Road Trip: Part 1 – Cathedral Peak Trail and Seven Falls on my way to Pinnacles NP

The plan was traveling up the coast and to add in a hike or two on my way up to Pinnacles National Park about 6 hrs drive from my home. I decided I would stop in Santa Barbara for my first hike of the trip. After 4 hours of driving through some fun traffic in LA and Oxnard, I finally arrived at the Inspiration Point trailhead. I had not hiked any of these trails and there are several here. I made my way up the road, about 1/4 mile from where I had to park, toward the Inspiration Point Trailhead. It would be  a late start as I needed to park .25 mile from the trailhead, along a pullout on the road. After hiking for about 15 minutes, the sun began to come out, warming things up fast as the craggy pinnacles and Cathedral Peak emerged off in the distance.

Road Trip on Highway 78: Snow in San Diego, and Desert Sculptures

It’s early March as I drive down Highway 78 toward the town of Julian. California is cool right now at sea level, and at about 4000 feet in elevation, there is snow. I would visit Inspiration Point, Galletta Meadows, and Hellhole Canyon, in Anza Borrego.