Guides
Hike the highs and lows of Pinnacles National Monument, one of the best parks in central California.
The striking terrain of the Pinnacles National Monument might make you feel like you're at least a couple of state borders away from the San Francisco Bay Area, but in truth this national park is less than a hundred miles south of San Jose. Our recommended route combines two of the most popular trails in the park - boasting caves, some tight squeezes...
Hike the whole length of the High Peaks Trail to find out why it's the most popular Pinnacles trail.
High Peaks Trail is a rugged route through the remarkable rock features of Pinnacles National Monument, which was formed millions of years ago when the San Andreas Fault shattered a volcano. While many hike options at the Pinnacles include parts of High Peaks Trail, I'm particularly fond of this loop because it takes in the entire trail. Trails...
Essential loop at the Pinnacles, one of the best hiking locales in central California
High Peaks Trail at Pinnacles National Monument threads its way through the wreckage of a volcano destroyed by the San Andreas Fault millions of years ago. The Monument, about 100 miles south of San Jose, California, celebrates the strange assortment of rock formations created as the volcano gave way to greater forces of plate tectonics. This...
Trips
Pinnacles: Chalone Peaks and the Southern Wilderness
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 13.0 miles (8.9 miles away)
Hiking | 13.0 miles (8.9 miles away)
A great hike planned by my crazy friend Laurent. We had done the Northern Wilderness trail last fall so when he proposed this hike it didn't take me long to think... hmmm that'd be fun. We parked at Bear Gulch on a chilly morning around 9am and made the nice hike up to the lake bypassing the caves since we had packs on. The coats came off and we made the nicely...
Pinnacles gone crazy - Chalone Peaks, Pig fence, and South Wilderness Trail
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 12.9 miles (8.9 miles away)
Hiking | 12.9 miles (8.9 miles away)
Pinnacles National Monuments is a place I love to visit. It's different from what's around, and it's remote. For quite some time, I had been wondering whether it was possible to connect two trails that dead-end in the South part of the park. It seemed silly to have to backtrack, while connecting those two trails would make for a beautiful (and probably strenuous) loop.The trails are the South Wilderness Trail, which I...
Pinnacles High Peaks and Northern Wilderness
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 12.6 miles (8.0 miles away)
Hiking | 12.6 miles (8.0 miles away)
An absolutely stunning hike across the Pinnacles themselves and then out through the Northern Wilderness section.We arrived about 7:45 after a long drive down from San Jose. I was in shorts and a Tshirt so the 46F temp was a bit chilly but later on I was wishing that it was still cold as it got quite warm back on the North Wilderness trail.We headed straight up the outhouse which took us...
Pinnacles .. Balconies and High Peaks
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 7.9 miles (8.0 miles away)
Hiking | 7.9 miles (8.0 miles away)
I organized a group trip to Pinnacles for the Geocachers of the Bay Area (http://thegba.net). Fifteen folks came out to play! We started at West Pinnacles, and headed to the Balconies Cave ... from there over to the Old Pinnacles Trailhead, then up the High Peaks trail to and through the peaks themselves .. then back down to West Pinnacles.Wildflowers were near their peak. The bright yellow bush poppies were amazing, as...
Pinnacles - High Peaks and North Wilderness Trail
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 12.6 miles (8.0 miles away)
Hiking | 12.6 miles (8.0 miles away)
It's been a year and a half since we last went to Pinnacles National Monument, and Sunday seemed like a nice day for a long hike through the hike peaks, and along the less known North Wilderness Trail. A group of enthusiasts (Rebecca, Dave, Sam, Antony, Pang, Jeff) was quickly formed, and that Sunday, at 8 am (after a 2 hours drive from San Jose), we were all at the West entrance's...
Pinnacles: Balconies Cave & High Peaks Loop
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 8.7 miles (8.0 miles away)
Hiking | 8.7 miles (8.0 miles away)
Spring is the best time at Pinnacles, when the flowers are at their peak and it's not absurdly hot. Starting at the west entrance, this clockwise loop took my friends and I through the Balconies Caves trail (and through the short but cool cave section), back around the pretty flat northern part of the park, then up through the High Peaks trail where we hit the big climb.Fortunately, the climb is worth...
