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Pinnacles National Monument: High Peaks Loop
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| Author: | whalehead |
| Activity: | Hiking |
| State: | California (CA) |
| Distance: | 7.9 mi |
| Difficulty: | 7 / 10 |
| Rating: | Unrated |
Trek through millions of years of tectonic movement on this 7.9-mile loop beneath massive volcanic monoliths. Bring flashlights for optional cave trails. TO TRAILHEAD: US-101 S past Soledad, CA. Head E on CA-146 to Shirttail Gulch (still CA-146). L onto Shirttail Gulch. Park entrance is 13 mi. from highway. Park at Chapparal Ranger Station near Juniper Canyon Trailhead.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
HPL01
| Distance: 7.90 mi | Points: 757 |
West Pinnacles High Peaks Loop
Points of Interest
HPL001
Location: 36.491051, -121.208984Juniper Canyon trailhead: Cross road @ ranger station; bear R @ first Y then follow switchbacks to Pinnacle Rocks
HPL002
Location: 36.485577, -121.200974Bear R @ Y; follow blazes for Juniper Canyon Trail as switchbacks steepen. Note The Fingers spire formation to W and Scout Peak to S
HPL003
Location: 36.481499, -121.199280View of Salinas Valley @ 5-way junction; L up High Peaks Trail
HPL004
Location: 36.484550, -121.198349Trail becomes vertical; hold onto metal railings and climb tiny rock steps
HPL005
Location: 36.488117, -121.198517Bear R @ Y and follow signs for High Peaks Trail
HPL006
Location: 36.489868, -121.191437Bear L @ Y toward Chalone ranger station; trail flattens and then descends
HPL007
Location: 36.490635, -121.172165L @ 3-way onto Old Pinnacles Trail along creek bed; trail crosses several wooden bridges
HPL008
Location: 36.501518, -121.181084L @ Y, follow signs for Old Pinnacles Trail; watch for rattlesnakes near junction. Eroded valley bottom and terraces along Chalone Creek mark an active, "creeping" fault line once a part of the San Andreas Fault
HPL009
Location: 36.502468, -121.199448R @ 3-way onto Balconies Cliffs Trail; switchbacks head uphill toward giant, fault-formed breccia rock face. Deep, narrow gorges and toppled boulders create talus caves.
HPL010
Location: 36.497917, -121.203384R @ 3-way onto Balconies Trail; cross bridge immediately, bear R @ Y. Machete Ridge to E Spur trail: L @ 3-way onto Balconies Caves Trail, requires flashlight to enter slim, talus-roofed cave.
HPL011
Location: 36.495251, -121.204948Bear R @ Y and follow signs for Balconies Trail; bear L @ Y that follows
HPL012
Location: 36.491199, -121.208450Bear L @ Y onto rock path; turn R @ 3-way back to Juniper Canyon Trailhead
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