Loop day hike around the main trails of Pinnacles National Monument.

Parked at the Bear Gulch Visitors center on the Hollister side of the park. (Trail map is here.) Hit the trail around 10am and followed the Moses spring trail to the Bear Gulch Reservoir. There were a number of rock climbing groups on the trail. From the reservoir, followed the high peaks trail to scout peak and then decended to the Soledad side of the park via the Juniper Canyon Trail. Lots of wildflowers on the trails, but probably missed the peak season by a few weeks as many were starting to dry out.

The return trip started by following the Balconies trail through the Balconies cave and then the Old Pinnacles trail along the dry Chalone creekbed. At the Chalone picnic area (now closed to the public and being converted into ranger housing) turned upward back onto the High Peaks Trail. Completed the loop by returning to the car via Condor Gulch.

Pictures from my last two trips to Pinnacles are here and here. See the backcountry link on the left for other Pinnacles outings.