Lots of Rocks

August 11, 2014

Destination: Pinnacles National Park

Cost: $10 entry fee plus gas

A recent road trip kept me from posting blog updates, so I’ll backfill with some of these fun explorations in the northern part of our state.

Pinnacles is the newest of California's nine National Parks, achieving this status just last year. It was previously a National Monument, dating back to 1908 when Teddy Roosevelt first preserved this rocky outpost. Its location east of Soledad is a bit off the beaten track, and I’d never found the right time to visit. Since I was heading out of San Francisco late in the evening, en route to LA – I decided to opt for an inexpensive motel room in Hollister (Best Western San Benito Inn – quite nice for the price) so that I’d be in close proximity to the east entrance of Pinnacles the next morning. Summer heat necessitated an a.m. visit, but arriving on a Monday morning off season meant no crowds in the park.

After a brief stop at the Visitor Center, I headed to the Bear Gulch trailhead to visit the talus caves. This two mile loop trail was highly recommended by the park staff and it was a winner. The uphill trek wound through a shady tree-lined canyon, with majestic tufa rock outcroppings on all sides. The trail passes through several dark caves, formed by giant boulders tumbling down the hillside, and a small creek meanders through parts of the caves. I whomped my head on overhead rocks a few times – blame it on my flashlight’s  weak beam - but emerged at the summit and enjoyed the lovely view of the small Bear Gulch Reservoir. Fortunately the trip back to the parking lot along the Moses Spring Trail was all downhill, since the day was becoming hotter.

Back in the car – I drove to the end of the road at the Old Pinnacles Trailhead to check it out, but this really isn’t a place for car touring. Visitors come here to explore the 30 miles of hiking trails. I'd love to return to Pinnacles National Park in the spring for wildflowers, cooler temps, and perhaps the chance to spot a condor.