Pinnacles National Park Nature-Wildflower Hike

Hike Pinnacles National Park with us on Saturday, April 20th! We'll meet near the trail-head in the Western entrance parking lot at 8:45am and set off as close to 9am as reasonable. We’ll decide when we assemble which trail(s) to take depending on the number of hikers, endurance levels, and interests. Even if we split up into two groups, both hikes will be at a moderate level and take about 2.5 to 3 hours. Please plan to bring water, snacks, and binoculars; we also recommended good trail shoes, a set of hiking poles, sunscreen, a hat, and layers you can shed as it warms up. We'll do a brown bag lunch. Bring your own drinks. Bringing cookies, chips, etc., to share is optional.

Pinnacles National Park is one of the newest National Parks. It is famous for its wildflowers and its condors but, of course, there is so much more natural beauty to be found there. Our hike will be led by Peter Szydlowski (PC Staff Ecuador 1970-74 & PC Director Nicaragua 74-75) and Melinda Kralj, Curator Emeritus of Plants at the University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum. Peter knows the Pinnacles well: he was a Ranger there 1992 to 2008, serving at the visitors center, entrance station, trail patrol, and leading nature hikes. After retiring, he volunteered in the condor tracking program and led night hikes. Peter and  his wife Marie try to make at least one visit each wildflower season. Melinda worked for over 30 years at UCSC's Arboretum. She knows her wildflowers and is an avid birder. She has hiked the trails of Pinnacles many, many times.

The entrance fee to Pinnacles is $30 per vehicle and is good for 7 days. If someone in the car has an Interagency Senior Pass, that will allow the pass holder and everyone else in the same vehicle to enter...so take an old person with you :)
 

Carpool: Join or offer a carpool ride
More info on Pinnacles National Park: Park
More info on Pinnacles Wildflowers: flowers
More info on the condors: Condors
 Cheers, John and Toni

John Bost, Sierra Leone 1967-69, and Toni Thomas, Costa Rica 1995-97.
Your Regional Directors Santa Cruz-Monterey
NorCal Peace Corps Association Board

Questions? Contact us at MRYSCNorCal@gmail.com.