It was one of those rainy mornings that makes you wonder if it’s worth hitting the trail. Spoiler: it was rain, rocks, and raptor magic. Hiking Pinnacles National Park had been on my wishlist for awhile, so I added an extra day before speaking at the Bay Area Travel & Adventure Show to visit my 46th national park.  After spending the night in Hollister, I drove about 40 minutes, winding through rolling ranch land before turning into the craggy terrain the park is known for.

A steady rain fell as I pulled into the park, but sometimes, the wildest hikes come wrapped in crazy weather. That drizzle turned into drama, with cloud-splashed vistas, mossy trails, tricky steep and narrow sections in the rain, and a stunning show from soaring California condors. Rain or not, this loop delivers big on scenic highs hiking Pinnacles National Park.

Going Up Condor Gulch Trail

I parked at the Bear Gulch Visitor Center and asked the ranger about trail conditions after heavy overnight rain.  He said I should be ok and suggested going up Condor Gulch Trail first.  It wastes no time heading uphill. The incline is steady, and the scenery gets good fast. Ominous clouds quickly gave way to a little blue sky shortly after I started making the rocky spires – aka the “Pinnacles”- pop against the changing sky.

At the one-mile mark, there’s viewpoint.  Step out onto slick rock to soak in the dramatic panorama. The timing couldn’t have been better. Just as I rounded a switchback, I noticed a bird soaring in circles.  I thought no way – it can’t be an endangered California condor.  Then I couldn’t believe my luck as I saw a second, followed by a third, circling above.

Just before starting the final .7-mile push to the High Peaks junction, a rain shower rolled in. I spotted even more condors gliding and landing on a rocky outcropping. A couple was hiking down the gulch and I shared what I was watching.  They had binoculars, making it easy to confirm they are condors.  As the rain increased in intensity, the three of us stood in quiet awe watching these endangered giants, easily recognized by their red heads and bright white wing patches. It was one of those pinch-me moments hikers live for.

High Peaks, Mossy Moment, and a Windy Ridge

The rain stopped just as I reached the High Peaks Trail junction at the 1.7-mile mark.  You turn left and keep climbing. The hardest part of the ascent is done at this point, but the trail has some sketchy short steep sections to go. After a brief flat, the trail dips and rises through a mossy, shaded stretch filled with ferns and twisted trees.  It’s surprisingly lush for such rugged terrain.

At one point I looked back and had an incredible view of the trail I had just climbed. Along the ridge, wind typically kicks up, adding another layer of drama to this hike.

Sketchy Section with a Warning on Descent

Around mile 2.6, just as another round of heavier rain and gusty winds was settling in, I hit the super sketchy section of High Peaks Trail.  There’s warning signs about narrow and exposed portions.  This is the no joke section of steep and narrow stone steps, handrails, and traversing slick rock, made even more difficult in rain.  I picked up the pace going as quickly as I could before even heavier rain would settle in.  I did stop at one point when I saw something move in a tree.  There were more condors waiting out the rain.

There’s a trail junction with a restroom.  That’s where I made my turn to descend on High Peaks Trail, enjoying the moody look to the landscape as low clouds and rain moved over it.  With half a mile to go, I considered detouring through the Bear Gulch Cave Trail, but decided a cold cave wasn’t for me and continued hiking down in the rain.

The last few tenths of a mile are flat, winding through a picnic area making for a calm, easy finish to an otherwise exciting trek.

Hike Recap & Trail Tips

• Route: Condor Gulch Trail → High Peaks Trail → Bear Gulch

• Distance: Approx. 6 miles

• Time: 3 hours 15 minutes (with lots of stops for condors watching and photos)

• Trail Conditions: Steady incline in Condor Gulch, windy on High Peaks Trail with slick conditions in the steep and narrow sections

• Wildlife Highlight: Multiple endangered California condors

• Scenic Highlight: Panoramic views from the Condor Gulch overlook

• Weather Bonus: Rain = fewer crowds + adventure

Back in my rental car, damp and grinning, I headed west to the coast. Hiking Pinnacles in the rain wasn’t just worth it – this turned into my favorite hike in California to date.  I can’t wait to hike Pinnacles National Park again.  I’d 100% hike this loop again.

The day before this hike I visited three National Park Service units in the Bay Area.  Check out that post here.