The Pinnacles of Pinnacles National Monument - California
Posted by: 
hotshoe
N 36° 28.730 W 121° 11.640
10S E 661788 N 4038576
The pinnacles are bizarre, eroded remnants of a split volcano, displaced northward by movement along the San Andreas fault
Waymark Code: WM4QZ1
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 09/21/2008
Views: 29
23 million years ago the Neenach stratovolcano erupted near what is now Lancaster, California. Conditions of lava deposition formed unique types of breccia and banded rhyolite formation. Later, the San Andreas fault split the eroding remnants of the volcano in half, and this half (carried by the Pacific plate) on the western side of the fault has gradually moved north almost 200 miles, relative to the other remnants (on the North American plate) on the eastern side of the fault. The high peaks consist of relatively strong, consolidated material. Recent fracturing and erosion of less resistant material has sculpted strange spires and cliffs.
Pinnacles National Monument has two separate entrances, one on the east side and one on the west side. (There is no road connection between the two sides). The high pinnacles are visible from either entrance, but the impact of their unusual shapes is best from one of the hiking trails which lead from parking to the peaks. Coordinates for this waymark are given for one spot on the trail which has nice panoramic views and is close to some examples of the spires.
A visit to this waymark does not require climbing the High Peaks trail to find this exact spot - any location where you have an close view of the interesting formations will be OK for a log.
Waymark is confirmed to be publicly accessible: yes
Parking Coordinates: N 36° 28.860 W 121° 10.890
Access fee (In local currency): 5.00
Requires a high clearance vehicle to visit.: no
Requires 4x4 vehicle to visit.: no
Public Transport available: no
Website reference: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
No specific requirements, just have fun visiting the waymark.