Pinnacles National Monument

Where: Pinnacles National Monument, California
Trail: Balconies Trail, Balconies Cave, Trail, Balconies Cliff Trail
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Distance: 2.4 mile loop
Adventure Rating: 3 Stars
Pets: Not allowed

There is no through road in Pinnacles National Monument. You can hike it, but that's a long trip. Last time we hiked the east side of the park. This time we decided to hike the west side. The Balconies Trail includes the Balconies Cave, which we was fun. We didn't get to see any bats, unfortunately.

Pinnacles National Monument

Where: Pinnacles National Monument, California
Trail: Moses Spring Trail, Bear Gulch Cave Trail, High Peaks Trail, Condor Gulch Trail
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Distance: 6 mile loop
Adventure Rating: 4 Stars
Pets: Not allowed

We hiked the Moses Spring Trail, through the Bear Gulch cave to the High Peaks Trail, and then took the Condor Gulch Trail back to the parking lot. It was a 6-mile hike, varying from easy to strenuous with an elevation gain of almost 1500 feet. The cave involved some crawling (and flashlights) and the High Peaks Trail had some very narrow passages with rock on one side and NOTHING on the other except a low rail. It is by far the most awesome hiking adventure yet. The fact that we got to hike through a cave is just too cool.