Pinnacles

Pinnacles National Park is a hiker's paradise, a home to critically endangered species, and a geologic marvel. Rugged rock spires and colorful chaparral set the stage as you explore the park by hiking one of the loop trails, crawling through a talus cave, or searching for the endangered California condor.

Whether you're looking for a strenuous all-day adventure, a casual stroll, or a family-friendly cave exploration -- Pinnacles has it all. Over 30 miles of trails crisscross between the eastern and western sides of the park. Many of the trails are loops with a variety of difficulties and lengths, allowing you to truly customize your experience. Highlight trails include the High Peaks Trail, the Balconies Cave, and the Bear Gulch Trail.

"Hiking Pinnacles National Park" is currently the only printed guidebook for hiking in the park. Look for a new Outdoor Blueprint guidebook coming out winter of 2015!

Rock Climbing

The rock climbing at Pinnacles National Park has a unique flair. Knobby volcanic breccia makes up the formations throughout the park. This rock has a decidedly unreliable quality to it, and at times the knobs will break off with ease. Most of the climbing is steep sport climbing with routes under 5.10 being fairly run-out. Good places to check out first include Tourist Trap, Discovery Wall, and the Sisters.

Some walls are closed off during falcon nesting, so check the current closures here. Other good resources for climbing include Friends of Pinnacles, where you can get up-to-date climbing information; the parks climbing FAQs page, to answer more of your initial questions; and by purchasing "A Climber's Guide to Pinnacles National Monument," an excellent guidebook for climbing in the park.

Birding

Pinnacles is home to the 32 California condors, one of the rarest bird species in the world and the largest land bird in North America. The park has been a release and management site since 2003. You can learn more about the California condor here.

Over 181 documented species of birds also spend time in the park, including golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and prairie falcons. Check out the park's Bird Checklist for the complete list.

Camping

Pinnacles has only one campground, which is found on the eastern side of the park. Campsites are reservable 6 months in advance for individual sites, and 12 months in advance for group sites. This large campground offers 120 individual sites and 14 groups sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring.

Water, showers, flush toilets, an amphitheater, a swimming pool, and a general store are located throughout the campground.

Tent sites are $23, RV sites are $36, and group sites range from $75 to $110 per night.

There are really no camping options found on the western side of the park, so plan your days accordingly.

Lodging

Hollister, found 40 minutes north of the park, offers an assortment of motels, inns, and bed & breakfasts for the east side of the park.

Soledad is a close option for the west side, with King City a bit larger but farther away (40 minutes).

Services

There is no gas on the east side of the park unless you drive north to Hollister, so make sure to fill up your tank before arriving. The west side has numerous options along the 101.

You'll find a saloon-style eatery and a charming italian influenced inn 22 miles north of the east side of the park, in Tres Pinos. The towns of Greenfield and Soledad have a mix of fast food and sit down options on the west side of the park.

History

People have been living in the Pinnacles area for over 10,000 years. The Chalon and Mutsun tribes harvested acorns and hunted small game throughout the park. In 1791, the Spanish were establishing their network, and a mission was build in Soledad just a few miles west of the park.

In 1891, Schuyler Hain arrived from Michigan to homestead parts of the land east of the park. Hain encouraged preservation of the land and lead tours of the Bear Gulch Cave to promote his agenda. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared a small 2500 acre lot 'Pinnacles National Monument'.

A road was built in 1920, allowing for easier access into the Bear Gulch area. From 1933 to 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps moved in and established a networks of roads, buildings, and trails including the High Peaks Trail.

With a solid foundation of infrastructure in place, the monument began to grow in popularity. Small parcels of land were added over time, growing the overall size to more than 26,000 acres. Pinnacles was declared a National Park by President Barack Obama on January 10th, 2013, becoming the 59th National Park (9th in California).

Interesting Facts

• Home to 32 California condors, which is almost 10% of the current wild population in the world.
• The pinnacles formed as part of the Neenach Volcano, which originated in the Lancaster area. The San Andreas fault split this section of the cliff off and moved it north 195 miles over 23 million years.
• The largest colony of Townsend's big-eared bats from Mexico to Canada live in the Upper Bear Gulch Cave.

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When to Visit

Between the months of March and May, most of the park's plants burst into bloom. April is a peak month for the park because the winter precipitation has largely passed, the temperature is comfortable, and the flowers are stunning. Expect to see a lot of people visiting in the spring, especially on weekends.

For more solitude, try visiting in October during the low season. The only downside is that the park doesn't have the colors from the springs bloom, and there is the added winter precipitation.

Summers can get HOT in Pinnacles. Many of the trails offer little shade, so come prepared with lots of sun protection and plenty of water. The campground has a swimming pool which is another great way to cool down if you're visiting in the summer months.

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Sitemap

• CAMPGROUNDS
• Pinnacles Campground
• SHORT HIKES
• Balconies Caves Trail
• Bench Trail
• Condor Gulch
• Bear Gulch & Talus Caves

• HALF-DAY HIKES
• High Peaks Trail
• Juniper Canyon Trail
• North & South Chalone Peak Trail
• Old Pinnacles Trail
• South Wilderness Trail
• LONG HIKES
• Chalone Peak to South Wilderness Trail Loop

• BIRDING
• Birding Overview
• ROCK CLIMBING
• FAQs
• Route Information
• VISITORS CENTERS
• Pinnacles Visitors Center
• PICNIC AREAS
• Pinnacles Visitors Center
• Peaks View

Tips

• Pinnacles is inland enough that the temperatures can vary widely day to day. Prepare for cold weather by wearing multiple layers and bringing a rain jacket with you. Prepare for heat by covering up with lightweight long sleeved shirts, broad sun hats, and sunscreen.
• Pick up snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and ice cream at the east visitors center.
• Bring a headlamp if you're going to explore the talus caves.
• The raccoons can be mighty fierce in the campground. Make sure you don't leave food unattended, and pack everything into your car at night.