This should be very near the top of your list of places to go if you have not yet visited. Mom and Dad left in the camper on the way back east and got to the park a day ahead of us. The weather had been miserable in California but was beautiful in Pinnacles.
The nights were cold, but we cheated and ran an extension cord from the electric hookup for the RV to a small electric heater in the tent, so the 29 F temps were no problem for sleeping.
One funny note: I taught the boys to "break the ice" before washing their hands. The water in the pail for handwashing would freeze at night, and we had to break the ice in order to use it. Of course I told them that every day of my childhood I had to break the ice to get ready for my uphill walk to school, but my parents did not back me up.
Day 1: 4.5 mile hike. Moses Spring trail to Bear Gulch caves to part of High Peaks trail and back.
The first day we had a 4-5 mile hike through the Bear Gulch caves to a part of the High Peaks trail. The pictures started only a few minutes in to the hike. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 002.jpg
This is inside the Bear Gulch caves. You do need a flashlight because part of the journey is in absolute pitch blackness. -- Pinnacles day 2 018.jpg
Partway through you come back out into the light, and then back into the cave. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 008.jpg
Erick and Robert loved the caves. Every night: "can we do another hike with caves?". -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 012.jpg
The final stretch from the cave exit up to the reservoir is via a narrow railed staircase in the rock. The railing is perfect for kids but feels a little weird for adults because it is only a couple feet off the ground. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 011.jpg
This is above the reservoir on the way to the High Peaks trail, which is my favorite part of the park, for reasons that will become evident later. Note the mist in the valley in the background, which was the subject of many photographs. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 023.jpg
A close-up showing the valley and the mist. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 039.jpg
Another one shot from Dad's camera, complete with people. -- Pinnacles day 2 029.jpg
After a hike up High Peaks until lunch time, Robert and I continued up the trail for a while while the rest of the party had a siesta. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 114.jpg
On the way back down the High Peaks trail. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 123.jpg
Robert and Erick also loved the rocks. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 125.jpg
People were starting to get fed up with the pictures I was taking. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 126.jpg
But really, how often do you get the chance? One of the gadgets Dad is carrying is a new GPS. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 127.jpg
Near the parking lot of the Bear Gulch trail there are tons of ladybugs carpeting the trees getting ready for hibernation. According to the Rangers, soon they will move together into the leaf mold to hibernate for the winter. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 134.jpg
Close-up of ladybugs. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 137.jpg
One of the highlights of camping is the campfire of course. And marshmallows. And chocolate. And graham crackers. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 139.jpg
Day 2: 7+ mile hike. Old Pinnacles trailhead to Balconies Caves and back.
Day 2 was a big day. We planned on a 7+ mile round trip hike, and we planned to split into two groups at the halfway point. We also planned to go through the Balconies Caves, which from my 15 year old memory were considerably longer and considerably more wet than the Bear Gulch caves. So we packed in sandals and packed out sandals without using them except for a very brief foray into a dead end. -- Pinnacles day 3 009.jpg
The entrance to the Balconies Caves. -- Pinnacles day 3 013.jpg
Mom and Dad navigating one of the steeper bits. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 144.jpg
This is the spot where we had lunch. At this point Mom, Dad, and Erick went back on the Balconies Cliff trail to the car, and Robert and I went over the hump to the steep and narrow High Peaks trail and eventually returned to Bear Gulch, where our bikes had been left in the morning.
We had a 5 mile ride back to the campsite after nearly 8 miles of hiking, but at least half of it was downhill. -- Pinnacles day 3 022.jpg
The trail from the Balconies (where we split into two parties) to the west side climb up Juniper Canyon is magnificent. This kind of rocks are juxtaposed with beautiful meadows and streams, with lots of sunlight. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 147.jpg
Near the west side Chaparral Ranger station. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 150.jpg
On the strenuous climb up Juniper Canyon to the High Peaks. Robert is actually carrying his own water, and he really impressed me with his toughness. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 156.jpg
Here is the steep and narrow part of the High Peaks trail, described as the "heart of the Pinnacles rock formations". I had Robert tied to a rope the first time through, although we liked this trail so much we did it again the next day without ropes. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 178.jpg
Steep. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 181.jpg
And narrow. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 189.jpg
The top. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 185.jpg
Here is Robert scrambling around on some extra-curricular (off trail) rocks. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 193.jpg
Robert took this photo. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 197.jpg
More off trail rocks to scramble on. Apparently he didn't get enough. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 202.jpg
This seems to be showing off. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 208.jpg
Here is a picture from the other half of party. Erick, Mom, and Dad on the Balconies Cliff trail. -- Pinnacles day 3 038.jpg
Day 3: 5.5 mile hike. Condor Gulch trail to High Peaks and back around via Bear Gulch.
This is Day 3 of the visit, with a hike through the main part of the park via the Condor Gulch trail. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 215.jpg
At the Condor Gulch overlook. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 236.jpg
We decided pretty early on that we would scrap our original plans and to the High Peaks steep and narrow trail again because we enjoyed it so much the day before. This is bottom of the High Peaks trail on the way back up to the section Robert and I walked before. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 251.jpg
Pocket caves proved irresistible. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 259.jpg
To all ages. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 262.jpg
That sign says "High Peaks Trail (Steep and Narrow)". -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 274.jpg
Just before the steepness and narrowness kick in. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 281.jpg
A view of the west side of the park. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 284.jpg
Erick did this with no ropes and no complaints. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 285.jpg
Mom did not complain either, which may have been a surprise to me or her. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 288.jpg
Resting at the top for a snack. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 345.jpg
The final steep and narrow section on the way back down. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 349.jpg
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I think of this spot as the great divide, because you can see the east and west sides fall away on either side of this ridge (to the left and right of the picture). -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 384.jpg
Now we are headed back down the east side of the hump. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 386.jpg
The final photo. -- 2009.01.10 Pinnacles 417.jpg
So those kids, a 4 year old and a 7 year old, had a 4 mile day, a 7.5 mile day, and a 5.5 mile day. Two of the days had lots of climbing. I am super impressed.
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