Long a favorite haunt among the carabiner-carrying crowd, the Pinnacles attract many a hiker too. Well-built trails weave through the 200-foot-high sandstone spires that perch on a sun-kissed hillside above the fruited Wenatchee River valley. When not fixated on the striking outcrops and sculptured slabs that surround you, peer out over orchards and a backdrop of lofty ridges and peaks. Come in spring for fabulous floral blooms, and come all year to watch climbers clinging and clambering.

This little 34.5-acre park packs quite a varied landscape within its tight boundaries. Pass through a gate and immediately enter a magical kingdom of sandstone spires resembling rows of shark teeth protruding from a golden hillside. Trails quickly diverge from the Pinnacles' portal. It doesn't really matter which direction you choose to set off in to explore this land of wind-sculptured spires. Walk willy-nilly, amble aimlessly, or promenade along the periphery as suggested here for a nice 1.5-mile hike.

Head left, skirting the Pinnacles to enter a big dry draw. While this landscape is dull brown most of the year, from March through May desert buttercups, avalanche lilies, and arrowleaf balsamroot add brilliant touches of gold to the surrounding slopes. Staying on the main tread, pass a side trail diverging right, and soon come to another junction. Now head to the right up a series of tight switchbacks under and beside the Grand Central Tower, one of the more prominent of the Pinnacles. Bending east, the way then traverses beneath Sunset Slab. Passing a junction, head up to a small ridge crest where some lonely pines extend a welcome.

Here beneath the Dinosaur Tower, views are grand close and far. This is a good spot too for observing falcons and hawks riding thermals above the ser-rated surroundings. The Pinnacles provide plenty of brooding spots for rock doves, otherwise known as pigeons, a raptor's delight! Now beside the more colorfully named Martian Slab, work your way off of the crest on switchbacks dropping steeply back to the gate. And if this loop wasn't enough to satisfy your wandering lust, feel free to repeat, exploring side trails.