Hike to the Cave of Munits
Details
Distance
1.6 miles
Elevation Gain
750 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by Derek Mathewson
Munits is an epic spot if you're looking to go caving! Not many around here like this one. There's even another cave inside The Cave Munits. It's pretty dark and can be hard to see, so a flashlight is recommended. The trail to the cave will also lead you to Castle Peak.
Are you looking for a hike that offers trail running, scenic views, hiking, and CAVE exploring? This short, but exciting trail leads you on a short 0.8 mile hike to the Cave of Munits. When starting at the main trailhead, El Scorpion Park, take the wide paved dirt road all the way till you get to the large tree near the hills. The trail will then split three ways. Taking the trails to the left and middle will take you to the hills. So take the trail to right, and hike another approximate 0.2 miles. You'll see the entrance to the cave from a distance, so their shouldn't be any confusion.
Once inside the cave, it feels as if it's something you'd seen in a movie or through another outdoor enthusiasts photos. You'll definitely need a second to take it in and embrace it. With this spot being so close to the main roads and the city, it's hard to believe that there's not more people, graffiti and trash...but lets not jinx it! There are also small little caves in the area, so keep a lookout.
After you've done your exploring, you can then either go back the way you came, or you can scramble your way to the top of the cave where the trail continues to Castle Peak. Roundtrip loop from the start of the trail to castle peak is 2.1 miles. Remember, graffiti is perfectly acceptable in the built environment, but nature is not the place for your spray paint. please pack out what you pack in and respect the land!
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Reviews
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Fun!
I don't get out much, but this was pretty cool. Great hike with great views. A little more rock climbing then I thought there would be but nothing too crazy. Would definitely go again.
5.0
Pretty Cool!
We did this in 100 degree weather so that was a bit of a drag, but other than that it was cool! The rocks are very smooth so finding traction is harder and we did slide a bit. The caves are easy to find, you can see them in the distance from a certain point! It doesn’t take too long to explore it all in it’s entirety. I would recommend this for photography and someone looking for an easier “hike”...more of a nice walk ;)
4.0
Awesome
Adam the thing says intermediate level down at the bottom so that's ur fault.....anyway it was beautiful short hike but worth it I got to go inside the caves and explore there are some steep hills so wear some good hiking shoes in order to get down from the caves u need to be careful! It's not that bad just alittle sketchy if u haven't done it before after the first time cloning its a piece of cake!
5.0
What Can I Say
If you are a beginner hiker, DO NOT I repeat DO NOT go on this hike. It is steep, it is not .8 miles as the overview states and it is a death trap. The Hike to get to the caves is confusing and slanted. My kids and I nearly were killed before we even got to the caves. After braving the hike up, you come up to huge bolder and rocks. You then have to climb up the rocks, where there about 10 ways u can fall and die each step You take. Then you get to the caves, finally, and they are pretty cool but then comes your next problem. Getting down. There are two ways. Going back the way u came, or trying a new way. We tried the new way, as the way we came seemed not as safe. Wrong decision. There were about a million ways to die down there. DO NOT GO ON THIS HIKE. REVIEW IS TOTALLY MISLEADING.
1.0
Love this cave
I've done this hike a couple of times, and in the past, I have loved it! I went back recently though, and it seems like people have started to abuse it a lot. Broken glass littered the ground inside the cave, which made for some interesting climbing. Definitely wear closed toed shoes, and expect hundreds of pigeons that call the cave home!
4.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
