Pinnacles National Monument, California
Directions: For the east entrance, from Hwy 101 south of Gilroy take Hwy 25 south. On Hwy 25, go through the town of Hollister and continue about 30 miles to Hwy 146. Turn right on Hwy 146, and follow it to the Pinnacles entrance station.
Parking Fee: $5.00
Facilities: toilets
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“V” checks the map ...
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On Saturday 15-September-2007, I joined in with the Stanford Outing Club for a hike at the Pinnacles National Monument.
ROUTE SUMMARY: Bear Gulch visitor center > Condor Gulch trail > High peaks trail >
Old Pinnacles trail > Balconies caves trail > Balconies trail > Juniper Canyon trail > High
peaks trail > Rim Trail > Bear gulch caves trail > Moses spring trail > Bear gulch trail >
End
National Geographic TOPO! software website:
GPS Stats
Distance hiked: 10.3 miles
Total ascent: 3225 ft
Trailhead Elevation: 1274 ft
Max Elevation: 2593 ft
Moving time: 4 hrs 10 min
Moving Average: 2.5 mph
Overall average: 1.4 mph
Time stopped: 3 hrs 20 min
Personal stats
Dates Hiked:
15-Sep-2007
Start time: 10:00 AM
Weather: Clear and sunny. Temperatures were in the mid 70’s to the 80’s.
Water consumed: 3.3 liters
plus 600 ml Gatorade
Finish time: 5:30 PM
Total time: 7 hours 30 min
Beauty: If you like to hike and you can make it to the Pinnacles, this one is a must. You will be rewarded with grand views and massive rock formations that make the effort well worth it!
Wildlife seen: half dozen deer, 1 coyote, 1 tarantula, and some buzzards.
Difficulty: Even after all of my hiking and biking and attempts to get in shape, I still found this to be a strenuous hike and I think some of the younger hikers along for this outing would probably agree. We did this hike in largely comfortable weather. I’m not sure I would want to try it on a hot day.
Let’s see. As near as I can remember, I have been to the Pinnacles at least 3 times in my life, maybe 4. I remember my parents taking us kids there at least once, perhaps twice, to the eastern entrance when I was maybe 10-12 years old in the early 1960’s. And I know I went to the western entrance when I was around 20 or 21 in the 1970’s. That was the last time I had been there in all those years and in those visits we never really hiked past the caves.
Since I started hiking last year, I have had the Pinnacles on my radar figuring I would make it there at some point. And so when “V” announced this hike, I figured this was the chance I have been waiting for and joined in and met up with a group of about 20 or so other hikers at the Bear Gulch Visitor Center.
After paying my parking and getting organized, we took off up the Condor Gulch Trail, climbing almost immediately. I think the trail climbed maybe 1000 feet before leveling off and wrapping around hills while offering some wonderful views. But the morning was also warm and I huffed and puffed and pumped some sweat to get up there. One of the hazards of being an older hiker I guess. The young hikers seemed to take the hill without notice. Brats!
From there we hooked up with the High Peaks Trail for some very enjoyable hiking right back down the hill to our starting elevation. From there we caught the Old Pinnacles Trail and followed it around to the Balcony Caves Trail and the caves, which fortunately were open.
If you haven’t been there, the caves are not extensive but neither are they lit. You need a flashlight or better yet, a headlamp. And they have low ceilings in spots and if you don’t watch your head, you will bang it painfully on some unforgiving rock as I did further on in the Bear Gulch Caves. Ouch! That is the hazard of also wearing your hat where the brim obscures your upper view.
Otherwise I made it out alive and then we took a lunch break on the other side of the Balconies Caves before continuing on the western entrance.
From there we caught the Juniper Canyon Trail which took us right back up another serious hill for another 1200 feet of climbing to the Tunnel Trail and the High Peaks. Both trails had a lot of switch backs but it still felt steep in the warmer air and this time I wasn’t the only one who felt it. But the effort was worth it.
When you get up there you are rewarded with the awesome rock formations that seem almost out of place for the area. And again you are rewarded with great views out over the larger geographic area.
The trail up to the highest spot gets tricky though with some narrow steep steps up carved in rock but there is a low railing to give you a handhold. I found myself crouching a little to hold it but at times I was glad it was there as the trail is narrow and the rock on your side encroaches on your space. To clear my full backpack, I even had to get down on my hands and knees at one point to get past. But don’t let that detour you as the effort is worth it.
Coming down the other side you encounter another set of steps carved in rock with a handhold and I managed that just fine, thank you. But taking the turn off to the left and down some more rock steps, I took a fall. I was using trekking poles and I planted my left pole on the next rock step down and put weight on the pole as I began to step down. The rock abruptly shattered kicking my pole out and my leg as well and I fell on my back cushioned fortunately by the water in my Camelbak’s so I didn’t smash my head or break my back.
However the little rock gravel acted like ball bearings and I found my self sliding rapidly down the steps and in panic I flailed about for anyway to stop myself as I was coming to a deeper step I did not want to drop over, not to mention the edge of the trail. But somehow I managed to get the heel of one boot planted into that last step before I dropped over it and stopped myself. The only injury I suffered in the fall was to my left thumb. I must have sprained or jammed it in the fall as it still hurts at its base and makes it hard to grab things or open jars. It is getting better though and while it will make me more careful, it feels like a story now for my hiking lore.
Otherwise, we continued on down the High Peaks Trail to the Rim Trail without further incident and stopped at the Bear Gulch Reservoir to regroup before heading on into the Bear Gulch Caves.
Again, these caves were not lighted and we needed our headlamps and flashlights. But they are a little friendlier with steps and rails in spots and although I bumped my head going into these caves, I think they were the best.
After finishing the caves we headed back to the parking lot and finished up the hike. And after all is said and done, in spite of my bumps and falls, this was just one great and fabulous hike. One of these days I will have to do it again. I just better not wait so long for the next time. Now let’s see the pictures.
