Pinnacles, CA

I had the pleasure of hiking at the Pinnacles National Monument. I took many pictures that weekend, and thought I would post some of the animal life that I was able to catch on film! Or, well, in digital life!

Hiking through the caves to the reservoir, I was able to capture garter snakes in the plants along the shorelines... There seemed to be dozens. Maybe due to the frogs that also hide in the plants.

Along the shorelines are dragonflies like this along with damselflies... The difference is dragonfly wings stay sticking out, whereas damslefly's wings fold back along the body.

This little lizard with seen up near the high peaks, on the trail.

This large wasp with red wings is several inches long. It is called a tarantula hawk, and feasts on spiders and the many tarantula species that roam the park. It was also seen on the High Peaks Trail.

This is a California Condor, re-released here in the park. With a 10 foot wingspan, they are majestic to see flying. This was seen along with many others up on the high peaks trail.

This deer was seen near the campsites.

There is a tree behind the pool near the day use area, where the turkey vultures seem to roost for the night. So head over there in the evening and see the dozens upon dozens that are hanging out there for the night.

When I just arrived at the park, I saw this little fella hanging out on the side of the road. (Wild Turkey)

This acorn woodpecker was spotted near the Bear Gulch Visitors Center near the day use area hiding acorns, and rearranging them to new places in the tree.

This appears to be a desert cottontail rabbit, seen hanging around the campsites, not afraid of people.

This little squirrel was just hanging around the campgrounds.

Now there are so many I didn't get pictures of... I didn't get pictures of the raccoons, the red tailed hawk I saw, some small rodents, and various birds.

If you visit Pinnacles National Monument, don't forget your camera!

-Chris Alston

I spend the weekend backpacking at the Pinnacles National Monument in Central California. Located a few miles outside of Hollister California. Temps at the park were over 100 which made the long hike to the high peaks pretty hot!

The high peaks trail (about 10 miles) takes you on a vertical climp UP for one straight mile, then rolling up and down to get to the high peaks. From trails with rails, to steps cut into the rock by the CCC many years ago, the hike is sooooo worth it. I went in search of the California Condor... And yes, the bird with a 10 foot wingspan was spotted! I saw about 7 of these massive yet endangered species.

The Pinnacles National Monument was created by Roosevelt over 100 years ago. The formation was created by volcanic activity millions of years ago and is planted on the San Andreas Fault Line. The other half of this outcropping is down near Los Angeles...

You can see this HUGE Condor flying, and you can also see the tags that are on it's wings...

Take a Hike -- Pinnacles National Monument, San Benito County, CA

Located about a 2-hour drive south of the mid-Peninsula and Silicon Valley, the Pinnacles National Monument makes a wonderful destination for hiking, exploring, and finding peace away from the hustle and bustle of our urban area.

Unlike the cool redwood forests typical of the Santa Cruz mountains, and our nearby grassy oak-studded coastal hills, the Pinnacles is inland, East of Highway 101, West of Highway 152. It is an arid land, with amazing rock formations so rugged that the road dead ends on either side of the park--it's not a long hike from one side to the other, but no road goes through. During the 1930's trails were put in heading to the tops of the Pinnacles, with tunnels blasted through the rock and guard rails heading up steps.

The Pinnacles National Monument is an exciting place to visit, for experienced hikers wanting a challenge, technical rock climbers honing their skills, and families with children who love scrambling through dark caves and over boulders. Bird watchers, too, are fascinated here, with a chance to see the rare California Condors, birds with wing spans up to 9' long. There's no mistaking a condor for anything else!

Best enjoyed in Spring and Fall, The Pinnacles National Monument is very hot in the summer. Think about setting aside a day soon for a nice ride and a great adventure.