Hixon & Quesnel / Full trip pack
The Pinnacles
- Round trip
- 2 km
- Elevation gain
- Not established gentle slopes
- Walking time
- See time notes Official 15 minutes to viewpoint; return time additional.
- Difficulty
- Moderate There and Back
calculated return from official 1 km approach
A maintained path leads to a fenced viewpoint over hoodoos and the Baker Creek valley on the west side of Quesnel. BC Parks places the viewpoint approximately 1 km from the entrance and suggests around 15 minutes to reach it. Longer informal paths described in older hiking accounts are separate from this short maintained viewpoint outing.
1. Getting there and parking
From Highway 97 in Quesnel, use the Moffat Bridge approach to cross to the west side, then take Baker Drive and continue onto Pinnacles Road. The paved road leads to the park on the left, approximately 8 km from downtown Quesnel. BC Parks says the park remains open for daytime visits year-round even when the entrance gate is locked. Park legally without blocking that gate and walk in.
2. Walking the route
Follow the maintained trail from the entrance to the established hoodoo viewpoint and return the same way. Stay behind the viewpoint fence: the formations are fragile and the surrounding cliffs are steep. The older club description continues on a less-developed footpath toward another Baker Creek overlook, but that extension is not included in the official 1 km approach and lacks equivalent junction detail. For the straightforward outing, turn around at the established viewing area.
3. Route map
Published locations only. A complete route line is still needed.
Published locations
Numbered points match the map. Use the role beside each point. A summit or park reference point is not a parking location.
| Place and role | Coordinates | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Pinnacles start point of published trip track (parking unverified) | 52.983940 -122.561820 | Embedded trip-map feature 'Pinnacles': first recorded coordinate [-122.56182, 52.98394].
Point extracted from the original public trip map. A track start is evidence of where recording began, not certification of parking, legal access, road suitability or the complete route. https://hiking.princegeorge.tech/pinnacles-quesnel-bc/ |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Camping and tenting
Camping is prohibited in Pinnacles Park. Bring drinking water; the park has no potable-water supply.
Season and access
The park is open year-round for day use, including when the entrance gate is locked. Snow and ice can affect the path and cliffside viewing area; a year-round opening is not a statement of maintained winter footing.
Dogs
Pets must remain on leash under BC Parks rules.
Measurement notes
1 km
gentle slopes
More maps & trail files
Pinnacles loop option on AllTrails
An approximately 2.1 km loop in Pinnacles Park. The official maintained viewpoint outing is a return walk; verify the loop branches before treating them as part of that maintained approach.
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/pinnacles
Comparison checked 2026-10-18.
Longer Pinnacles extension on AllTrails
A roughly 10.3 km return extending beyond the provincial park’s short viewpoint trail. This is a separate, longer outing and is not included in the standard 2 km viewpoint return.
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/pinnacles-trail
Comparison checked 2026-10-18.
These links open files and maps maintained by their publishers. They require an internet connection and are not included in this saved guide.
Your trip notes
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