Pinnacles National Park

The rock here came from a volcano that erupted some twenty-three million years ago far to the south; the San Andreas fault then split the volcano in two and carried this half roughly three hundred kilometres north, leaving its twin behind near Lancaster. What survived erosion is a cluster of spires and crags with two sets of talus caves, formed where boulders wedged into narrow canyons and roofed them over, so the trails climb through torchlit passages under jammed rock. Pinnacles is also one of the release sites for the California condor, and with a wingspan near three metres the birds are unmistakable overhead. The east and west entrances are not connected by road, only by trail.

What you actually see

• The talus caves - Bear Gulch and Balconies, dark passages under jammed boulders.
• California condors - released here and often visible above the High Peaks.
• The High Peaks trail - a steep route with railings cut into the rock spires.
• Spring wildflowers - the hillsides in March and April after a wet winter.

When to go

March to May for wildflowers and mild weather, or October and November; summer regularly passes forty degrees and there is no shade on the High Peaks. Bear Gulch cave closes seasonally to protect a bat colony, so check before going. Bring a torch for the caves at any time.

Honest expectations

There is no road across the park, so the east and west entrances are a two-hour drive apart and you must choose one. Summer heat is dangerous on the exposed sections. The caves close for bats, sometimes for months, which removes a main attraction. It is a small park and busy on spring weekends, when the east side car park fills early.

Nearby

Soledad and the Salinas Valley are west; Monterey is about an hour and a half away.