North Chalone Peak

North Chalone Peak (3,304ft) – Pinnacles National Park Highpoint

On the summit

Eric Gilbertson

October 30, 2015

I had flown to Monterrey to visit Katie while she was at her bat conference and decided to spend one afternoon exploring the newly-created Pinnacles National Park. Katie had driven down from Seattle, so I borrowed the Forester for the day.

I drove around to the east entrance and parked at the Bear Gulch trailhead. There was no obvious place to pay a fee, so I just started hiking. It was a weekday but I still noticed a few other people at the trailhead. A few guys were carrying ropes and planning to climb some of the pinnacles in the park. It looked fun.

I soon hiked through an interesting cave (glad I’d brought my headlamp), then past the Bear Gulch Reservoir. From there I ascended up into the hills and it got very hot. After 3.3 miles I reached the summit of North Chalone Peak, finishing the hike on a gravel road. There was a huge summit tower, and the road must come up from the south.

Summit panorama

Near the tower I saw an interesting lizard, which I think is the kind that shoots blood out it’s eye. I retraced my route back, and the cave felt even more refreshing after being in the heat of the sun all day. I later drove back to Monterrey for the conference.

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