Visiting Pinnacles National Monument, California
 

Just saw an article in the March issue of Sunset Magazine about visiting Pinnacles and surrounding area in the spring.

They said there were lots of wildflowers (lupine and poppies) Does anyone know the best time in spring to see flowers? I have only been to California when it's "golden" meaning summer and fall, and I'd love to see the spring flowers. Have the first week of April free; would this be a good time?

Also, what are your thoughts on Pinnacles and surrounding area? Worth a trip from the east coast? Other suggestions???

Early April is a good time for visiting Pinnacles (as long as you are not prone to hayfever, lots of grass and wildflower pollen then). For most folks, Pinnacles isn't the core of a trip, but more of a side attraction for a day. It fits fairly well with time in Monterey/Big Sur and some of the central coast areas. You might make it the southern tip of a trip that covered up through SF and wine country, or the northern end of one that went from Monterey down to Santa Barbara. You could even combine it with Yosemite going eastwards, though early April is still sometime cold in Yosemite.

I read that same article, but we didn't get a chance to head over before things dried out. We are planning a day trip next year though :)

curmudgeon has good advice - the Pinnacles aren't enough to fill your time for a trip out, but make a good choice as part of a larger trip. Since you've only been out in the summer and fall, come out in the spring and see that out hills really are green for half the year :)

We walked the Pinnacles a few years back in March. It was about 100 deg already, so be sure to take water.

As others mentioned it was a very last minute decision on our way up to Monterey/Carmel, but one we were glad to have done and seen.

Flowers along the coastal drive in PG should be in bloom about then. It's quite a sight!

Bear 900: Wow! 100 degrees in March? Didn't expect that! What is PG?

Curmudgen and J_Corea: We know Pinnacles wouldn't be the only thing, but wondered what else might be included in this trip. We love being outdoors, hiking, walking the beach and especially finding out of the way or unique spots.

PG is short for Pacific Grove. Pinnacles can get very hot, but 100 in March in not the norm. I would think upper 70's.

When the wildflowers are at peak bloom entirely depends on what the Spring temps/rainfall are next year. They bloom at different times every year. There are websites that alert you when the bloom starts/peaks.

The Pinnacles are an unusually beautiful sight and I would love to go again, hoping it will be cooler next time. The rock colors and formations were so untypical for that area of California. I have friends who camp a week at a time on the eastern side near Hollister.

Here’s a historical average last 30 years:
http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliF302000.pl?capinn

More weather and safety tips:
http://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/safety.htm

It appears we caught an unusually hot day that March. We helped a father and daughter through the cave who didn’t have a flashlight on them. (There is some rocky climbing in the cave). We then met the wife in the parking lot and she was faint from the heat, so we gave her a bottle of water. She was worried about husband and daughter and we told her we saw them and they were okay. We are fair hikers but needed to stop for water breaks and cool downs. A couple of small creeks that time of year warrant hiking shoes. We carry preparations for hiking so were in good shape.

We happened to be there when the entire Bear Gulch cave was open, so that was nice. Here is a schedule for the cave:
http://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/cavestatus.htm

You got me all worked up about going again!

Bear900, your first link didn't work. It was for temperature averages right? I'm a native Californian (50 plus) and still haven't been to Pinnacles. I think we will go next spring (weekdays maybe/ less crowds).

Bear 900: I've checked the park website, but please tell me more about the caves. I'm a bit claustrophobic, so wonder how large they are. Are you in them a long time; can you stand or have to crawl; do you see the bats?

I know I'm being lazy by not looking it up, but is this also the time of year the elephant seals are on the beach north of Monterey? Whale migrations?

I'm getting excited about the prospect of spring and Easter in California.

Spring is the time for whale migrations - they are heading north to Alaska for the summer season. We often see whales just off the coast that time of year. Dolphins too. They like to come into the Monterey Bay because the feeding is good there. It makes a nice pit stop for them, so sometimes they hang out awhile and we often see them right from the beach.

Ano Nuevo is the beach for the elephant seals - it is between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. I don't remember when the babies are generally born, but I think it is sometime in early spring.

The best time in spring to see the wild flowers? March 21st to June 20th. :-d

The caves are not large or particularly scenic, but a nice variation from the rest of the very open ground and hiking. The caves are essentially creekbeds where the rocks of the canyon walls have collapsed together, leaving space that you can climb through. You start with filtered light coming through the spaces between rocks, and it slowly gets darker to the point where you really need flashlights (though I seem to remember having made it through without one time). No crawling, but a fair bit of scrambling around and over rocks.

curmudgeon is correct.

You don't really get that "cave" feeling and there are some "open" spaces that don't make you feel claustrophobic. I don't recall seeing any bats. Well, maybe on the trail, but they made it back well enough.

I recall one point where the father and daughter I mentioned were stuck due to a few steps up some rocks and they were in the dark. My flashlight came in handy, but a more experienced hiker may feel his way through no doubt. Personally, I was glad we had a flashlight.

For those more weak of heart, the first part of the trail is fairly easy and you can see a fair amount of some of the colored pinnacles. We did the balcony trail and it was a mild hike. All I had to show for it however was a late night charlie horse. Gonna kill that charlie!

The only thing you have to be aware about Pinnacles in the spring time is Raptor closures. Golden Eagles, Peregrines and other endangered birds nest in the high areas of Pinnacles. The high trails are sometimes closed in the Winter/Spring starting the around January 10, until the end of June. Call first or visit the Natl Park page.