Pinnacles National Monument
by Cathy Jefferies
Pinnacles was set aside in 1908, making it one of this country's
oldest National Monuments. Under the Antiquities Act of 1906, the
President of the United States can create National Monuments to
protect "historic landmarks, historic or prehistoric structures, and
other objects of historical or scientific interest."
The "objects of scientific interest" preserved at Pinnacles National
Monument are, naturally enough, its rocky crags and spires. These
formations are not visible from the campground, which is located
outside the eastern boundary of the park. To view the pinnacles, you
must venture down the road into the monument, where a number of
trails, from 1 to 5 miles in length, lead you into the remains of an
ancient volcano. This volcano originally formed 195 miles south of
the present location of the Pinnacles. In the last 23 million years, the
northward movement of the Pacific Plate along the San Andreas
Fault has brought the rocks to where they are today. As you enjoy
riding Hwy. 25 into Pinnacles you will be following the valley created
by this famous fault.
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