Jawbone Trail

Jawbone Trail is a 1.2-mile point-to-point walk northeast from a junction on Prewett Point Trail to Jawbone Parking. The park lists 30 to 60 minutes and about 560 feet of descent. It’s a good quick pick if you want a closer look at the west side without a long hike. The route ends at a different parking area, so arrange a pickup or plan a return; walking it both ways makes about 2.4 miles and turns the last stretch into a climb.

Expect narrow, sometimes steep dirt singletrack through chaparral, with openings toward North Chalone Peak, High Peaks, and Balconies Cliffs. Lower down, two wooden footbridges cross near West Fork Chalone Creek; the creek may be dry or audible after rain. Steps and a crossing of Highway 146 lead toward the parking area. The descent is quick, but it isn’t a flat stroll.

Reach the upper junction on Prewett Point Trail from the West Pinnacles Contact Station. The nearby Prewett Point loop is 0.9 mile round trip if you want to add an easy walk. Jawbone Parking is a gravel lot for about 30 vehicles with a picnic table and a seasonal restroom listed by the park; one recent visitor didn’t find it, so don’t count on it. The lot connects separately to Chaparral Parking by a 0.3-mile trail. No drinking water is listed along the route or at the lot. Pets may be in parking areas on leash, but they’re prohibited on every park trail.