Bear Gulch Cave and Reservoir
Pinnacles National Monument, California, United States
Hiking | 1.6 miles (9.0 miles away)
Hiking | 1.6 miles (9.0 miles away)
After sleeping in a tent with the temperature at 30 degrees, Blair and I took the tram from the campground to the trail head, where we met up with our friends Rob and Todd. The trail starts out by going straight through the picnic area, but gets pretty awesome after that. You travel up a little canyon, with huge rocks on either side of you. The cave was formed by huge rocks...
Pinnacles High Peaks and Caves
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 5.8 miles (8.9 miles away)
Hiking | 5.8 miles (8.9 miles away)
Hiked from East Pinacle side of park on Condor Gulch, High Peaks, and then to the lake and down via the caves. You will need a light for the caves and you may have to walk in a bit of water. Some steep narrow sections at the top. Saw a condor. Caves may be closed due the high water in winter and to protect the bats in spring and later.
Pinnacles National Monument
Paicines, California, United States
Hiking | 13.3 miles (11.1 miles away)
Hiking | 13.3 miles (11.1 miles away)
WHEN: March 29, 2009
WHERE: Pinnacles National Monumenthttp://www.nps.gov/pinn/
DIRECTION: http://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/directions.htm
PARK MAP:http://home.nps.gov/applications/hafe/hfc/carto-detail.cfm?Alpha=PINN
An Early Spring Loop Around Pinnacles
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 8.9 miles (9.0 miles away)
Hiking | 8.9 miles (9.0 miles away)
This trip is worth it for the drive alone. Highway 25 south of Hollister is prime California pasture-land, vineyards and farms at its best. Pinnacles is a treat any time of year, but springtime is best for wildflower hunting. I made the trip on a cool day, just after the rains, and saw a lot of color. If it's Springtime, get to Pinnacles! I love the high-alpine feel of the park --...
Pinnacles National Park - High Peaks to Bear Gulch to Condor Gulch
Paicines, California, United States
Hiking | 5.0 miles (8.9 miles away)
Hiking | 5.0 miles (8.9 miles away)
High Peaks to Bear Gulch to Condor Gulch. Perfect loop trail at the park. Only $5 fee. One of the best Hikes in California so close to the bay area. The hike started out a little misty and very cold but the amazing sights of all the rock formations and the zig zag trails took the mind right off the cold but made for a awesome hike at the top of "High...
Pinnacles NM -- High Peaks loop
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 5.9 miles (9.0 miles away)
Hiking | 5.9 miles (9.0 miles away)
We spent the weekend with the Webelos Scouts at Pinnacles NM. For our hike we went up Bear Gulch, along the ridge via High Peaks, and then back to the start via Condor Gulch: lots of fun with a group of about 25 kids and adults. Fortunately, the talus cave in Bear Gulch was still open. I believe it was the last day to pass through before the annual closure for bat...
Pinnacles - High Peaks and North Wilderness
Pinnacles, California, United States
Hiking | 12.7 miles (8.0 miles away)
Hiking | 12.7 miles (8.0 miles away)
A fun day with friends. We started at West Pinnacles, and ascended to the High Peaks ... always fun. We then made the long descent down to Chalone, where we stopped for lunch. We then headed off down the North Wilderness Trail. It's SORT of a trail ... there are cairns every once in a while that you can follow, and there is usually a footpath visible between them. But there are...
Great winter day hike. Caves, steps cut in the cliffs, a condor and great views.
Winter hike at Pinnacles National Monument with Kimber and Brendon. Amazing trails with outstanding views of wild volcanic rock formations. We looked up and saw two Peregrine falcons at the top soaring as well. No California Condor sightings this time but it was pretty cold.
During our trip to the Pinnacles, we decided we should try to hit both cave groups at the park. Both caves, bear gulch and balconies caves, are actually small canyons the suffered from some major rock slides which filled the canyons in. Most of the rocks are very large so the slides actually formed caves in the canyons where some species of bats and hiker now call home :).We set off from the...
