Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve

The Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve is a seven hundred and seventy-six-acre state conservation zone in Russell County, Virginia. The preserve's most outstanding landmark, and the one it is named after, is the Pinnacle, which is a four hundred foot high tor of dolomite rock. While the Pinnacle is a temptation to rock climbers, the sport is not permitted in the preserve. 

What is allowed is pups on their leashes, which is great as there are some amazing trails any canine would be ecstatic exploring. The fact that the Pinnacle Preserve and Big Cedar Creek which runs through it are home to many rare flora and fauna is something pet owners must respect. Parking at natural area preserves is limited for a reason. 

The parks department state that when the parking spaces are full, it means the preserve has reached its capacity of visitors. It's not nice to be turned away when you've had a day out planned, but here the environment is of the utmost importance. If there are no spaces left to leave your vehicle, you need to find somewhere else to go or come back another day. 

If you arrived early and got a parking space, think before you hit the trails with your pup. Make sure you're carrying a substantial picnic, water, and a sufficient supply of those indispensable poop bags. Take a map and compass too as there are places where cell phone coverage is limited and trying to Google where you are if you get lost might not be an option. 

Yes, the trails can be isolated which makes it tempting to let a pet off its leash, but don't. Keeping a pet leashed keeps it safe. Picking up a fallen twig to throw for your pup to fetch is also tempting, but that is out of bounds also. In a preserve, everything must be left as it's found. The only reminders you can take home from the preserve as a souvenir of a great day are photos, your trash, and your pet's poop.