The main entrance is through Bear Gulch, a beautifulcanyon with a stream of water. The lastmile is under control, machines entering during the first 20 minutes ofeach hour. In each case the road ismacadam for the first 31 miles, then 3 miles of good dirt road. The monument is reached from Hollister or King Cityand is about 35 miles distant from either town. No fee is charged visitors entering themonument lands, and camping space is available without charge. The Department of the Interior desires it to be knownthat, while some of the natural formations are on this privately ownedtract, the main scenic attractions of the area are a considerabledistance away, and it is not necessary for visitors to cross any privatelands where fees may be exacted by the owners in order to view thePinnacles National Monument. The original reservation embraced a patented tract of 160 acres atthe extreme northern end of the monument, the owners of which, havingimproved it for camping purposes, charge each person entering thereon afee of 50 cents. There are now 2,980 acres in the monument, which wasfirst set aside January 16, 1908, and subsequently added to in 1923 and1924. Hart Merriam in 1898, is often seen in bands of 50or more. A species of black-tailed deer, firstdescribed by Dr. The other bird life is abundant,due to the protection given. Aside from its geologicaland scenic interest, it is important as one of the last strongholds andbreeding places of the California condor, the largest and one of themost characteristic birds of the State. The wild life on the reservation is not onlyprotected by Federal authority but by special State laws, having beenalso created a State game preserve in 1909. These have beenconnected by trails with other vantage points so that the visitor maynow get a comprehensive view of the monument. A series of caves, opening oneinto the other, lies under each of the groups of rocks. Many of the rocks are soprecipitous that they can not be scaled. They form a landmarkvisible many miles in every direction. The name is derived from the spirelike formsdeveloped from rocks of volcanic origin which rise from 600 to 1,000feet above the floors of its several canyons. The spires, domes, caves, and subterranean passagesof this extraordinary area of California are awe inspiring and are wellworth a visit by tourists and lovers of nature in its primitivestate. Glimpses of Our National Monuments (Pinnacles)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |