A beautiful CA national park. We did 2 short hikes in one day…read more The pinnacle rocks and the caves are SO cool! Parking was really easy for the trails we wanted to access. National Park pass is required.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Pinnacles National Park turned out to be one of the most enjoyable surprises. Pinnacles may not be as famous as Yosemite or Sequoia, but it is well worth a visit. It offers dramatic rock formations, beautiful scenery, excellent hiking, and one especially memorable feature: its talus caves. The landscape feels rugged and distinctive, with spectacular views around nearly every bend. We especially appreciated the variety of hiking options. There are trails for every ability level, including gentle paths that are accessible for visitors with mobility limitations, so many people can enjoy the park's beauty. For me, the highlight was exploring the caves. These are not traditional limestone caves but talus caves, formed when enormous boulders fell into narrow canyons and created natural tunnels. Walking through them was a real adventure. Some sections were very dark, and while a flashlight or headlamp is definitely recommended, I managed with my phone's flashlight, and a little optimism. It made the experience even more memorable. Pinnacles is also one of the best places in California to spot the magnificent California condor. We weren't lucky enough to see one soaring overhead, but knowing these endangered birds have been successfully reintroduced here adds another layer of appreciation for the park. Spring is especially beautiful, with wildflowers covering the hillsides, and the park is full of interesting rock formations, oak woodlands, chaparral, and abundant wildlife. Pinnacles National Park offers a little bit of everything: beautiful scenery, excellent hiking, unique geology, and genuine adventure. It may be one of the smaller national parks, but it delivers an impressive amount of beauty and fun in one visit. If you go, don't miss the caves, and bring a flashlight. Or, if you're like me, your phone and a sense of adventure might just do the trick.

Absolutely amazing trail that I've done twice in 100° weather. The views are great, and the trail…read moreis well groomed. But, oh my god, it is straight uphill. With extreme heat I literally thought I was going to die. Do it in the winter.

one of the many, many wonderful trails at pinnacles nat'l park. from the apex, you can see almost…read morethe entire park on a clear day, the beautiful balconies, ridges, forestry and wildlife that belongs to pinnacles. you can access this trail from: +west side: chaparral trailhead parking lot, 1.8mi hike to western trailhead of high peaks +east side: old pinnacles trailhead, 1.3mi hike to eastern trailhead of high peaks +east/south side: bear gulch parking lot, 0.5mi to southern trailhead of high peaks we chose to start from the east side, hike the old pinnacles trail to balconies, break at the chaparral trailhead for lunch, then return east via the high peaks trail. this was a TOUGH climb up, especially since it was only a little after noon, the sun was strong, and we'd already hiked 4+ miles from the east. many breaks were taken, call it "photo pace" hiking, and after some time, we finally reached the western side of the high peaks trail...more climbing awaited us, as did awesome views of this treasured park. there were many switchbacks, each turn offering a different view, so of course, i had to pause each time to snap a pic! there are no restrooms, water fountains, or other amenities here. due to the time of day we were here, there also wasn't much shade. definitely bring plenty of water, wear a hat, sunscreen, and light clothing if coming here during summer/autumn months.

This is a nice quick walk off of Hwy 1 with a lot of roadside parking available. It's a nice quiet…read morewalk since the highway has very few cars and there's thick vegetation around. My complaint with this waterfall is that we couldn't figure out how to get to it! The signage is bad and they need to point you in the right direction more. We were prepared to climb some rocks, as we'd heard that you have to to get to the falls, but when we couldn't figure out which rocks to climb, we just turned around. We were able to see the waterfall from a distance and heard people splashing around. Definitely not a trail to walk when muddy and definitely be prepared to climb a lot of boulders to get to the waterfall.

June 2025 As a city person, this is not a "normal easy…read moretrail" Fair warning, the trail is everywhere, no signs or one real pathway to the fall I'm not a hiker and end up turning back because I didn't think I can hope over wet boulders and climb pass a ledge to reach the waterfalls I'm sure it was worth it, I hear others swimming and having fun but I'm too old for that trail I hope you guys give this a try but be careful

Bring a wetsuit during March/ April. It's cold but beautiful…read more The family enjoyed it and not too far from the camp site Note it does require some jumping, balance climbing and getting your feet/shoes wet. I did it with my girls ages 8-13 years.

Big Sur River Gorge Trail starts between campsite #111 and #112.  Go upstream on the right of the…read moreriver until you cannot, then wade across the river to continue on the left side. Great fun tackling boulders and fallen trees.    Dress to climb and swim.  I saw a family hiking with an elderly grandma and thought to myself, If she can do it, anybody who is willing can do it.  We came in the beginning of Aug 2020, when camping capacity was halved due to Covid.  But this trail was still super crowded when we arrived about noon.   Wafer is very clear with Steelhead Trouts in there, so naturally it was cold.  I jumped from rocks and swam around anyway, figuring that it will never turn into a hot spring no matter how long I wait.

We stopped to walk along this trail in Pacific Grove for a while, and it was a gorgeous day for it…read more Our 13-year-old dog, Zoey, cannot walk far anymore, so we brought a stroller. This path is not the best place for one, but we made do. First, though, we took her down to the water. We did not explore the tidepools on this occasion, but Zoey had a great time walking in the ocean water. In this area, the tide moved in a gentle motion, yet it still managed to sneak up on me and get my shoes wet! The path was alive with vibrant color today, and offered lovely views. Unfortunately, some cars drive faster than they ought to on this road considering how close the walking path is situated to it.

Nice trail with bike lanes. Lot of things to see. There are lots of seals laying on the beach after…read moreyou passed the Hopkins Marine Station. It's a pleasant walk along the shore.

At the end of Summer, my friend suggested a backpacking trip to Skyes Hot Springs - 20 miles out…read moreand back with 5380 ft elevation gain. (more challenging than Bright Angel Trail to bottom of Grand Canyon) Arrived at Big Sur Station at 9am. Paid $20 overnight parking fees, used toilet, snapped group photo then began hiking at 9:30. Half hour lunch break at 11:45 Terrace Creek Camp, and finally arrived to Skyes Camp by 3pm. In route to camp, we crossed 7 creeks each way. I was a bit anxious of slipping cuz I had less confidence than I used to. I think it would have been easier and more fun if I had power thr them with momentum. No mosquitoes sightings in mid Nov. Lots of poison oaks along the trail but not overgrown; I wore shorts with no problem, just clouds of dust from our own stompings. Our friend impaled a bunch of splinters from a burr plant. I visited many of our camp neighbors in search of a tweezer; fortunately, the last of the spikes expelled itself in the hot spring waters. Hiking downriver in search of the hot springs was not easy. When located at 5pm, the large tub was occupied, we tested all of the other 3 smaller tubs then settled in at the one on the river level, it was a tight squeeze for 4 people but we sardined to fit. Our inlet source was a water fall from the tub above which some of us used as a shower over our heads. It was a relaxing time with beautiful surroundings and good company. The water was lukewarm with lots of earthy debris, so it does not compare to the numerous fancy Onsens I have visited in Japan. But things are more valuable when it is earned by hard work - the miles, inclines, sun, sweat, dust, creek crossings, obstacles, and heavy pack; great feelings of accomplishment, and endorphins too. It was wise of us to leave the springs at 6pm since sunsets at 6:30. Due to the heavy forest, we were not able to sight the supermoon nor the comet in the night sky. Sleeping with the ripple sounds of the Big Sur River close by was soothing. Our return trip started at 9:30 and ended at the parking lot by 1pm, 4.5 hours was very fast pace. We were eager to celebrate our trip with a lunch in a sit down restaurant, Big Sur Roadhouse. Another great adventure with friends. Treasure memories.

