Author Topic: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...  (Read 3136 times)

russ p

  • Cobble Crimpers
  • ***
  • Posts: 60
Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« on: March 10, 2021, 05:33:39 PM »
Hi all, because this past year has been so screwy it's been over a year since I've had the pleasure of climbing at Pinnacles.  As a nurse I've gotten both my shots & now my climbing partner is about to get his second shot.  So finally it looks like we will be getting back out to do some climbing.  In the past we always avoided weekends and stuck to Mondays or Tuesdays to bolt on down from the bay area for a day of frolicking on the rocks. We would usually arrive around 9 AM or so, and it was never a problem finding a parking spot on the East side or the West side.  Recently I heard that because of the pandemic there is a lot more hikers coming into the park, that the parking situation is a zoo,  and it fills super early, even on weekdays.  Just wondering if the parking now gets out of hand before 9, even weekdays?  Thanks for any input.  Super stoked to finally be getting out again, even if it will probably feel like starting all over again.

F4?

  • unworthy
  • Posts: 6176
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2021, 06:05:33 PM »
Weekends it feels like it fills by 8am.!
Even the sacred MrMud parking spot next to the restroom on the east side will get taken.


I find that 7:30am is nice, but I swear everyone leaves and arrives there at 8!!

I'm not worthy.

Gavin

  • Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 502
    • Gavin Emmons Photography
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2021, 07:51:34 AM »
Russ - it has definitely been busier at the park with hikers / visitors this past year, and often extremely packed on weekends or holidays.

I would say that generally there are still parking spots available at 9 am on Mondays and Tuesdays... but as we are getting into the "spring break" period right now, there have been more visitors even on weekdays.

Most weekdays though, I think you would still be safe getting here at 9 am and securing a parking spot near a trailhead.

Runout

  • Cobble Crimpers
  • ***
  • Posts: 74
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2021, 12:30:06 PM »
You can get further up the road on the weekend days and hike up. Or, a bicycle would get you up to Bear Gulch from the Camp Ground parking.

russ p

  • Cobble Crimpers
  • ***
  • Posts: 60
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2021, 11:01:23 AM »
Thanks all for the info...

Zay

  • Guest
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2021, 03:15:27 AM »
I know I'm not really helping... but on the rare occasions that I climb (Yosemite or Pinnacles) ***on the weekends, I NEVER show up any later than 8am. Having watches and been on the thousands of 5-mile-long lines to get into Yose my entire life, I just don't EVER want to be a part of that again.

I told my boss "Don't ever give me a saturday off."

It's tragic how bad overpopulation, mixed with so many other problems (but everything boils down to overpopulation -accept it or don't), chokes and clutters such tint and precious natural places.

Hell, I've been on this rainbow-infested island paradise (Kauai) for two months now, and lemme say: I could NEVER pick up all the trash I see in a single day in my entire lifetime. No wonder NPS employees were begging people to stay away from Yose during the government shutdown. Poop on the freaking sidewalks!!!!

Overpopulation is my Moby Dick, BTW...

Jody

  • Cobble Crimpers
  • ***
  • Posts: 58
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2021, 07:28:46 PM »
I long for the days of old(back when I lived there) and there were campgrounds INSIDE the monument and it was rarely overflowing as it is today.

mungeclimber

  • PermaBan
  • ***
  • Posts: 6713
    • http://www.sonorapassclimbing.com
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2021, 01:37:00 PM »
On Aid at Pinns... It's all A1 til it crumbles. - Munge

Jody

  • Cobble Crimpers
  • ***
  • Posts: 58
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2021, 03:26:16 PM »
exactly

...Death Valley, JTree...et al...same fate.

mungeclimber

  • PermaBan
  • ***
  • Posts: 6713
    • http://www.sonorapassclimbing.com
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2021, 05:15:34 PM »
Going to Carrizo as soon as I can before it gets a loop road.
On Aid at Pinns... It's all A1 til it crumbles. - Munge

Jody

  • Cobble Crimpers
  • ***
  • Posts: 58
Re: Pinnacles Parking Zoo?...
« Reply #10 on: March 31, 2021, 09:33:43 PM »
Carrizo is another place that would get ruined. It was absolutely destroyed during the 2017 Superbloom and again in 2019.