantially better than it was earlier this month.
CAL FIRE currently lists the Plaskett Fire at 30,124 acres and 99% contained. Highway 1 is open between Carmel and Cambria, although CAL FIRE warns that heavy equipment continues working in the area. CAL FIRE
The nearby Timber Fire remains active at roughly 25,350 acres and 88% containment in the latest statewide incident listing. CAL FIRE
Practical impact:Â Big Sur is no longer the statewide cave-access emergency it was several weeks ago, but avoid assuming backcountry roads and trails inside burned/fire-operation areas have reopened simply because Highway 1 has.
🦇 7. Mitchell Caverns — important WNS rule to know
California State Parks currently lists Providence Mountains State Recreation Area as closed today; normal operating days are Friday–Sunday and holiday Mondays, September through June. CA State Parks
More importantly for grotto members, State Parks has a very specific white-nose-syndrome procedure for Mitchell Caverns.
If your clothing or footwear has been inside any cave, mine or lava tube within the previous 10 years, State Parks asks you to change it if possible. Otherwise, staff can provide hydrogen-peroxide wipes to decontaminate clothing, footwear and gear. CA State Parks
That's especially relevant for people who alternate between gold-mine exploration and recreational caving.
🦇 8. CDFW: decontaminate after caves AND mines
There is no new statewide WNS regulation today, but California's standing guidance remains important.
CDFW says humans potentially can transport the fungus on equipment and clothing used in caves, mines and bat roosts. It strongly urges people who enter these places to decontaminate clothing and equipment immediately afterward. CDFW also advises keeping dogs and other pets out of caves. California Fish & Wildlife
This is particularly relevant to CA Gold Diggers members exploring historical mine workings.
🌧️ 9. Weather / flash flooding — no statewide cave emergency, but Big Sur coast has an advisory
I did not find a broad California cave-region flash-flood warning tonight.
However, NWS currently has a Coastal Flood Advisory affecting the Big Sur area. National Weather Service
That makes sea caves and tide-accessed coastal grottos a different proposition from inland caves. Coastal flooding, surf and tides need to be checked independently before entering.
For inland caves, the bigger developing fall concern remains the extensive 2026 burn scars. Rain over the Dome, Plaskett/Timber, Rock/Cinder, Gann, Bug and other burned areas can create rapid runoff, debris flows, rockfall and road damage.
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