It CAN got hot in Santa Cruz and when it does, you're gonna want to find a shaded trail like a…read moreLadato loop to keep from overheating. I'm down here at Glenwood open space preserve, fully exposed to the sun and sweatin' like a crawdad in a gumbo eat'n contest. That's what Im at Lodato and I aint going back to Glenwood it cools down ovah there.

Hidden trail that is visited by locals. We came here on the way to Mystery Spot. It is a short…read more1-1.5 mile loop. Air is excellent, and short enough that you won't need to really prepare water. Great for groups with kids or dogs!

We absolutely love going here. It's amazing and we always have a good time. We hike around record…read moreswimming holes we just make a great day of it and adventure day. If you will I will say the bugs are quite bad, but we are expecting that and we know that going in.

Military base right smack in the middle so slow down or you might run down a soldier in training…read more Redwoods can be found. Long winding roads perfect for bikes and sports cars. Not for motion sick people though. LOL! Winding roads suddenly open up to the ocean. Gasp inspiring.

Great campground with the Big Sur river running right through it. Loved the quick hike up to the…read morewaterfall through the redwoods. Lots of great shady sites and some really nice sites right on the river. Showers were nice and reasonably priced. If you are feeling lazy and don't want to cook, you can check out the restaurant/ coffee shop, also a nice little gift shop. There is also a store at the back of the campground that has ice , snacks , firewood and a small laundry facility which was super convenient !! Great woodsy campground with great amenities!!

BEST SPOT TO SEE RED WOODS. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a sprawling, 1,000-acre sanctuary…read morecentered around the pristine Big Sur River. Often nicknamed "mini Yosemite," it trades direct beach access for dramatic inland scenery, boasting spectacular valleys, forested peaks, and dense groves of ancient coast redwoods. Ancient Redwood Groves: The park is famous for its majestic coast redwoods, with some trees measuring over 1,000 years old. Accessible walkways, like the Redwood Deck, allow visitors to stand among these towering giants. Diverse Hiking Trails: Trails cater to all skill levels, ranging from the flat and easy Nature Trail loop to the challenging, steep ascent up the Buzzards Roost Trail, which rewards hikers with panoramic views of the ocean and mountains. On-Site Lodging and Camping: Unlike many rugged coastal stops, this park features developed accommodations, including a large campground alongside the river and the historic Big Sur Lodge, which provides comfortable cabins and a restaurant. The redwoods you see growing in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (as well as nearby Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), the tallest living species of tree on Earth. The groves found throughout the park are particularly special because they mark the southernmost boundary of where the coast redwood species naturally thrives in significant numbers. Because they are located at the southern edge of their natural geographic range, the climate here is slightly drier and warmer than the dense, misty rainforests of Northern California. While they generally do not reach the record-shattering heights of their northern cousins in Humboldt or Redwood National Park, they are incredibly impressive, with many individual trees in the park towering well over 200 feet tall and thriving for upwards of 800 to 1,000 years. They rely heavily on the marine fog flowing through the Big Sur River gorge to stay hydrated during the dry summer months

Gilroy hot springs will plan to open summer 2021, they are still looking for volunteers and…read moredonations. You can donate at: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/reopen-gilroy-hot-springs-in-2021 They are currently closed to the public. Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs has a tea house and cabins. This is the only hot spring/ onsen in the Bay Area! Excited for the restoration and reopening of this mineral rich, history rich state treasure!

Gilroy Hot Springs has a long history in the Japanese American community. Article from Watsonville…read moreRegister-Pajaronian. September 8, 1945: HOSTEL SLATED FOR RETURNING JAPANESE AT GILROY SPRINGS "Hostel accommodations for servicemen and ex-servicemen and women of Japanese ancestry and their families will be made available through arrangements completed this week between the Presbyterian Home Missions board and the War Relocation authority for joint sponsorship of Gilroy Hot Springs, owned by Frank Sakata, formerly of the Pajaro valley and now of Oregon. The hostel will be taken over Sept. 15. ...The hostel will be available to Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara county Japanese." Only 3 stars because most sources say it's not presently open to the public, it is, however, part of Henry W Coe State Park.