Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Transportation 3
Communication 4
History 4
Geology 9
Weather 11
Flora 12
Fauna 14
Wilderness 17
Park Fees 18
Pets 18
Camping 18
How to Use This Guide 21
Trail Finder 23
Map Legend 27
The Hikes East Pinnacles-Hollister Gateway 29
1 Visitor Center to Bacon Ranch 30
2 Visitor Center to Butterfield Homestead 33
3 Visitor Center to South Wilderness 37
4 Visitor Center to Peaks View Day Use Area 42
5 Visitor Center to Bear Gulch Day Use Area 46
6 Peaks View Day Use Area to Bear Gulch Day Use Area 51
7 Peaks View Day Use Area to Condor Gulch 55
8 Peaks View Day Use Area to Chalone Creek Overlook 60
9 Peaks View Day Use Area to Old Pinnacles Trailhead 64
10 Fire Wayside Parking Area to High Peaks 68
11 Old Pinnacles Trail to Balconies Cave 73
12 Old Pinnacles Trail to Balconies Cave via North Wilderness Trail 78
13 Condor Gulch Trail to Overlook 83
14 Condor Gulch Trail to High Peaks 86
15 Condor Gulch Trail to Chaparral Day Use Area 90
16 Bear Gulch Trail 94
17 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to Lower Cave 98
18 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to Lower and Upper Caves 102
19 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to Rim Trail via Reservoir 107
20 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to Reservoir via Rim Trail 111
21 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to Chalone Peaks 115
22 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to Scout Peak 121
23 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to High Peaks 125
24 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to Chaparral Day Use Area via High Peaks Trail 130
25 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to Bear Gulch Caves and Balconies Cave 135
26 Bear Gulch Day Use Area to North Wilderness via High Peaks 143
East Pinnacles Regional Information and Recreation 150
West Pinnacles-Soledad Gateway 153
27 Visitor Contact Station to Vista Point 154
28 Juniper Canyon Trail to Scout Peak 157
29 Juniper Canyon Trail to High Peaks 161
30 Juniper Canyon Trail to Bear Gulch Day Use Area 165
31 Juniper Canyon Trail to Bear Gulch Day Use Area via High Peaks 170
32 Juniper Canyon Trail to Reservoir and Moses Spring 176
33 Juniper Canyon Trail to Bear Gulch Caves 181
34 Juniper Canyon Trail to Bear Gulch Day Use Area via Bench Trail 187
35 Juniper Canyon Trail to Chalone Peaks 193
36 Juniper Canyon Trail to South Wilderness 200
37 Juniper Canyon Trail to Balconies Cave via Bench Trail 206
38 Juniper Canyon Trail to North Wilderness via Visitor Center 211
39 Balconies Trail to Machete Ridge 220
40 Balconies Trail to Balconies Cliffs via Balconies Cave 224
41 Balconies Trail to Old Pinnacles Trailhead 229
42 North Wilderness Trail to Twin Knolls 234
43 North Wilderness Trail to Balconies Cliffs via Old Pinnacles Trail 237
West Pinnacles Regional Information and Recreation 243
Appendix A Resources 249
Appendix B Recommended Reads and Reels 250
Hike Index 251
About the Authors 253
