My 100th update brings you California’s amazing Pinnacles National Park!
The Covid Pandemic has put a real damper on my 2020 plans. I was supposed to go to Mexico and Spain (finally made it in 2021 though!). Yeah, that didn’t happen. I had to take some time off in October when I was supposed to be in Spain so decided to go camping in California instead. Then the wildfires hit. My plans this year seemed doomed. But alas, camping mostly worked out fine and there was only a bit of haze. The Covid/wildfire avoiding trip commenced and it somehow turned out okay. I still don’t know how.
This adventure started with a night and day in Pinnacles National Park. Pinnacles is about forty miles inland, between San Francisco and Los Angeles. I missed the park my first time through the area in 2018, so I had to visit this time on my way towards the California coast.
Pinnacles National Park made news in January 2013 when it was made into California’s ninth national park. However, the park has been protected land since Theodore Roosevelt made it a national monument in 1908. The boundaries of the park have been growing ever since. More than 80% of the park is wilderness, meaning there are no roads or development other than trails. That also means that there are no roads connecting the east and west sides of the park and it’s a bit of a drive to get to other side, about an hour and a half.
I started my visit on the east side of Pinnacles at the campground. I greatly misjudged the location of the bathroom on the map (there was a creek in the way, oops), but it was rather nice.
Fawns and turkeys near the campground bathroom. The fawns were running around having a good time.
The East Entrance to the park. It is a pretty road.
Quail!
For the first hike, I combined two trails to make a loop, the Moses Spring Trail and the Rim Trail.
Starting to see some of the eroded volcanic rocks that Pinnacles is known for.
The Moses Spring Trail (which I think was built by the CCC) is a really lovely trail.
A very noisy jay that didn’t want to cooperate for getting its photo taken. There was a bunch of jays in this area. None wanted to stay still long enough for me to get a photo except for this one.
It’s amazing that trees can grow up on the cliff.
Heading into a little tunnel.
Quite forested at the bases of the cliffs.
The forest was really cool to walk through. A lot different than what I’m used to.
The trail headed up. The base of the cliffs stay in the shadows for a good part of the day.
Giant rock slide!
The super forested valley floor.
Under that huge rock slide is a talus cave! Pinnacles is known for its talus caves. Most were closed due to Covid restrictions, so this unexpected open one was a real treat.
At the end of the Moses Spring Trail is the Bear Gulch Reservoir, built by the CCC to bring water to the park.
Really cool rock formation overlooking the reservoir.
I headed back to the start of the Moses Spring Trail by way of the Rim Trail. I got some great views along the way, especially of those pinnacles that makes the park famous.
Wonderful views.
I liked getting closer to those fantastic cliffs.
Now to the west side of Pinnacles! I chose to do the Balconies Trail and a bit of the Balconies Cliff Trail. It was so hot outside. Burning hot.
The rugged nature of the mountains are much more evident here.
The trail started out without much shade but at least it was pretty.
Pretty but extremely dry, basically a tinder box.
The trail headed into a little valley, sided by shear cliffs. The trail eventually headed up in elevation.
I got some good smoggy views.
The trail leads down after this. I decided to turn around and head back the way I came.
Pinnacles National Park is a wonderful park that I would love to go back to and explore more of. A one-day visit is not enough! Be aware though, the park is super busy on the weekends. The park was not busy at all on a Tuesday in October when I visited so, Yay! I had a good visit. I’m still sad though I had to order my souvenir magnet. Stupid Covid.
Check out my next update where I make it to the California Coast and see a ton of Elephant Seals!
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Check out more amazing places in California!
