Route Climbed: From Chaparral Trailhead Date Climbed: July 27th 2005
Turned out to be an extremely hot day. "Yesterdays high: 102 F". Dayhiked from chaparral TH to Balconies caves, down W fork Chalone Creek to cholone TH and back to Chaparral. Climbed up some large rocks and boulders for fun. I will totaly have to return here some day for some more hiking and climbing. Chalone peak is also looking like a nice winter dayhike. Get an early start. The parks opening time at 7:30 is almost still too late to beat the summer heat on long hikes.
Route Climbed: High Peaks Loop via Bear Gulch Caves and Returning Condor Gulch Date Climbed: March 12, 2005
I went twice in March of 2005 with my brother and law and our wives. The wives did the caves and then waited for us to return from the High Peaks Loop. The shuttle is worth taking when the upper parking lots are full during the peak season as we were passed by a few shuttles while hiking up to the Bear Gulch Visitor Center from the overflow parking area (a scenic 1-2 miles extra). Pinnacles is an exhilerating and scenic place to be on a nice Spring day with a variety of hikes and climbs to satisfy all ability levels. Bring sandals for the caves in the Spring as there is often running water/creekbed (ankle deep in one spot) through the talus caves.
Route Climbed: high peaks trail - some 5.6 routes on the east side Date Climbed: many times
love this place - high peaks trail is great and so is the climbing on the east side - seconded some easy stuff though I forget the names of the routes and the wall we were on. also plenty of class exposed class 3/4 stuff in the high peaks area for practice, just watch the portable handholds and raptor closures.
Route Climbed: Loop => Juniper Canyon / High Peaks / Balconies Caves Date Climbed: Feb. 7th, 2004
I never get tired of hiking at Pinnacles. Every trip I find something new. I've been here many times, but this is the first time I drove into the East Entrance.
Route Climbed: High Peaks Trail Date Climbed: July 2002
A fun weekend outting with my wife and children. As well as hiking the trails, we did some easy lead climbing at The Sisters and some more difficult routes top roped at the Toprope Wall and Tourist Trap. Lounging around the pool at the campground during the heat of the day was also quite fun. You won't have to worry about bears here, but you will share your campsite with the wild pigs during the night and the Magpies during the day.
Route Climbed: Balconies, Machete Ridge Date Climbed: Dec 20, 2003
Free soloed about 20 feet of first pitch of Old Original Machete Ridge before bailing due to moss and water. Decided to circumnavigate the base of Machete Ridge and decscended the east gully down to Balcones Caves. Mostly 3rd class occasional 4th, and about 10 feet traverse of 5 easy across a moss covered slab.
1.5 hours. Finished off with Balconies caves and cliff trails.
Been to Pinnacles 3 times now. Nice area. Still no summit of Hawkins Peak (aka Tuff Dome) though the Regular Route (5.6) is supposed to be a Pinnacles Classic. Perhaps next time I'll be able to write that I reached the summit!
25 May 03: Discovery Wall: The Cleft (5.6) free solo; High Peaks Trail
20 Apr 03: Discovery Wall: The Cleft (5.6), Ordeal (5.8)
10 Oct 98: Juniper Canyon, High Peaks, and Tunnel Trails
Route Climbed: Many Trails Date Climbed: Oct. 1998, Nov. 2001, Dec. 2002
Oct. 1998 - Hiked from the east side to west side and back via Old Pinnacles and Balcony Caves and Balcony Cliffs trails. Took a side trip along the North Wilderness Trail
Nov. 2001 - Took wife and daughter to west side of park and looped through Balcony Caves and Balcony Cliffs trail
Route Climbed: various Date Climbed: April 1999, April 2004
2015- Climbed Salathe route on "the Hand", 5.7
2014- Climbed Portent 5.7 and "Cock Rock" 5.7
2006- Climbing the Discovery Wall near Bear Gulch
The rock is surprisingly solid depite its crumbly appearance.
2004- Condor Gulch to High Peaks to Bear Gulch
Finally did the high peaks trail, very interesting exposed footsteps chiseled into solid rock. Bear Gulch caves closed for bats. Endless hidden nooks to explore and scramble, sooooo much fun!
1999- Chalone Camp to High Peaks
A wonderful place. Bear Gulch caves were closed at the time due to El Niño floods.
QuailBS - Jul 27, 2005 5:42 pm
Route Climbed: From Chaparral Trailhead Date Climbed: July 27th 2005Turned out to be an extremely hot day. "Yesterdays high: 102 F". Dayhiked from chaparral TH to Balconies caves, down W fork Chalone Creek to cholone TH and back to Chaparral. Climbed up some large rocks and boulders for fun. I will totaly have to return here some day for some more hiking and climbing. Chalone peak is also looking like a nice winter dayhike. Get an early start. The parks opening time at 7:30 is almost still too late to beat the summer heat on long hikes.
