23 million years ago multiple volcanoes erupted, flowed, and slid to form what would become Pinnacles National Park. What remains is a landscape unlike any other. Travelers journey through grasslands, chaparral, oak woodlands, and canyon bottoms. Hikers enter rare talus caves and emerge to towering rock spires teeming with life: Prairie and Peregrine falcons, Golden eagles, and the inspiring California condor.[see more about this park – www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/nature/naturalfeaturesandecosystems.htm]

We belong to a Paso Robles wine club (Jack Creek Vineyards) and decided to link our spring release party visit and a weekend of hiking Pinnacles together. Perfect late March weather (26th & 27th) breezy and in the mid 60’s. Little did we know that spring rains filled the cave floors and spelunking in the tight confines left us muddy and wet – however we dried quickly as we hiked through Pinnacles spires.

The Talus Caves

 

The Meadow

 

The Pinnacles