Climbing up the West Summit Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Follow the yellow blazes.
About a month ago during the holidays, my brother and I did a hike up the West Summit Trail at Pinnacle Mountain State Park (Pulaski County, near Little Rock). This is an awesome trail.
There are two trails that will get you to the top of Pinnacle Mountain: the East Summit Trail and the West Summit Trail. The West Summit Trail is the most travelled, but the East Summit Trail is pretty popular too.
The net elevation change either way is about 650 feet.
The upper halves of both trails are quite steep, but the East Summit Trail is much more so. The upper part of the West Summit Trail is like a very steep crooked rock staircase. On the East Summit Trail, the trail is just scaling boulders. (Check out some pictures, maps, and elevation profile in this Summit Trail Loop post.)
Southwest facing view from the upper parts of the West Summit Trail.
Although it wasn’t very sunny, it was great hiking weather (in the 40’s) when we did our December 28 hike.
Instead of making the full loop, we just did an out-and-back hike on the West Summit Trail. (A full loop can be made by doing both summit trails and then connecting them with either the north half or the south half of the Base Trail.)
The lower elevation part of the West Summit Trail is pretty wooded and quite a bit less steep.
These are some photos I took on our hike. (Check out this post for some more Pinnacle Mountain summit pics.)
About halfway up the West Summit Trail. Yellow blazes.On the upper part of the West Summer Trail, there are great views, and the trail itself is pretty cool too.The rocks with yellow blazes are the trail.Some hikers working their way down the crooked steps of the West Summit Trail.East-facing view (panoramic) from the Pinnacle Mountain summit.West-facing view (panoramic) from the summit.Northeast-facing view from the summit. Arkansas River in the distance.Lake Maumelle seen via the Pinnacle Mountain summit.Southwest-facing view, climbing down the West Summit Trail.Looking down at the West Summit Trail. Yellow blazes.West-facing view (panoramic) from the summit. The Maumelle Pinnacles in the distance.
Photo Gallery
Click below for full-screen photo gallery.
West-facing view (panoramic) from the summit. The Maumelle Pinnacles in the distance.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 176-177 Stitch
Southwest facing view from the upper parts of the West Summit Trail.
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Looking down at the West Summit Trail. Yellow blazes.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 166
Southwest-facing view, climbing down the West Summit Trail.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 150
Lake Maumelle seen via the Pinnacle Mountain summit.
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Northeast-facing view from the summit. Arkansas River in the distance.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 134
West-facing view (panoramic) from the summit.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 091-92 Stitch
East-facing view (panoramic) from the Pinnacle Mountain summit.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 083-85 Stitch
Some hikers working their way down the crooked steps of the West Summit Trail.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 065
The rocks with yellow blazes are the trail.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 053
On the upper part of the West Summer Trail, there are great views, and the trail itself is pretty cool too.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 046
Climbing up the West Summit Trail, Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Follow the yellow blazes.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 041
About halfway up the West Summit Trail. Yellow blazes.
2014-12-28 pinnacle 036
The lower elevation part of the West Summit Trail is pretty wooded and quite a bit less steep.
One reply on “Pinnacle Mountain: West Summit Trail Pics 2014”
I love the trail markers. This looks like a great hike.