colinr - Jul 27, 2005 12:40 pm
Route Climbed: High Peaks Loop via Bear Gulch Caves and Returning Condor Gulch Date Climbed: March 12, 2005I went twice in March of 2005 with my brother and law and our wives. The wives did the caves and then waited for us to return from the High Peaks Loop. The shuttle is worth taking when the upper parking lots are full during the peak season as we were passed by a few shuttles while hiking up to the Bear Gulch Visitor Center from the overflow parking area (a scenic 1-2 miles extra). Pinnacles is an exhilerating and scenic place to be on a nice Spring day with a variety of hikes and climbs to satisfy all ability levels. Bring sandals for the caves in the Spring as there is often running water/creekbed (ankle deep in one spot) through the talus caves.
climber21 - Jun 5, 2005 3:20 pm
Date Climbed: May 2005I've finally made it over to the Pinnacles and been there three times this month. It's a very cool place.
puma_patrick - Feb 27, 2005 12:39 pm
Route Climbed: North Wilderness Loop Date Climbed: Feb 17, 2005Lots of spring color on the loop, no one else on trail during the week. Approx 10 mile loop, stream crossings @ 25. 4:30 total time
orandall - Sep 2, 2004 2:58 pm
Route Climbed: high peaks trail - some 5.6 routes on the east side Date Climbed: many timeslove this place - high peaks trail is great and so is the climbing on the east side - seconded some easy stuff though I forget the names of the routes and the wall we were on. also plenty of class exposed class 3/4 stuff in the high peaks area for practice, just watch the portable handholds and raptor closures.
brianhughes - Feb 9, 2004 10:46 pm
Route Climbed: Loop => Juniper Canyon / High Peaks / Balconies Caves Date Climbed: Feb. 7th, 2004I never get tired of hiking at Pinnacles. Every trip I find something new. I've been here many times, but this is the first time I drove into the East Entrance.
Sam Mills - Jan 29, 2004 4:35 pm
Route Climbed: High Peaks Trail Date Climbed: July 2002A fun weekend outting with my wife and children. As well as hiking the trails, we did some easy lead climbing at The Sisters and some more difficult routes top roped at the Toprope Wall and Tourist Trap. Lounging around the pool at the campground during the heat of the day was also quite fun. You won't have to worry about bears here, but you will share your campsite with the wild pigs during the night and the Magpies during the day.
ncfitton - Dec 22, 2003 1:04 am
Route Climbed: Balconies, Machete Ridge Date Climbed: Dec 20, 2003Free soloed about 20 feet of first pitch of Old Original Machete Ridge before bailing due to moss and water. Decided to circumnavigate the base of Machete Ridge and decscended the east gully down to Balcones Caves. Mostly 3rd class occasional 4th, and about 10 feet traverse of 5 easy across a moss covered slab.
1.5 hours. Finished off with Balconies caves and cliff trails.
Brett A - Oct 17, 2003 6:17 pm
Route Climbed: High Peaks Trail Date Climbed: November 2001Checked out the Balcony caves on a Saturday and then on Sunday did the High Peaks Trail in the rain. Lots of cool caves and rocks.
John - Apr 20, 2003 9:50 pm
Route Climbed: See below Date Climbed: See belowBeen to Pinnacles 3 times now. Nice area. Still no summit of Hawkins Peak (aka Tuff Dome) though the Regular Route (5.6) is supposed to be a Pinnacles Classic. Perhaps next time I'll be able to write that I reached the summit!
25 May 03: Discovery Wall: The Cleft (5.6) free solo; High Peaks Trail
20 Apr 03: Discovery Wall: The Cleft (5.6), Ordeal (5.8)
10 Oct 98: Juniper Canyon, High Peaks, and Tunnel Trails
keema - Dec 22, 2002 8:54 pm
Route Climbed: Many Trails Date Climbed: Oct. 1998, Nov. 2001, Dec. 2002Oct. 1998 - Hiked from the east side to west side and back via Old Pinnacles and Balcony Caves and Balcony Cliffs trails. Took a side trip along the North Wilderness Trail
Nov. 2001 - Took wife and daughter to west side of park and looped through Balcony Caves and Balcony Cliffs trail
Dec. 2002 - To the highest point in the park, North Chalone Peak.
butterflywings73 - Nov 15, 2002 9:09 pm
Route Climbed: High Peaks Trail Date Climbed: 9-3-01Reached the summit in record time. Great and beautifully warm day. Caves were very dry. Very dusty trails. Needed lots of water.
Josh - May 24, 2002 3:29 pm
Route Climbed: Lots Date Climbed: LotsPinnacles was my winter stomping grounds when I live in San Jose. The very unique rock is a lot of fun to climb on. Decent trail running too.
gordonye - May 24, 2002 2:35 pm
Route Climbed: various Date Climbed: April 1999, April 20042015- Climbed Salathe route on "the Hand", 5.7
2014- Climbed Portent 5.7 and "Cock Rock" 5.7
2006- Climbing the Discovery Wall near Bear Gulch
The rock is surprisingly solid depite its crumbly appearance.
2004- Condor Gulch to High Peaks to Bear Gulch
Finally did the high peaks trail, very interesting exposed footsteps chiseled into solid rock. Bear Gulch caves closed for bats. Endless hidden nooks to explore and scramble, sooooo much fun!
1999- Chalone Camp to High Peaks
A wonderful place. Bear Gulch caves were closed at the time due to El Niño floods.