The Pinnacles in Maclean is a natural rock formation, significant cultural heritage site to the local Aboriginal community, the Yaegl people.
Pinnacle Rock, as it is named on the brown sign, is more typically known as The Pinnacles. The rock formation is a set of balancing rocks stacked on each other.
The rocks are composed of sandstone overlying siltstones. The strong sandstone over the weaker siltstone led to major landslips triggered by intense rainfall and possibly a minor earthquake.
A large bowl-shaped landslip caused part of the cliff line to break away and slide downhill. Some of the cliff line collapsed into a pile of large boulders strewn down the hill for hundreds of metres. Part of the cliff slid intact without collapsing, producing the Pinnacle Rock formation.
The viewing of The Pinnacles at Maclean has been upgraded in recent years. There are two viewing platforms, the first beside the road with easier access for wheelchairs.
The better viewing platform is down a ramp with a few stairs along the way. The lower viewing platform is closer and positioned at the edge of the cliff line.
The views are partly obscured by vegetation, one of the things the upgraded viewing platforms were to address. It likely needs regular maintenance to ensure the views remain unobstructed.
Some of the town of Maclean and the Clarence River behind it can be seen beyond Pinnacle Rock, although the town is more obscured than the rock formation is.
