The Pinnacles are actually remnants of an extinct, ancient volcano. It is believed that the Pinnacles rocks are remnants of the Neenach Volcano that occurred some 23 million years ago near present-day Lancaster, CA, which is nearly 200 miles southwest of where the Pinnacles are present-day. The area is a favorite of rock climbers and hikers, as there are many trails to hike and sheer rock walls to climb. The Pinnacles also is home to the Balconies Cave and Bear Gulch Cave. Unlike caves like the Mammoth Caves and Carlsbad Caverns, the Balconies and Bear Gulch Caves are talus caves. Talus caves are caves formed when huge boulders topple down into deep, narrow gorges and wedge into the fractures before they reach the ground. These boulders became the ceilings of these caves. The caves are an attraction for not only human visitors, but also bats who roost in the caves to hibernate and raise their young. Because of this, the caves are sometimes closed off to allow some privacy for the bats and their young. They are also closed off sometimes due to flooding. Flashlights are required in the caves.
The Balconies cave is located on the west side of the monument, but you can hike to it from the east side. It is just a little longer of a hike from that side. I didn't go on that hike due to lack of time and the fact that it was over 90 degrees in the day time. The other trail was hot enough! Maybe next time I will get to do that hike.
There are 2 entrances into the park. The east entrance can be accessed via Highway 101, then Highway 25, near the town of King City, California. The gate at the east entrance is open 24 hours a day. There is a $5 entrance fee which is collected at the Bear Gulch Visitor Center. There is also a campground on the east side. The west entrance can be accessed via Highway 101 then Highway 146 near Soledad, CA. The gate at this entrance opens at 7:30 am and closes at night. The east and west entrances are not connected by a road, but you can hike from one side to the next.
I went to the east entrance of the monument and camped at The Pinnacles Campground. The campground is a nice place. It has a swimming pool, a store, showers and flush toilets. You can have duraflame campfires or charcoal, but there are no wood fires permitted in the campground. You can make reservations for the campground HERE. Reservations are recommended in the spring months.
The Bear Gulch Cave is located on the east side of The Pinnacles and can be reached via the Bear Gulch Trail. It is about a .7 mile hike to the cave then another .3 mile hike to the Bear Gulch Reservoir. The hike is mostly uphill to the cave and reservoir and is rated as a "moderate" hike, but hey, if I can do it, anyone can (even if I do have sore calf muscles this morning). The cave offered a nice break from the heat. Standing in front of the cave, you can feel the cool air coming out. It felt like a natural air conditioner. The cave was very dark inside, but there were points of light coming in, as the cave is not a solid cave like Carlsbad Caverns. The toppled boulders offered nice little sky lights so there was some light (which was a good thing since someone forgot the flashlight - hehe). There are a lot of stairs to climb and some can be slippery due to the water and moss, and there were a lot of places where you had to duck because of the low rock overhangs , and there were also a few tight squeezes. Eventually, you have to climb out of the cave and back into the heat, and then there is a little more of a hike, about 10 minutes or so, to the Bear Gulch Reservoir. I was a little disheartened when I saw the narrow staircase going to the top of the reservoir, and at first didn't want to attempt it (because I am afraid of heights), but I thought that I would regret it if I didn't go to the top, since I had already come all that way. I made it to the top and I was very glad I did. The view of the lake is beautiful. I posted pictures below, of course :) After all the hiking to get there, you eventually have to go back the way you came, unless you want to continue on the hike, but it gets more difficult as it goes on. So, I just turned around and went back the way I came. Which meant going down the stairs (that was scary), and back through the dark cave and then down the hill to the parking lot (which was wearing on the old knees). I was sure tired after the hike, but I felt like I accomplished something.
There is a variety of wildlife that calls the Pinnacles its home, including the rare California Condor. I didn't see any condors, but I did see several animals, including: raccoons, mule deer, cottontail rabbits, ground squirrels, and coyotes; as well as many different birds such as: scrub jays, Steller's jays, magpies, California Valley Quail, red-tailed hawks, and hairy woodpeckers. At the campground, I saw several mule deer does and their fawns and groups of raccoons setting off on their nightly forage.
I would definitely like to go back to The Pinnacles sometime in the spring, because I hear that the wildflowers are spectacular in the spring. Plus, hiking would be a lot nicer when the weather is cooler, and I definitely want to see the Balconies Cave. But I will leave the rock climbing to the rock climbers. I am definitely NOT a rock climber. Too scary! ;)
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