An easy, short path from a nature center up to an overlook point with a great view of the Pinnacles Formation. An easy way to see some of the sights in the park, with the option to connect to the High Peaks Trail loop and continue your journey.

I’ll admit — I wasn’t planning on hiking this trail. When I woke up at the Pinnacles Campsite, I had originally intended to just explore the Bear Gulch caves and head on out, but when I saw the incredible inversion layer that was hanging over the park in the morning, I knew I had to try to get some good photos of it interacting with the landscape.

And so, I ventured out from the Bear Gulch ranger station on this short and sweet trail to an overlook near the High Peaks.

The trail itself is a simple single-track that parallels a service road, then climbs up the canyon walls and onto the Pinnacles themselves. It’s really not a destination hike, per se, unless you’ve got interesting weather conditions like I did.

This trail does, however, offer an alternative route to building your own loop trail. 0.7 miles past the overlook, the Condor Gulch Trail meets up with the High Peaks Trail . From there, it’s possible to loop along the more southern routes, back through Bear Gulch and to the trailhead.

But if all you’re doing is checking out the view, this is the hike to take.