In The Shadow Of Giants: Exploring Mountains – Happy Monday! As we close out National Forest Week 2023, I want to take you to the unique geological wonders found in the Stanislaus National Forest in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Join me as we travel along the Sonora Pass to explore the basalt rock formations at the Columns of the Giants.
…and in honor of National Forest Week, be sure to scroll down to get your FREE National Forest Bucket List!
In The Shadow Of Giants: Exploring Mountains
Found just off Highway 108 in the Stanislaus National Forest, Columns of the Giants is a great stop when traveling across the Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The paved parking lot and trailhead is located along the Middle Fork Stanislaus River east of the small town of Dardanelle right next to Pigeon Flat Campground.
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If you’re not familiar with the Sonora Pass, it’s a very scenic and winding drive north of Yosemite National Park that connects 395 near Bridgeport with 99 in Modesto. At 9,624 feet at its highest point, Sonora Pass is the second highest pass in the Sierra Nevada Range…only Tioga Pass to the south is higher.
Geophysicists believe that lava deep within the earth erupted from nearby cracks about 150,000 years ago. The lava flowed into the Stanislaus River bed and pooled behind a natural dam.
As the deep lava pool slowly cools, the molten rock hardens and shrinks, splitting into multi-sided vertical columns. The glacier then flows into this valley, and the gravel in the ice acts like sandpaper, scraping the top while picking and tearing rock from the edges, leaving the columns exposed. The mound of rock at the base of the column is called the “talus”. As water seeped into rock cracks and froze, expanding ice crystals slowly pulled the large blocks apart…and as they separated, they fell into the piles seen here. You may even feel cold air rising through the talus as layers of ice formed here several thousand years ago during what geologists call the “Little Ice Age.” Remnants of ancient ice are still covered and preserved by fallen rocks.
The unique layering of columns here may also indicate the presence of two separate lava flows. In the first flow, strait columns form when the lava cools evenly under ideal conditions (cooling from the top down and from the ground up). During the second flow, a twisted upper layer could have formed when a second eruption occurred on top of the cooled first layer. The second layer may have been attracted to a natural barrier that had been eroded, possibly forming under less uniform conditions, thus causing the uneven fractures we see today. Please do not climb on fallen rocks here and help preserve the ice by leaving the rocks in place.
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From the parking area, there is an easy 0.25 mile paved trail that takes you to the official viewing point of the Columns of the Giants. The out and back trail begins by crossing a beautiful wooden bridge over the Middle Fork Stanislaus River – then you start onto a paved road. The gentle climb (less than 50 feet of elevation gain) is dotted with numerous interpretive signs sharing information about the area and the history of these columns. The trail is surrounded by towering pine trees and ends at the base of rocky columns. It’s important to stay on the maintained trails here, not only to protect and respect the natural features, but also because much of the site is made of unstable rock formations. Once you’re done exploring and observing the towering basalt columns, you can return to the parking lot.
Located next to the Columns of the Giants interpretive trail is Pigeon Flat Campground. Here you can find campsites with tables and fire rings, as well as vault toilets. Anglers might consider fishing the Middle Fork Stanislaus River. If you’re interested in more hiking, head back to Pinecrest on Highway 108 for Donnell Vista, another scenic short trail that leads to beautiful views of Donnell Reservoir and the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River Canyon.
If you want to explore other geological wonders in the region, I recommend visiting Devils Postpile National Monument (another basalt column formation), Hot Creek Geological Site, and Fossil Falls.
• It is best enjoyed from late spring to mid-fall when Sonora Pass is open. However, Winter access may be available via snowmobile, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing.
Hike To The Nose Of The Sleeping Giant
• Please remember the Leave No Trace Principle on your adventure here, and do not scramble to the bottom of the column. The rock pile is unstable and unsafe.
• Sonora Pass Highway 108 is steep, narrow, and winding in many places. Long and/or large vehicles are not recommended to use this road.
Thank you so much for joining me in the Stanislaus National Forest today. For a virtual visit to the Colossus, check out my Behind the Blog video at the top of this post, or watch it on YouTube here. Also be sure to sign up below to get my free National Forest Bucket List! Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
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I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based in Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and hotel & product reviews, I strive to share my travels to help you plan your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the world…and every Monday I post new content here, including comprehensive blog posts and YouTube videos.
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Rick Steves’ Europe
Andy Hodges, author of the guidebook Trekking the Giants’ Trail and International Mountain Leader, took nine pupils and two staff from Coombe Dean School, Plymstock, on a 95km trek from beneath the Matterhorn to the foot of Mont Blanc.
With over 6000m of climbing, 12 columns to cross, the highest point of over 2900m and days lasting up to 8 hours, this is a significant challenge for groups of 15 to 18 year olds. This complete trek is known as the Giant’s Trail because it passes through some of the largest mountains in the Alps including Monte Rosa, Grand Combin, and
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