North Wilderness Trail to Twin Knolls

North Wilderness Trail to Twin Knolls is a 3.1-mile round-trip out-and-back from Chaparral Parking Area. Follow the North Wilderness Trail about 1.55 miles to the Twin Knolls viewpoints, then return the same way. It gives you a shorter taste of the remote west side without taking on the full 9.3-mile North Wilderness loop. It is rated moderate, climbs about 629 feet, and takes roughly 2 to 3 hours.

This is a more basic walk than the park’s maintained day trails: the North Wilderness corridor is unmaintained, and the park describes the longer route as climbing ridgelines before descending to a cairn-marked creek bed. The park map does not mark Twin Knolls as a separate turn point, so carry a current map and treat that destination as an approximate turnaround rather than following the longer loop by mistake. The first 1.55 miles’ exact footing and wayfinding are not described in detail.

The viewpoints look back toward the west face of Pinnacles and the North Chalone Peak Fire Tower. Spring can bring wildflowers along the way, though no particular species or bloom timing is documented. If you want the whole wilderness outing, the separate loop continues much farther and is listed at 9.3 miles round trip.

Start at Chaparral Parking Area on the west side. The picnic area has restrooms and drinking water, but there is no water along the trail; bring at least a liter per person per hiking hour. Pets are prohibited on park trails; service animals are allowed.