On Coyote Creek - a tributary of the Stanislaus River - nearly three miles below the old placer mining camp of Vallecito, are found two of the most remarkable caves discovered during the California Gold Rush. These are the Natural Bridges of Calaveras County.
Images courtesy of Dave Bunnell, GoodEarth Graphics.
Sadly, over the last several years, these popular landmarks have suffered from the tragic vandalism of a few thoughtless visitors. The once-pristine cave walls have been tagged by graffiti, and trash has been carelessly left on the trail.
With your help, the Western Cave Conservancy hopes to clean up this site and deliver a new message of conservation for future generations.
We hope you can join us!
The Western Cave Conservancy recently received a generous grant from the Teichert Foundation which will allow us to host an extensive restoration weekend at the Natural Bridges. We plan to address four goals in this project;
Working in collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation's New Melones facility, the WCC will host an all-volunteer work weekend from April 25-28 to focus on these goals. The Bureau of Reclamation has offered free camping to our work team, and the grant funds will cover our food for the weekend. Volunteers will also receive a custom t-shirt for their participation.
The Natural Bridges Cave and Coyote Creek trail is a beautiful two-mile hike leading to spectacular limestone caverns that have been carved out by Coyote Creek which feeds into New Melones Lake.
To conserve this site for futre generations, we need your help!
The site has suffered from a lack of conservation efforts to maintain the historic caves. By working together with the bureau, we can clean up the site and deliver a free trail guide to build awareness of the unique geological, historical, and ecological features in the area.
Please review the details page on this site before deciding if you'd like to participate. We have limited space for the work teams, but welcome any motivated volunteers! Please do not simply show up on the restoration weekend! To make adequate plans for food and resources, we need to know who is coming in advance. Sign-ups will close on Thursday evening, April 18.
Without generous support from the Teichert Foundation, this project could not have moved forward! The foundation expresses their company's commitment to build and preserve a healthy and prosperous region. They provide grants to organizations that create beauty, foster culture, nurture children, provide access to food and housing for those in need, preserve nature, increase awareness of our environment, build an educated citizenry and a well-prepared workforce, and strive to provide better health for all.
The Western Cave Conservancy is dedicated to securing permanent protection for threatened caves in the western United States while preserving access to caves for cavers.
We were incorporated in 2002 by a group of dedicated cave enthusiasts. The WCC is run by an all-volunteer staff, including seven to eight directors of varying scientific and caving experience, as well as an executive board that runs day-to-day operations. The board of directors is assisted by a large advisory board.
Caves are natural wonders which spark our wonder and curiosity. Graffiti steals that magic away from cave visitors. Help us restore this unspoiled wonder at Natural Bridges.
WCC Special Projects Director
The Natural Bridges at Coyote Creek are a valued landmark in Calaveras County. We look forward to working with the Bureau of Reclamation to protect these caves for future generations.
President, Western Cave Conservancy
Working with the Bureau of Reclamation to pull this project together has been a great example of how the non-profit world can help support our friends in the government sector to protect our natural resources.
WCC Project Manager
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Western Cave Conservancy
PO Box 230 Newcastle, CA 95658
