California Day 3: Pinnacles National Park, East Side

Yesterday, I explored the west side of Pinnacles National Park. Today, I made the longer trek to the east side of the park.

Though only a few miles as the crow (or maybe I should say condor) flies, it’s an entirely different trip for us humans using cars to get to the east and west side of the park.

Despite being in a much more remote part of California, the east side is far more popular. How remote, you might ask? Long before making the final turn into the park, I passed a sign stating, “Next services 75 miles.”

Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

I did a brief hike on the “Old Pinnacles Trail” and then moved to the main area starting from the Bear Gulch Day Use Area.

Old Pinnacles Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

Once on trail from Bear Gulch, I began to see what the fuss was about.

High Peaks Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

High Peaks Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

Moses Spring Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

Moses Spring Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

The Bear Gulch Cave Tail was a special treat. “Flashlights required,” they said. And they weren’t kidding.

Bear Gulch Cave Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

The next photo may look brightly lit, but let me assure you it was not. (This is an iPhone photo and I’m very impressed with how it did, given the need to hand-hold for most of a second inside the cave.)

Bear Gulch Cave Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

Someone warned me on the way in that I should remove my hat (baseball cap) before entering the cave part of the trail because I’d likely hit my head on the ceiling. They were right about the part where I would eventually hit my head. But I’m glad I didn’t actually remove my hat. The hat absorbed the impact gracefully; I don’t think my bare skull would have done so well.

Bear Gulch Cave Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

One last meticulously-built stairway and I was up and out of the caves:

Bear Gulch Cave Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

The end result of this hike is arriving at the Bear Gulch Reservoir, a popular resting point for many day-hikers.

Bear Gulch Reservoir, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

Bear Gulch Reservoir, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

Bear Gulch Reservoir, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

I decided not to back track through the cave on my way back, but rather to use the Rim and High Peaks trails. While “longer” in distance, it was far easier to navigate. And it offered some nice scenery of its own.

Rim Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

Rim Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

High Peaks Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

High Peaks Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

High Peaks Trail, Pinnacles National Park, south of Pinnacles, California

All in all, a good day with some delightful hiking. So thankful we have such special places preserved in our National Park system.