hiking
walking
views
birding
nature trips
wild flowers
kid friendly
wildlife
cave
forest
no dogs
Pinnacles National Monument is a protected mountainous area located east of central California's Salinas Valley. The Monument's namesakes are the eroded leftovers of half of an extinct volcano.The Monument is divided by the rock formations into East and West Divisions, connected by foot trails; there is no through road that connects the east end west entrances to the park. The east side has shade and water, the west has high walls. The rock formations provide for spectacular pinnacles that attract rock climbers. It is popular with advanced rock climbers due to the many difficult and challenging climbs. The Monument is most often visited in spring or fall because of the intense heat during the summer months.
Hit the road at 5:30 and was on the trail at 8:15. Had a great workout on this hike this morning and totally worth it. Temp was right on the edge of warm but fine and there was a nice breeze much of the time. Sky was cobalt blue.
Awesome trail! It's already very dry up there so bring lots of water.
Simple trail. It's an abandon ranch that informs you about its history. Wasn't something that I was interested in. Its probably better for families with small children who can take a nice stroll or anyone who likes history.
The hike was a bit more difficult than I thought. It felt quite long (probably because of the heat) and most of this side, the plants were a bit dead. So much bugs too! But once you get to the overlook I would say its worth it for those who just wants a small work out and a little accomplishment. I only passed through this because I was doing a roundtrip overall the High Peak trail. Great place to have a lunch.
Difficult hike if you have foot problems like me, it didn't stop me though! It was very rewarding and I loved the High Peak view. Take plenty of water and snacks. You'll need it! Always check the weather! It gets extremely steep once you start to get closer to the High Peak because of the staircase. Not good for those who have fear of heights but no worries! They have railings for you to hold on. :P Great view of the National Park once you reach to the top.
by far one of my favorite trails at Pinnacle National Park! Its great on a hot day because the caves will keep you cool! It does have high traffic since its easy access for all types of hikers. Make sure to bring a flashlight, you'll need it.