Located at the end of the Bear Gulch Cave Trail, you will reach the Bear Gulch Reservoir. Putting…read moreaside how fun that trail is, this reservoir is the perfect end to the hike! The area is so incredibly gorgeous, and pictures do not do it justice. We had planned to get to the reservoir, stop for a few minutes, and then hike back to our car. However, we ended up finding a nice place to sit and just taking in the perfect scenery. The sky was clear, the water so blue, and the area was so peaceful and relaxing. I don't know how busy Pinnacles typically gets, but we were here over spring break, and it was not crowded at all. Beach Gulch Reservoir is on the East side of Pinnacles National Park, so definitely recommend hiking to it when visiting that side.

Reviews are reminders to myself Nice maintained trail…read moreTook this trail because Pfeiffer falls trail was closed. Pfeiffer falls was a bit disappointing because it's more of a man made outlet for some water and not really a natural falls

Located in the Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground, this is a 2 mile total hike to the Valley View…read moreoverlook. It's a very picturesque experience as you start off walking through tall redwoods and end up walking past large areas of Oak trees. We came during sunset and it didn't disappoint. Notes: - Day Use Fee for non-campers. - I would consider this to be family-friendly, but there is a lot of uphill walking required. -Trailhead is across from the restaurant. - Not as aggressive as the Buzzard's Roost Trail.

This was well worth the drive. We saw lots of birds and beautiful bluff landscape filled with…read moresucculents and pretty pink flowers. I would come back mid July - mid August for nest floral viewing. Most of the pink flowers have browned and fallen off so it had more of a fall look. But still, it's a beautiful ocean view hike and vista point.

A very short trek to the ocean from Hwy 1. The only drawback are the narrow trails where you can't…read moreavoid the brush. The lighting makes for great photos against the cove and emerald turquoise water.

First time visited Pinnacles National Park. We didn't have too much time to spend, but we chose to…read morevisit the East side of the park to do the Bear Gulch Cave Trail. This was really the only trail we wanted to do during our visit, and it is 100% worth it. A lot of the trails in the area interconnect, so it's easier to add on if you're doing another hike in the area. We parked in the lot by the Moses Spring Trail and started that trail until it branched off to the Bear Gulch Cave Trail. The hiking portion itself was easy - incline wasn't that bad and the entire hike itself was only about 2 miles. Once you enter the caves, though, is where the fun (and the bit of difficulty) comes in. It's not a strenuous hike, but it does require squeezing and maneuvering through tight spaces, walking through water, and moving through the dark. If you're claustrophobic, this is probably not going to be the hike for you. All that aside, though, it was such a fun hike, and I found myself enjoying it much more than I anticipated. It was super cool to explore the caves, and once you're in the tighter areas, the hike is clearly labeled with spray painted white arrows. It is pitch black in some areas, so definitely bring a flashlight. You could probably squeak by with your cell phone light, but a small flashlight was ideal. Some areas of the water were also ankle deep, so wear appropriate footwear. After the caves, you'll pop out at Bear Gulch Reservoir. And let me tell you - pictures do not do it justice. It is so incredibly beautiful and peaceful. We spent much more time than we had planned just sitting on a rock and taking it all in. Highly recommend this hike when visiting the east side of Pinnacles National Park.

We very much enjoyed our 2mile ish hike through the cave, circling around the reservoir to come…read moreback down. We started on a weekday at around 830am and were able to park in the closest parking lot to the trailhead where there's a nice restroom. There is also more parking around, it just requires a bit further of a walk. The trail stays with a slight incline through some woods with tons of birds around. You eventually level out and start to enter the cave. You definitely need a headlamp or flashlight for the very dark parts. We went when it was very dry, so no worries about slipping for us. You do have to squeeze through some tight bits, but nothing too treacherous. After the cave, you pop out to the beautiful reservoir at the top. We did the loop and headed back down on a very sunny and scenic part of the trail. Watch for squirrels, chipmunks and birds along the trail, as there are many beautiful species around to enjoy. I suggest bringing binoculars and take pics along the way!

From Bixby Bridge (a few miles north) to this point and then further down to Big Sur is, in my…read moreopinion, the most beautiful stretch of Hwy 1 on the California coast! The scenery is pristine. On a clear day the blue will take your breath away! We didn't spot any sea otters, however. It was a chilly day. Driving can be a bit challenging as the road curves and turns. Look out for the many vista areas along the way- each one is magnificent in its own way. From here on down to San Simeon is an unforgettable journey! Do make sure you have enough fuel in your car as gas stations are few and far in between on the coast. We had to stop somewhere and gas was $10 a gallon !

In some areas of the United States, such as northern California, tanbark is often called "mulch."…read more In these areas, the word "mulch" may refer to peat moss or to very fine tanbark. In California, Notholithocarpus densiflorus (commonly known as the tanoak or tanbark-oak) was used to tan hide into leather. This forest is full of not only twisted redwoods, but also tanbark-oak. Gorgeous autotrophs keep you cool under their shade froM a cathedral scaled canopy. Gratitude. Wonder. Stillness. This is what you will find here. Steep hike upward. Enjoy.

You will not find dramatic ocean views but you will have a peaceful walk in the woods with a good…read moreworkout. The base of the trail is a gentle slope running by a stream graced by redwoods. When you reach the Mcloughlin Grove make a sharp right and up a steep section. Afterwards its a series of switchbacks. When you reach the top, you have the option to turn back or extend your hike to the Tin House, which I recommend. It is just around the bend and you do catch a glimpse of the Water Trail (Unfortunately closed) with its series of capes by the ocean. An alternative it to take the Fire Road but it leads to HWY 1 and you need to trek a mile back to your car. Make sure you use GPS as the trailhead (Paddington Station?) is sunken below the main road and easy to miss.

Main ranger and info station for the Big Sur and surrounding State Parks area. Staff is super…read morepatient and supportive, even with a long line of travelers looking for advice varying from kid-friendly activities to confirming which locations have parking/availability on each day. Staff is knowledgable and friendly. Parking is limited in the front lot but relatively high turnover since lots of folks will drive off after they get info/maps from the station. Rangers are there providing support, info, and safety/direction as needed.

We love to backpack into Big Sur and whenever we do, we time our arrival so that we can pop into…read moreBig Sur Station before heading out to discuss trail conditions, weather considerations, groups they're aware of, and river status. They've saved us a bunch of pain and suffering and provided great advice each trip. If you're planning a back country adventure in Big Sur, I recommend that you check in at the station, let them know what you're up to and get their thoughts and advice. Oh, and then after your adventure, you can buzz back in and get your commemorative patch or t-shirt, too!