Pinnacles National Park - Day 1
Condor Gulch Trail, A Challenging Climb with a Nostalgic Reward
We checked off another national park from our bucket list – Pinnacles National Park, number 35 and counting! Established as a National Monument in 1908, this California gem officially became a National Park in 2014, making it the state’s newest addition. We decided to enter from the east entrance, eager to discover what the park had in store.
- October 20, 2023
- 0.17 mi
- 5:08 min
- 61 F°
As usual, our first stop was the visitor center to collect National Park Service brochures and get must-do highlight recommendations from the park rangers. So, fifteen minutes later, we started with one of their suggested hikes, the Bear Gulch Cave Trail.
Conquering Bear Gulch Cave & Reservoir
- October 20, 2023
- 2.67 mi
- 1:14:42 hrs
- 61 F°
The Bear Gulch Cave & Reservoir Trail differed from the leisurely stroll I had pictured. These adventurers got their first taste of spelunking as we crawled through a talus cave; a narrow canyon filled with precariously stacked boulders! Talk about a unique experience! Following the stone-carved stairs, we finally reached the picturesque Bear Gulch Reservoir. The stairs and the dam were created in 1933 during the Great Depression.
After a well-deserved lunch break with a beautiful view of the reservoir, we took the scenic route back via the Moses Spring Trail, a leg that offered stunning vistas of steep cliffs and breathtaking panoramic views. This was a welcome change from the enclosed cave experience. We soaked in the scenery before rejoining the Bear Gulch Cave Trail, completing the loop.
Condor Gulch Trail, A Challenging Climb with a Nostalgic Reward
- October 20, 2023
- 1.85 mi
- 0:50:19 hrs
- 66 F°
We continued our adventure by hiking the Condor Gulch Trail to the Condor Overlook, hoping to see some majestic condors. Although I can usually hike one mile easily, this one-mile hike was a challenge due to the relentless sun and an elevation gain of 1,000 feet. Condors were a no-show! However, the views from the overlook of the park’s dramatic pinnacles were absolutely breathtaking.
The scene, warm sunshine and vibrant fall foliage, instantly brought to mind a song I loved as a teenager: “L’été indien” by Joe Dassin. Here we were, 48 years after that song’s release, experiencing firsthand that “rare kind of autumn day” Dassin sang about – the kind you only find in North America. What a fun trip down memory lane!